The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-11
An Episode
OF the Big
European War
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

nurse In hospital for sick and wound
ed soldiers in Germany, entered upon
her service with an admonition from
her father In this wise:
MY daughter, desire that you do
not permit yourself to contine your
nursing to any one patient There Is
no more prolific field 4Or love affairs
than nursing. A young man, grateful
for the attention he receives, falls In
love with his nurse. the nurse pities
her charge. and pity Is akin to love. l
wish you to remain fancy free be.
cause of this proposed match between
you and your Cousin Adolf In America.
a match desired as much by my broth
er, his father, as by myself. The
American branch of our family has
grown rich. while We have remained
poor 1t is therefore desirable that you
should marry your cousin, who. as you
know, will come over from America
for the purpose as soon as this war has
ended"
"Yes, father" replied wilhelmina.
you viii llnd me a dutiful daughter
In this respect as in all others. We
German girls know what Is due to our
parents, but | have heard that in
America it is different-that in that
country there is but little respect for
age or parental authority. and young
people consult their own wishes in
stead of those to whom they owe obe-
dience."
This dialogue. which illustrates the
difference between foreign and Ameri-
can marriages, was satisfactory to Herr
Bischoff. who felt sure that his daugh-
ter would heed his admonition But
the old mans reasons for caution were
stronger even than he had stated them.
A young soldier who had been wound
ed In Belgium came under Wilhelmi-
mas care. fell in love with her. and
the pity she felt for him as well as
the love he offered her caused a recip-
rocal feeling TO arise within her own
heart. He asked her all about herself.
her name. the place in which she lived
and told her that as soon as he was
convalescent and should be granted Il
brief leave he would so TO her father
and ask for her hand To this she re-
piled that she was to marry cousin
who was to come from America as
soon as the war was over.
What" exclaimed the soldier, mar
ry one who takes no part in the de-
fense Of the fatherland and refuse one
who has given his blood for it? l am
astonished that so lovely girl should
Go such thing"
To this Wilhelmina replied that she
owed the same duty TO her parents
that she owed TO her country and
whatever her father bade her she
would do. The soldier insisted that he
would go to her father and represent
to him his want of patriotism and was
sure that he would relent. But the
lover added that Wilhelmina must he
ut home when he came. that she might
add her supplications to his. Wilhel-
nina consented to this. but averred
that without her fathers consent she
would not accept her soldier suitor.
When the young man became well
enough to totter forth from the hos
pital he was given q months leave.
and Wilhelmina preceded him to her
home TO break the matter to her par
ents. When the lover came be found
the father obdurate. Wilhelmina had
represented the matter to him, and he
th,N st Atttxs
to serve his country and he was not
entitled to 4 reward, especially such
reward as he asked. The American to
whom Wilhelmina was engaged had
been born in another country, and his
duty was to his own state. Therefore
no more should be said about the mat
ter. Wilhelmina should await the ar
rival of the man whom she was to
marry.
When the soldier arrived and was in
formed of the situation he made mat
ters worse by declaring that he would
marry Wilhelmina in spite of her ia
ther, her mother and all her American
relatives, including the cousin.
'You don't talk like German at ALL"
said Herr Bischoff angrily. You talk
like an American. for | have under
stood that In America there is but little
respect for age and parental authority.
Get you gone back to the army, and it
is hoped that your country may get rid
of you on the battlefield"
"I will marry Wilhelmina first" the
soldier retorted.
You will do no such thing"
"Well, at least give me five minutes
parting conversation with her alone;
then il she wishes 1t will give her up"
This promise induced Herr Bischoff
to grant the interview. after which the
soldier bid them all goodby. That night
he eloped with Wilhelmina and in the
morning neither Of them put in an ap-
pearance. Herr Bischoff hunted high
and low for them. but was unable to
find them. However he learned that
they had been seen together going
back in the direction from which they
came. and he followed them. Over
taking them. he upbraided his daughter
and cursed his son-in-law.
81 told you." said the latter. "that
I would marry Wilhelmina, and have
done So In marrying me she has
obeyed you. for am William Bischoff.
a citizen of the United States. Desir-
ing to see something of this big war.
came over at its commencement in
stead Of at its end to enlist in the Ger
man army az we'll 40 m marry rnv