News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-08-11
Carl Weber's
Surprise
By EDITH v. ROSS

1hC LCociNc, was SiNcu lcu nays W pre-
pare to leave for the front The rea-
son of his having been given SO long
time when there was such hurry
for troops was that the unmarried
members Of his corps were recommend
ed to take wives before going to the
war in order that the depletion of men
consequent upon the dangers Of the
service might be balanced by crop
of children.
Carl chose for partner for Hfe-or
more likely for death-Gretchen the
daughter of Hans KOpp, who kept
grocery store next door to the bakery.
Hans was twenty years old; Crotch
en- was seventeen. There was no
time for counting indeed, no time for
either groom or bride to deliberate on
the subject. Carts father made the
proposition to Gretchen'S father that
the youngsters be married, and since
both men considered that the marriage
was duty to the fatherland mar
rage it must be.
Neither Carl nor Gretchen was averse
to a marriage. Being young they did
not consider the fact that the young
husband would probably be killed or
die of disease. A great many soldiers
who go to war return. Why not Carl?
So they were married and passed
weeks honeymoon together, which slid
away very quickly, and Carl was Oblig-
ed to tear himself from his bride to be
entrained for Belgium. The last he
saw of his wife she was standing on
the sidewalk weeping.
Then for the first time Carl realized
what it all meant. 1t was terribly Sc
rious. The first moving down Of men
by modern machinery had taken place,
and the death toll was terrible. On the
wounded, and the sight sickened him.
What change in every way had come
over him! A fortnight before he had
not thought Of either war or marriage.
Now he was deep in both. How he
wished he could return, take his weep
ing wife in his arms and remain with
her forever! But, no; very likely he
would meyer see her again, while she
what would become Of her? Would
she weep for him throughout eternity?
We are prone to picture those loved
ones from whom we are separated as
we last saw them. Carl throughout his
army service never thought Of Crotch
en- but that she was standing ON the
sidewalk looking after him through her
tears.
Carl escaped death. but after awhile
was severely wounded. He was taken
to the rear and placed in hospital
There he fingered for long while and
1t last began to mend He was able
to be about long before he was fit to !
'eturn to the front, so he was permit |
ed to go home for the rest of the |
)eriod necessary for him to be pre-
JARED TO go forth to be shot at again.
Carl wrote to his parents and his
wife that he would be at home on a
certain day. He did not like to sur
rise her, for he feared that the Joy
# meeting him suddenly might have a
Ieleteriotrs effect upon her. The day
le arrived hts father met him at the
tation, embraced him, kissing him on
10Th cheeks, then led the way to his
elivery wagon, which was waiting for
'arl was not equal to walking home
Now, 1t so happened that the stork
listed the house with ten pound boy
be very day Of Carts arrival. Indeed,
be little fellow was Just fifty-five min
oil NIB. hn IN h..o n htc N |
her rolled into the station. 1t had
cen arranged that Carl should be kept
4 ignorance Of the fact TIL the last
ossible moment In order that he might
ave pleasant surprise. Gretchen
ad continued to live with her parents,
nd his father was TO take him home
nd await notice Just when he might
e introduced to his wife and child.
The idea of being father had never
uttered the young soldiers head. For
lonths he had remembered his wife
/ tears, and he was possessed with
ne idea-to get home and dry those
'ars. When his father drove up be-
,re the bakery over which he lived
Q suggested to Carl to go in and meet {
Is mother before meeting his wife.
aspect for parents is so strong in
er1nany that Carl consented. but aft
giving the old woman a hasty kiss [
2 broke away and hobbied TO the :
ext house to see his wife O
Finding no one in the shop below, he I
lied himself upstairs by means of 4
ballister and tried TO open the door. O
was locked. He tried the doors to L
e other chambers and found them
] open, but no one was in any Of the
oms. Carl began to be frightened.
e had asked his father innumerable
lestions about Gretchen. and the old
an had seemed noncommittsl. y
He raped at the door of his wife's
ON again, then listened He heard !,
hoarse sound as II a deaf mute was r
ying to speak. He knocked again
Id heard a mans voice say, You
ay come in in about ten minutes"
Great heavensl A man in his wife's n
.droom. telling him when he might a
me In. Surely something frightful h
d happened. Weak as he was, he N
ced the hall like a Gagged tiger; then
ddenly the door was thrown open.
ID there. lying in bed. was Gretchen,
her arm taking his first breakfast 4,
baby boy. and. instead Of tears cours-
9 down her cheeks. on her lips was .,