The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-08-31
"A Letter From
the Sky
by SARAH BAXTER

Mime. Bernhard. the wife OF Major
Bernhard OF the -th regiment OF the
line OF the French army. was In the
habit OF appropriating any good look
ting second lieutenant whom she could
induce 10 be attentive TO her
One day a young lieutenant. Louis
Detallle. reported at the garrison for
duty. and the moment Nine. Bernhard
saw him she determined TO appropriate
| him. He was a rosy checked boy
scarcely out Of his teens and before
his departure 10 join his regiment had
proposed 10 and been accepted BY his
cousin. Delphine DumonL Mime. Ben
kard was double his age and had lost
whatever beauty she had possessed.
The lieutenant desired TO give all bis
spare time 10 writing love letters TO bis
sweetheart and had no inclination TO
devote himself to the majors wife.
Unfortunately FOR him. he was too
young. too unsophlsticated to know
the danger Of refusing advances from
such a woman and frankly told the
lady that be was engaged to q girl be
dearly loved and had neither time nor
inclination TO devote himself 70 her.
Mime. Benkard's eve dashed. but De
TALES eyes were modestly cast down
At the time. and when he ventured 70
raise them he saw a sympathetic smile
"You dear boyr' she exclaimed. TEL
me all about her. u she dark2 IL she
fairf Is she very young aud does she
love you as you love herr
Disarmed. Detailie became garrul0us
about the girl be loved. and before the
end Of the interview madame had got
her name and address
Detailie had not been In garrison a
month before Germany declared war
upon France and French troops were
rushed northward into Belgium Be
fore his departure. while there was yet
peace. Mile. Dumont received an aR0n-
ymous letter warning her against her
lover. who was devoting himself to
the wife OF one Of the officers.
Nine. Bernhard. after listening 20 De.
TALES rhapsodIes concerning bis dan
Gee. did not relinqulsh her grip upon
aim. aud 80 marked were her attentions
10 him that he faneied her husband
was becoming jealous Of her. Besides.
be had become suspicious Of her. As
soon as he came 20 a halt on bis way /
10 Belgium be wrote her a letter which /
was designed to set himself right~in
he matter. putting In writing what be /
had told her-that be had a sweetheart
70 whom he was devotediy attached
md had no interest whatever in any
,ne else. This letter be copied and
nclosed the duplicate IN q letter 10
lis sweetheart. explaining why he sent
{ to her.
The epIstle 70 Nine. Bernhard be sent
Irst. and It reached her In due time.
By the time he dispatched the one to
lille. Dumont the Germans were push
ng the French back upon Paris. The
ourier who carried the mail was cap
ured by the Germans and was sent 70
be headquarters Of the German army
Meanwhile the anonymous letter
Thlch was written BY Nine Bernhard
D Mile. DumOnt had reached the lat.
er and nearly broke her heart She
Tas too young and innocent to know
Ne difference between the work Of a
riend and q 6end and supposed the
farming had come from one who did
Of wish TO see her injured. She kept
err secret locked IN her breast. where
burned and burned until Il seemed
} her that she could endure if no lon. .
r.. but she did not write 70 her lover
sprOaching him for having 50 soon
'FgOtten Der. At first DetaIIle thought
'thing Of this. for every day there
as q battle. and as for mails. II one
lme through from Paris II was not
zely to be distributed
For a time after the war opened Par.
was attacked by dirigfbles. which
fling over the city. dropped bombs
ION IT, One day when considerable
image had been done BY one Of these
: craft. street gamin who was gap
3 at Il with more curiosity than fear.
" slowly circIlng down toward him
rough the air BIT Of paper. 70 fell
ar him. and he picked Il Up. Il was
letter. The gamln. not being able
read the superscription. showed IL to
sendarme. VIM read. Mile Delphine
lmOnt. No. -- Rue 49,. Paris" and / 1
nded IT back to the gamin.
Vow, the boy was not bright enough
make a guess as 70 where the letter
me from; but. thinking to make a
y SOUS, he took II to its address.
When Mile Dumont heard that q
? wished to see her with a letter
J went to him and on seeing II and
ding the superscription asked him
ere be got II.
From the sky. mademoiseiIe." was
reply.
he girl had never seen the writing
ore. Tearing open the envelope.
found a letter addressed to her IN -
man and bearing the signature Of -
Lieutenant in the German aviation
ps and an Enclosure addressed TO
IN her lovers handwriting. The
er she opened feverishiy. II was
duplicate Of the one Detallle had
to Nine Bernhard and which had
q captured BY the Germans. The
e.. -. a