Maryland independent., 1906-10-12

1t was Sylvester-abend OF that ter
.ible winter when the great German
army lay before Paris. and the ice
King sent his binding snow and Grip,
ling frost to beslegers and besieged
alike.
Away in North Germany the irreslst-
ible monarch had spread his white
mantel over field. and forest and noun
tain, and the snow lay deep in the mar.
row. roughly paved streets of small
country town on the frontier of Sa--
ony. kindly softening the noise of We
hieles and the tramp of horses to the
] suffering patients Of the Lazaret,
which had, since the war, been ektab-
lished In a large open space beyond
where the walls once stood, pure and
anadulterated, from the Riesenge-
birgc.
Bernstadt had once been an import
ant border fortress. but It's walls had
been long since leveled. and its pres
ant status. though not insignificant.
was now only due to Its position as
the centre of a rich agricultural dis
triet and a linen manufacturing popu.
Iation.
The first consignment OF wounded,
after the earlier conflicts of Weissen.
burg and Woerth, had nearly all re.
covered and dispersed-those fit for
active service to reJoin their respective
-egiments.
Even of the second batch after Sedan
aot many were left; and. Of these, all
sufficiently convalescent to be per-
nitted such dissipation were assembled
At the house of Herr Gerhardt Werner,
the wealthy Burgomeister of Bern
ttadt, who on this New Years Eve held
Aigh festivity in his fine old mansion
n the market place. which, with It's
wide staircase, all paneled and carved
with wreaths Of flowers, its large, we'll
Droportioned rooms and wide landings.
was especially suited for entertain
ments.
From almost every house lights
streamed out over the snow and
sparkled on the frosted trees.
Music and song and laughter thrilled
through the keen air, while countless
blue stars looked down over all from a
deep steel-blue sky. intensified by
bright moonlight.
The country had begun to breathe
after the tremendous strain and trl-
umph of the last SIX months. and
though many sad heart wept for
the loved and lost, the general tone
was joyous and exulting.
Two officers. wrapped in their large
cloaks. walked briskly from the gates
Of the Lazaret past the Lyceum and
the line of trees. where the ramparts
once stood, toward the winding. mar
row street which led to tho market
place.
what a glorious nightF' exclaimed
the taller Of the two
"The air. too, Is life-giving. feel
myself again tonight for the first
time since that Turco's cursed sabre
laid me low.
II may report myself fit for service
again In q week or two"
''Well, l feel rather shsky STILL" re-
,lied the other. who was considerably
shorter and stouter.
"a fever such as mine takes more
)ut of fellow than the bullet that
eaused 1t.
But am wonderfully stronger since
came up hers, and all the better for
meeting my old comrade.
When you left Us after our Bo'
hemian campaign, and retired to the
personal acres, l thought l had LOST
sight Of you altogether.
But such call to arms as ours
would have reused German bear, if
there was one left, even from his win
ter sleep"
Yes" said bis companion, 81 had
become almost broken in to the half
dead-and-aliye life and the loneliness
of a remote Schloss like mine, when
the call came and set my blood a1ame.
MY only regret was that ! could
not join my old regiment"
ut has been a fight Of giants this
time" resumed the second speaker.
after a short pause, as they turned
into the shadow of a small street.
crunching the crisp snow beneath their
even tread.
why, our Bohemian experience was
child's play to this; and yet"
How well those Saxons fight" in.
terrupted the other. speaking more to
himself that his companion.
Then and now. And their prince
he is a fine fellow"
'He is. Ach, how it all comes back,
Steinhausen.
Our hot, dusty march through the
Bohemian hills. and then our rest at
that delightful Saxon villa.