The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-02-24
PART II.
CIIApTER ].


CHAPTER ].
IT was Sylvester. abcnd Of that ter
rible winter when the great German
army lay before Paris, and the ice
king sent his binding snow and Grip
ling frost 10 Dcsiegers and besiesed
alike.
Away in North Germany the irresist-
ible monarch had spread bis white
mnDtel over field and forest and noun
tain, and the snow lay deep In the mar
row, roughly paved streets Of a small
country town on the frontier of Sax
ODy, kindly sOfiening the noise Of We
hiclcs and the tramp Of horses To the
suffering patients OF the Lazaret,
which had, since the war, been estab-
lisLed In large open space beyond
where the walls once stood, pure and
unadulterated, from the Riesenge-
birge.
Bernftadt had once been an import
ant border fortress. but its walls had
been long since levcled, and its pres
ent status, though not Insignificant.
was now only due 10 it's position as
the centre OF a rich agricultural dis
trict and a linen manufacturing popu-
latIOn.
The first consignment Of wec!nded,
after the earlier conflicts OF Weissen-
burg and Wocrth, had nearly all re-
covered and dispcrsed-those fit for
active service TO rejolu their respective
regiments.
Even of the second batch after Sedan
| not many were left; and, of these, all
sufficiently oonvalcsccnt to be per
mittcd such dissipation were assembled
at the house OF Herr Gcrhardt Werner,
the wealthy Burgomeistcr of Bern
stadt, who on this New Years Eve held
| high fcstivity IN his fine old mansion
in the market place, which, with its
| wide staircase, all panelcd and carved
with wrcaths of lowers, its large, well
prOportiOncd rooms and wide landings,
was especially suited for entertain
mcnts.
From almost every house lights
streamCd out over the snow and
sparklcd on the frosted trees.
Music and song and laughter thrilled
| through the keen air, while countless
blue stars looked down over all from Il
deep stcel.blue sky, intensified by
bright moonlight.
The country had begun to breathe
after the tremendous strain and tri-
umph of the last six months, and
though many sad heart wept for
the loved and lost, the general tone
was Joyous and eXuiting.
Two officers. wrapped in their large
cloaks, walked briskly from the gates
of the Lazarct past the Lyceum and
| the line of trees. where the ramparts
once stood, toward the winding. mar.
row street which led 10 the market
place.
what Q glorious uight"' exclaimed
| the taller Of the two.
THE air. too, is life giving. I feel
myself again tonight for the first
time since that Turco's cursed sabr,
laid me low.
Il may report myself tit for scrvlc,
| again in week or two"
! Wen, l feel rather shaky Stl." re
\ piled the other, who was considerably
shorter and stoutcr.
| "A fever such rs mine takes NOR,
out of fellow than the bullet tha
caused II.
but am wonderfully stronger sine,
came up here. and all the better fo
meeting my old comradc.
when you left us after our 10
hemian campaign, and retired 10 tn,
personal acres, thought had los
sight Of You altogether.
But such call to arms rs our
would have reused German bear, !
there was one left. even from his win
ter sleep"
"Ies,' said his companion. "I ha,
become almost broken in to the hal
dead-and-allve life and the lonelines
OF remote Schloss like mine. whcl
the call came and set my blood aflamc
My only regret was that / coul
not join my old regiment" .
1T has been a fight of giants thi
time" resumed the second speaker
after short pause. rs they turne
into the shadow of small stree
; crunching the crisp snow beneath thei
J even tread.
why, our Bohemian experience wa
? childs play TO this: aud yet"
D How well those Saxons fight" II
= terrupied the other. speaking more {
himself that his companion.
Then and now. And their prince
: he is n fine fellow"
"le is. Ach, how it all comes bac'
n Steinhausen.
] "Our hot. dusty march through n
Bohemian hills. and then our rest |
that delightful Saxon villa.
o 81 always remember IL as the mo
perfect house in the world. What W.
y the name Of ''be peopleY'