The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-05-25
A CRITICAL
POSITION
BY VERNON ARNOLD
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation, 1911,

In Alsatia under General Puffenheim
was encamped in a pleasant valley in
which there were scattered dwellings,
Officers wives were not allowed to
accompany the army. and General Puff
fenheim was great stickler for the
enforcement of this order. He was an
! old bachelor. and crusty one at that
Women aroused in him satanic ire.
Half Il mile down the road from the
generals headquarters was house
which had been abandoned by the
French family who occupied it on the
approach of the Germans. One day
Captain Schwab and Captain Henner,
two young officers Of the staff who had
left brides in Germany, passed this
| house.
what scheme it would be, Schwab.
| il we could bring our wives here and
put them in that house."
"Old Puff would rout them out be-
fore they had been there six hours and
we would be court martialed."
| Later the two officers decided to
make the experiment When their
wives appeared they brought with
them Fraulein Lena Borngeisser. a
sister of Mrs. 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 Puffenheim rode past
the house just as Frau Schwab was
calling in excellent German to Frau
Henner. who was leaning olt of an
upper window. The general refined in
his horse.
Captain" he said to Schwab. who
was attending him at the time, "there
are German women in that house. The
people about here are all French. That
house was deserted by its occupants
when we came here. I know that, for
l thought of making it my headquar-
tiers. That woman-or lady-speaks
German. should not be surprised If
some of our officers have been bringing
their wives here"
Now, the two ladies had seen the
general rein in his horse and sur
vey them like q thundercloud. Mrs.
Schwab went into the house, and Mrs.
Henner disappeared from the window
The general spurred his horse to the
gate. dismounted and, directing his aid
to follow him. stalked up to the house.
The two wives sent Fraulein Borngeis-
ser to receive him. Captain Schwab
stood back and put his finger to his
lip, looking knowingly at the young
lady as signal that she must give
away nothing and not recognize him.
She received the general with a most
engaging smile.
"Ah. mein Herr GENERALLY" she ex-
claimed enthusiastically. GLOW glad
we are to see troops from the father
land. hope you have come to redeem
our fair Alsatia and bring it under the
! rule from which it was originally
torn"
The general had approached the
house like lion: he entered it like a
lamb. The fraulein made up a plau-
sible story accounting for the house
being occupied by Germans. invited
him and his aid to be seated and chat
tered like maybe. Indeed, she
talked so volubly that the general had
but little opportunity to ask questions
which would have shown the weak
spot in her story. When he rose to
depart she pressed him to come again
and would not consent to his going
until he had promised to do so.
The result of this reception was that
the next day the general set of at
tended only by a single orderly and
made call on Fraulein Borngeisser.
The same evening the two captains Of
his staff stole away and called upon
their wives. The party discussed the
matter of the generals visits anxious
~, for if he should discover what was
| going on the officers commissions
would not be worth the parchment
they We're printed on. All agreed that
| their safety depended on the skill with
which the fraulein kept the general
from getting the facts.
The young lady was equal to the &C.
casion. She threw spell around the
elderly bachelor, going SO far as to
elicit proposal. This she held in
allegiance until she could consult her
heart and her parents. The general
was forced to wait.
a climax came at last. One morning
+, the officer of the day announced to
the general that the wives Of two Of
his officers were living in close prox-
unity to the camp.
"Where? Who has disobeyed the Or
der in this mattcr?" snapped the gen.
eral.
1.-THE house is white one with four
pillars in its front. tits the first house
on the right beyond the stream
The general stood looking at the OH.
Ger without speaking for time. then
| found voice to ask:
"Wh0se wives are there?"
'The wives Of Captains schwab and
Henner."
The general staggered.
'The matter will be attended to-" he
gasped. 'That will do.''