New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
THE SOLDIERS SON
By GABRIELLE REUTER-

Control yourself, Linda! Have some self
restraint"
But it was impossible for Linda to exercise
self-control. She abandoned herself gladly to
her sense of injury and suffering Every one
in the family felt: "She is foreigner-she
will remain a agner TO US in all her ideas
and feelings"
Now Baron Kadden had lost all three of his
sons. The oldest fell at Ypres, the second in
the East. Soon after there came back a
little blood-soaked bag which the youngest had
worn on his breast, containing picture o.
Linda and brown, faded rose
This time Linda had not shreked. She sat
still and stiff among the mourners, and only
looked at them with hate-flled eyes. When
it got dusk she ran out into the park into the
fir grove, and jumped into the darkening pond.
The old Christoph, the family servant, had
seen the little, dark figure fit over the open
space and had run after her. So she was
rescued and brought back to life.
Since that day she had lain in bed. She ate
little, and kept staring with the obstinate evil
look Of a deranged person straight ahead into
vacancy The old Baroness, the mother whose
children had all been taken away from her,
watched her day and night lest she should
make another attempt on her life.
Linda bore in her womb the hope OF the fam
ily. If she died, and with her the unborn
child, the race of the Kaddens would be eX-
tinguished-a race which had borne an hon
orablo name for many centuries.
why should it be she and not one OF US"
the other daughters asked with envy why is
this foreigner favored--she who doesn't know
what a precious mission is intrusted to herr"
What a new irony Of fate for the sorely tried
house of Kadden
The physicians shrugged their shoulders and
put on a serious expression when they exam
med the young wife. Linda muttered to them
maliciously:
Don't worry. It's no use. My son shall
not live in order that he may go to war and
be shot to pieces"
Don't be SINFUL" said the old mother softly.
you don't know whether God will give you
SON."
"If it is a daughter she shall not suffer
what | have suffered" Linda rejoined OBJ
stinately, and laughed bitter laugh. ~ am
not OF YOUR sort, who yield to fate and suffer
in patience"
"My sons died for the Fatherland," an
swered the old mother proudly. Il would not
call them back to life, even if could. They
did their duty
"Fatherland?" Knocked Linda, with her pas
sonate Southern gestures. Il know no Faith
erland. | was born in hotel. Ny nursery
was a ship or railroad train. | have no
mother tongue. What does Fatherland mean
70 me? | loved a man, and when found he
called himself German thought 1t comical
I don't like the Germans--they are SO plump
and so pedantic. loved only him. VIII not
stay alone in this horrible world
ooh. dearest dearest Linda will come to
YOU soon, very soon!"
It NAV be, said the physicians, that after a
successful delivery there will be change for
the better. But, on the contrary, her condition
may become eSen worse. -
So they waited at Castle kadden' lhey
waited cheerlessly, joylessly, anxiousiy' Inc
first frost came. Thin cakes OF ice swan Oh
the surface of the gloomy pond in when lihda
had sorobt oblivion. The yellow leaves
crackled under the feet of the widowed sisters
The sun seldom broke through TIE CLOUDS
Everybody wondered if the soldiers out IN Tic
trenches were not freezing; but people no
longer thought about such things with 'ne
breathless excitement of the first weeKs-ohiy
with dull, submissive WEAKNESS
On the borders the armies held on III en-
pectation of decisive battles. AT Castle Mad
den they also held on--in numb, deadehihs
pain. r.,.
Each evening now the old Baron walked DE-
tween his two deeply yelled daughters-ih-'a~
down the long avenue of chestnuts to the lam