Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-07
The Daily Story

Nine. Bernhard, the wife Of Major
Bernhard Of the til regiment OF the
line of the French army, was In the
habit Of appropriating any good look
ing second lieutenant whom she could
induce to be attentive to her.
One day a young lieutenant, Louis
Detaille, 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 to join his regiment had
proposed to and been accepted by his
cousin. Delphine Dumont- Nine, Ben
kard was double his age and had lost
whatever beauty she had possessed.
The lieutenant desired to give all his
spare time to writing love letters to his
sweetheart and had no inclination to
devote himself to the majors wife.
Unfortunately for him, he was too
young, too unsophisticated to know
the danger Of refusing advances from
such a woman and frankly told the
lady that he was engaged to girl he
dearly loved and had neither time nor
inclination to devote himself to her.
Nine Benkard's eye flashed, but De
taille's eyes were modestly cast down
at the time, and when he ventured to
raise them he saw a sympathetic smile.
you dear boy" she exclaimed. Tell
me all about her. Is she dark? Is she
fair? Is she very young and does she
love you as you love herr
Disarmed. Detaille became garrulous
about the girl he loved, and before the
end of the interview madame had got
her name and address.
Detaille 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 anon
ymous letter warning her against her
lover. who was devoting himself to
the wife Of one of the officers.
Nine. Bernhard, after listening to De-
taille's rhapsodies concerning his fan
Gee. did not relinquish her grip upon
him. and so marked were her attentions
to him that he fancied her husband
was becoming jealous Of her. Besides,
he had become suspicious OF her. As
soon as he came to a halt on his way
to Belgium he wrote her letter which
was designed to set himself right In
the matter. putting in writing what he
had told her-that he had a sweetheart
to whom he was devotedly attached
and had no interest whatever in any
one else. This letter he copied and
inclosed the duplicate in a letter to
his sweetheart, explaining why he sent
1t to her.
The epistle TO Nine. Bernhard he sent
first. and 1t reached her in due time.
By the time he dispatched the one to
Mile. Dumont the Germans were push
ing the French back upon Paris. The
courier who carried the mail was cap
tured by the Germans aud was sent to
the headquarters Of the German army
Meanwhile the anonymous letter
which was written by Nine. Bernhard
to Mile. Dumont had reached the lat
ter and nearly broke her heart. She
was too young and innocent TO know
the difference between the work Of a
friend and a fiend and supposed the
warning had come from one who did
not wish TO see her injured. She kept
her secret locked IN her breast, where
IL burned and burned until II seemed
10 her that she could endure II no lon.
ter' nut she did not write 10 her lover
approaching him for having SO soon
forgotten her. AT first Detaile thought
nothing OF this, for every day there
was battle, and as for mails. IL one
came through from Paris II was not
likely to be distributed.