New-York tribune., 1905-02-24
TIE SsOord of Honor.
TALE OF THE FRANco-GERMAx WAR.
BY MARY wEsTENHOLz.

the henhouse into the house and-pu them into the
wood cellar. You know the window from that
cellar opens under the steps leading up to the big
door. Well it from that cellar that over
heard the conversation between two OF the German
officers quartered with us-we had then colonel.
three other officers a doctor and more than sixty
men on the farm. Not 20 frighten the hens-which.
even as it was were wild enough. though had
moved them carefully could taking them
in their nests after dark-I did not bring light
into the cellar. but only left the door ajar TO the
staircase. where the day still lingering, while
I looked in TO If the poor little disturbed
mothers all their right places for the night
The officers were speaking softly; but when 1
heard their voices l stole nearer the open window.
and from there I could hear every word they were
saying And when heard what II about, you
may be sure that 7 listened with both my ears
open, and 50 1 came to know that they were 10
break uD at O'Clock IN the morning to meet some
other troops at the crossroad near OHerup, and
then 60 on to be at Kiddelund just before
dawn. that men quartered there might be
taken by surprise.
When 1 think of It I always wonder how the
words heard did away with my body and, so to
speak set free my soul spirit. whatever II is
that am. from all considerations Of II, just as
you may sometimes 10 your skin abandon
your clothes 10 look after themselves as best
they may. 1t would seem that the body
mas separate life OF its own, some
kind OF home rule or self government by which 1t
Is preserved and makes itself useful when
left to itself Mine did SO that afternoon 1t saw
the hens into their places locked the door and put
the key on the proper nail; and then it called my
little help, Grethe and carried OF across the
yard 10 the henhouse with the evening meal for
the other hens. And all the time was thking OF
nothing but what had heard. and OF what could
Now, when my husband LEFT for the army some OF
cent know what to do while away, speak 70
51 bi,s SGTeR 9ad 6een on the farm ] ever since
tell every mans duty every Beasts tight and every
natural thing for al Of US 10 turn 10 him for ad-
vice, Besides. l thought I was sure Of Soren's
sympathy in this case, for he had good healthy
hsn v.e - Ib Ig GeIaRs m sach as one can onIy Isst
who had said: i am not bloodthirsty, but could
And knew he aid not boast st S So 0t toId Grethe 10
go and md soren and aend him 70 me
big place ike Kelkjeersaard and when my hus-
band was TO leave for the army my parents thought
that it might do as weu without ne and thai I
should do great deal better at home with them
one TO stop and DO their duty, We could not very
Ike to serve as well as the rest OF qs he had said.
an ana .oia knew from the way ne looked az me when
for me And those words ran in my head. ana.
together with great youth and ny inexperience.
courage when some months later the enemy came
go i tOon possession % 'ne N!oIe mousse anu max
ing themselves masters on the farm. made Us al
realize that war is war.
They we're as & Siy! to & me as would let let them en- be
td eoloneIs indulgence toward me. II seemed 70 me
that ne looked upon me as a mere child-which very
probably ne did And yet IN certain way. they
steward in his own room and leaving me 10 be both
master and steward to the whole place as best
1t would b r Sasy s6sRow sG Sy Mhe1 a & H0g sna nF
Is IN the country you shake on from your shoulders
the whole load Of daily cares
As stood waiting for S5ren that afternoon the
watched these were ene eb e b6 aRe as as
whte-hiired all the real men being with the army
my message? s6Fen himself when he came did not
him. He had the soldiers dislike OF civilians
metddlIng with the war
our 6 blankets over our heads not to hear them start
And then I turned my back upon him. and made
sTsT sesye that was going back into The house Bq.
that he would speak TO the boys and Try to get one
OF them on with a message. II won't be easy.
gone TO roos and then he will need horse 70 take
But you viii manage It. s5ren?' I said
r,aa1 5e5I yoq s %aen we hays aye had our supper.
However I returned somewhat comforted 10 the
house and sat down at the window in my bedroom
call my own-waiting for message from s6ren
L9 II came. but Il was not what had expected and
fnat ina dps ha9 & after sqPPeF al the men inelud
With strict orders not 10 leave them any con-
I said nothing but that wanted no supper. only
9 cup OF tea t.s and she went away renember that
me an Effort 10 loosen NV ciasped hands 4G a cost cost
this l conclude that I had been sitting perfectly
As sat there I gradually made up my
tell-that ii was my duty to risk what I mad 10
servant had brought me- and then got up sa and @
crossing the hall. went into tie drawing room
was fuII Of smoke, and they Were playing cards
when entered; but as crossed the room to where
they sat they all rose and put down their cigars
Colonel" said, Il find you have locked up all
Only for. the night, madam" he said ''and am
1T makes no difference to me whether Won are
sorry or not said haughtiiy 7 am not here
to seek for sympathy. I come to ask how far you
he said that he did not quite understand my
question.
Am I and my maids prisoners. too?" asked
No madam. certainly not; we are not ,waging
war on ladies'. ne said. and smiled in the way
But on invaIids'' said scorntuiIy. child as
my old servant with the wooden leg went on
oh If he can be OF any use to you, madam ne
promise that he shall not leave the place tonight
went on as if were queen speaking to one % of her
subjects: Then Will you see that orders are given
Again I was vexed to see the amused expression
on all their faces. being too great fool think
they had taken me seriously. One Of the young
officers was dispatched with the coloneIs orders
and stalked out OF the room. the colonel himself
little later sdren came to the kitchen door.
where cook and stood waiting for him each with
a lantern and while we went what believed
and houses I told him what had decided to do
He did not approve of IT. and had to all my
Ing out my plan But must say this OF him. that
when once he had given in he helped with a real
10 get Male. my riding horse, out OF the stable and
was out OF the question. as the door was surs TO
be watched. and we would have to cross part OF the
yard The only possible way would be through the
coachmans kitchen. which opened both into the
stable and into the kitchen garden; but then there
sides and Male knew OF this way out OF
Ing room However. as it was the only way. We
had TO try IT. So we made all our preparations;
the other one as far back rs possible we moved