The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-05-04
A CRITICAL
POSITION
BY VERNON ARNOLD
Copyright By American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

During the Franco-Prussian war a
division occupying a strategic point
IN Alsatia under General Punenheim
was encamped In a pleasant valley in
which there were scattered dwellings.
0mcers' wives were not allowed TO
accompany the army. and General Puff
fenbeim was a great stlekler for the
enforcement OF this order He was an
old bachelor. and a crusty Que at that
Women aroused 10 him satanic ire
Half q mile down the road from the
generals headquarters was a house
which had been abandoned BY the
French family who occupied II on the
approach Of the Germans. One day
Captain Ss.hnab and Captain Henner.
two young others Of the stan who had
left brides in Germany, passed this
house
what q scheme II would be. Schwab.
II we could bring our wives here and
put them IN that house,
"Old Pun would rout them out be-
fore they bad been there six hours and
we would be- court martialed-"
Later the two officers decided 20
make the experiment When their
wives appeared they brought with
them Fraulein Lena Borngeisser. a
sister Of Mr. Henner. Fraulein Born
geisser was very beautiful and other
wise attractive woman. Indeed. she
was the belle OF Stuttgart. where she
lived. half the men there being in love
with her.
One day General Puffenhelm rode past
the house just as Frau schwab was
calling in excellent German to Frau
Henner. who was leaning odt Of an
upper window The general refined in
his horse
Captain" be said TO schwab. who
was attending him AZ the time. there
are German women in that house. The
people about here are all French. That
house was deserted By It's occupants
when we came here. ! know that. for
I thought OF making Il my headquar-
tiers. That woman-Or lady-speaks
German. ! should not be surprised IL
some Of our officers have been bringing
their wives here"
Now. the two ladies' had seen the /
general rein 10 bis horse and sur
vey them like a fhuudercloud- Mrs /
Schwab went into the house. and Mrs /
Henner disappeared from the window. /
The general spurred his horse 10 the !
gate. dismounted and. directing his aid
70 follow him. stalked up to the house.
The two wives sent Fraulein Borngeis-
ser to receive him Captain Schwab
stood back and put his dnger to bis
lip. looking knowingly at the young
lady as a signal that she must give
away nothing and not recognize him
She received the general with a most
engaging smile
"Ah. mein Herr Generair' she ex-
claimed enthusiastically. How glad
we are 10 see troops from the father
land. hope you have come 10 redeem
our fair Alsatia and bring II under the
rule from which II was originally
torn"
The general had approached the
house like a lion: he entered It Ike a
lamb The fraulein made up a plau-
sible story accounting for the house
being occupied by Germans. invited
him and bis aid 70 be seated and chat
tered like a magpie. Indeed. she
talked so volubly that the general had {
but little opportunity 10 ask questions
which would have shown the weak
spot IN her story. when he rose to
iepart she pressed him to come sgain
and would not consent to liis going
until he had promised to do 30.
The result OF this reception was that
he next day the general set on at
ended only by a single orderly and I
made a call on Fraulein Borngelsser. Z
rhe same evening the two captains Of 3
lis stan stole away and called upon =
heir wives. The party discussed the !
natter OF the generals visits anxious
y, for II be should discover what was I
.oing on the officers commissions I
would not be worth the parchment 4"
hey were printed on. All agreed that \
heir safety depended on the skill with !
which the fraulein kept the general S
rom getting the facts. p
The young lady was equal to the oc- <
aston. She threw a spell around the r
lderiy bachelor. going 30 far as to
licit a proposal. This she held in
beyance until she could consult her
cart and her parents. The general I
las forced to wait. n
A climax came az last. One morning 8
he officer OF the day announced to a
he general that the wives Of two Of 4
Is officers were living IN close prox- d
nifty to the camp. Il
''wherel who has disobeyed the or b
er In this matterr' snapped the gen t
al. G
"The house Is a white one with four n
liars IN its front. II IS the first house Of
d the right beyond the stream"
The general stood looking at the on
r without speaking FOR a time. then
iund voice to ask: q
Whose wives are there" a
''The wives OF Captains Schwab and
enner" y,
The general staggered. n
The matter viii be attended to-" he al
lenad .s7'haf will do" IN