New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-30
A STORY OF WARS REACTION
Translated by WILLIAM L. MCPHERSON
Photo by Greeley Photo Service

attentions with more or less dissatisfaction,
and after few days said, without circumlocu-
ton, even somewhat rudely, that he could
not stand it any longer and wished her to get
him an outside nurse.
He was right, the poor man. He loved the
wife who had renounced him, and her intimate
presence, her breath, her perfume, the sun
shine in her hair, all went to his head, con-
fused his senses and quickened his blood.
But she, as fiery red as on the evening Of
his arrival, cried out again, this time almost
in scorn:
But am your wife"
And he, signing deeply, rejoined:
Ruth, Ruth, are you really my wife,"
The stiffness which he, too, had come 10
show in his dealings with her had disappeared.
His voice sounded tender, and only an echo
of the long, long bitterness Of the past ran
through it, a soft reproach, a recollection OF
his involuntary and somewhat ridiculous wild
owerhood, begun on the first night Of his
honeymoon.
This tone she had never heard before Her
senses huttered. Il was as if all the moods
and feelings which had assaied her in recent
months-sympathy regret. worry about his
safety, admiration for his herosm-were unit
ing to take her heart by storm.
Yet they would not have conquered her
except for Mother Nature. The close ssso-
citation with her husband had awakened in
Ruths soul strong craving for companion
ship. had aroused the woman in her, the long
ing for a woman's life.
h. borSaff m his hreacf She did
not know how it happened. Tears rushed from
her eyes and between signs and choked words
this only was audible:
Forgive me, Ferdnandw
Then she pulled herself together, dried her
eyes and in an inimitabe tone Of innermost
conviction exclaimed:
Il was so stupid; oh, so stupid, so stupid
The wound healed quickly. But It took
longer to get Ferdinand's shattered nerves
back again into condition. After his recovery
he was sent on a commission TO the German
front in Flanders-more In the nature OF
vacation trip than Of actual military service.
He was allowed to take his wife with him
as far as Brussels.
On the day Of her departure the Colonel,
who was about to go back TO the lsonzo, paid
her a visit He found her reading little
book, which on his entrance she hastily con-
cealed He caught glimpse, however, Of the
tite-"The Care of Children"
A CLEAN of joy passed over his weather.
beaten soldiers face.
So, So And be it boy or girl, either was
welcome in this crisis.
In the favorable turn Of the situation he
saw only one of the healing effects Of war.
Naturally he did not express his thoughts in
full to Frau Ruth. But at the end OF his call
he kissed her hand more warmly than usual
and as he turned toward the door he said;
an the name of the army thank you"
That evening after the departure Of the
young wife, there was another gathering al
her father-in-aw's table A farewell 10 the
Colonel. And here in the family circle the
latter revealed the secret which he had sur
prsed and which no one else had suspected.
A sort Of bulletin Of victory, which let loose
storm Of jubilstion.
81 tell you" he cried 10 the Hofrat, "sha
must no longer be called Lysstrate."
NOW more than ever" answered the bass
voice Of his friend. "Lysistrate- that means
In German the ender ~ var the stillsf ~
battles. Madame Awsy with War. Madame
Peace Bringsf IN each sltls no's ~ nv
COS expectation, u realized bope ,hs pfeluds
10 me happy future. shieh esnnes vsry mysi
longer rsmain the futgfs. This glsss - Yfsg
Lysistfsts"
They touched ,hs vine gassss fogethss sd
q son sccord sounded through The room, spfs
snd clear 40 the voice ~ Or sngei.
1T 10 The Angel u Peace" said he h'ssss
we shall hope &C." said the Colonel 'Ani
hoping-ws shsll exht on"