Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-03
QUEER CONDUCT
OF A RECRUIT
Young Soldier SoreIy Per-
pIeXeS His Colonel.

recruit was brought before the colonel
Of the Eighty-seventh regiment of the
line in arrest.
"This is Private Herman Meisner,"
said his captain. Last night he vol
unfairly relieved one of the guard and
connived at the escape of a prisoner
under charge of sleeping on post He
admits this, but says that the man he
released, Carl Meisner, is his cousin"
"How long have you been in the
armyW asked the commander.
1.-TWO weeks"
Captain, this young fellow is doubt
less ignorant of the enOrmity of his
offense, and we need every man at
his post of duty. You may release
him. Has the escaped prisoner been
rearrested?'
"He has, colonel"
The march was resumed. In the
evening as the colonel was refreshing
himself with a smoke the captain re-
turned with Private Herman Meisner
again in arrest.
Colonel" he said, when the prison
ers were inspected after the days
march Private Carl Meisner was miss
ing, and this man, Private Herman
Meisner. was in his place"
The colonel knit his brows.
"What did you do that for" he asked
of the boy. after my leniency to you
this morning."
"They told me my cousin would like
ly be shot for sleeping on post"
''That is MS affair. not yours. Do
you want to get yourself shot in his
place"
81 would rather, colonel"
"That's very, very ridic-very noble
of you, but it's unjust to yourself. 1t
seems to me, captain, that this boy
has the true elements of q soldier in
him, but he needs instruction. You
may return him to duty. Has the real
prisoner been rearreStedw
eyes, colonel"
The next morning Private MeiSner
was again brought before the colonel
for having made a third attempt to
free his cousin. This time he had fail
ed to even get the prisoner away from
the guard. The colonel sent the incor-
rigible Herman back to take his place
with the other prisoners, to stand trial
at the proper time for mutiny. "YOu
are little FOOL said the commander.
"Are you sure he's sane, captainY
asked the colonel.
Perfectly sane
''Well. take him away"
The next day there was a roar of
artillery at the front AS the colonel
was mounting his horse the captain
appeared and. saluting, said:
"The prisoners desire permission to
coming BATTLE
Grant it for any in whom you have
confidence. | suppose those two cous-
ms are among the applicants"
"Carl Meisner has applied. His cous-
in who tried to effect his escape has
not"
That's strange" said the colonel.
and, putting spurs to his horse. he rode
away.
That day was fought the battle Of
Gravelotte When it was over the cap
tain appeared before his colonel, this
time with both the Meisner cousins.
Colonel" he said. u have to report
that ] decided to put all the prisoners
in the ranks for battle. Carl MeiSner,
who was in arrest for sleeping on post,
distinguished himself by conspicuous
gallantry. His cousin Herman ran and
hid himself behind log.
The colonel looked at the prisoner in
perpleXity.
And you he said to Herman, ARE
the man who wished to get yourself
shot TO save your cousin
The colonel expected him to hang his
head in shame. He did no such thing.
He simply smiled. smiled with his beau
tiful blue eyes, his delicately curved
lips, every feature in his boyish face.
~ WISH" said the colonel To the cap
tain, they would stop robbing the era
die to procure material for the army"
Then to Herman. How old are you,
boy"
twenty.
The colonel sat thinking. Presently
he said to the captain:
''See that the charges against Carl
MeiSner are withdrawn and make him
a corporal. AS for this coward-what
the dickens he means by trying to get
himself shot in place of his cousin |
don't know. but we can't be cucumber
ed with him on campaign. Send him
back under charges of both mutiny
and cowardice''
Private Herman began to cry.
A"What are you shifting for?' began
the colonel. when Carl interrupted him:
Colonel, she is woman-my wife.
We have two little children at home,
and she should be there to take care OF
them. But she would not let me go to
the war without coming with me, fear
ing | would get killed. just as if she
could help that.
"Phew." exclaimed the colonel. "A
woman. That accounts for her strange
behavior. ready TO die in place Of the
ch h,1f