The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-03-18
THE FIRST
VIOLIN
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


ny Just before the breaking out of the
pan-European wal to come to America
She was to be followed by a lover.
Gustav Schultz, a young musician.
They were both of the more reiincd
class of Germans. but not noble. Their
finances were cramped. and IL was i'm
possible for them to marry and live
among the people with whom they had
been used To associate. In America they
could earn Il living as they would no.
like to earl il where they were known.
Bertha had enough money saved to
enable her to cross the ocean. and 1t
was decided that she should come over
in advance of her lover. who was serv-
ing his time of military service. which
would not expire for several months.
Bertha was Ia OOH into the new coun-
try and. it possible. make an engage
ment for him with IN orchestra. In
this way they might he self support
ing at once on Gustav'S arrival
Bertha arrived in New York. found
friends who had come over years be
fore and as u as she had settled
herself went out to pol for an engage
ment for Gustav. She met the eader
of an orchestra. who promised her that
as soon AZ her lover arrived he would
give him Il trial. All was arranged.
and the girl was expecting her lover To
! sail for New York when news came
that Germany had declared wal upon
Russia. and the rush of German troops
into Belgium commenced.
From that day forward the fraulein
heard nothing of her lover. She knew
that. since war had been declared. he
would not be permitted to come away
ever If he had chosen to come. Then
came news of the fighting in Belgium.
followed by more than II year of war
fare. Bertha heard nothing from Gus
tav nor from any of her relatives. She
had no great expectation of hearing
from her lover. but thought she should
hear from her mother and sisters.
That she did not was probably because
the censorship had caused the destruc-
ton Of letters that might have been
mailed to her.
At last. after waiting Il year, Il letter
came stating that Gustav had been
reported among the missing several
months before, and since nothing later
had been heard from him he was un
doubtedly dead
Bertha mourned for him rs lost.
True. II he were dead his Identified
ton badge should have been found.
But If a man Is buried under tons OF
earth caused 10y explosion or blown
into numerous fragments what good
Is IN Identification badge: \cverthc
less the poor girl had Il ray of hope
that Gustav lived and that they would
one day he reunited.
Bertha was very handy with her
brush and had the faculty of designing
cards and other things needed NJ so
cial functions. In this way she made
quite II snug sun of money and. being
frugal. had held ON to nearly nll of it.
She met II countryman Of hers. IN
artist much older than herself, who
paid her il great deal of attention and
ended by proposing marriage. But
Bcrthn's heart was with her lover, be
he alive or dead, and she would not
listen to any other man.
I;crtha's friends cndeavorcd TO cheer
her by trying to induce her to 20 about
with them to amuSemtntS. She yield
ed so far MS music and pictures were
concerned. but would not go anyw here
else Finally by holding up to her the
fact that many scenes of moving pie
turc plays were beautiful they excited
some interest in them. When they
told her that pictures OF scenes III the
great European war were given she
was only too ready to see them.
She had been II number of lines to
see pictures c~mbodyin9 military serv-
ice when one night the marching to
the French rear of Il number OF Ger
man prisoners was given. What was
her establishment to see. pale and bag
gard, Il bandage on his forehead. walk
ing on IA crutch while he held up one
foot, Gustav Schultz She at once be
came hysterical and WAS taken out OF
the building.
When she became sufficiently calm TO
tell What had moved her. inquiries
were made in her behalf rs 10 the time
the picture which included her lover
had been taken An approximate date
was given and was found to be nearly
oiiI W. ~ ~ N''tAA -
was reported missing
Thinking il possible that her lover
was alive and in II French hospital
Bertha determined to 20 and seek him
She crossed the ocean to England aud
irum there went to Paris. At Paris
she learned ut what camp the prison
crs taken in the tight after which Gus
tav was reported missing were intern
ed. and there she went Upon eXamin
Ing the rolls she ound her lovers
name as an inmate of ii hospital
One morning while Sergeant Schultz
was lying on his cot reading II news
paper. an autumn sun shining AT Il near
window. he heard Il CRY, and, looking
up. there was Bertha staggering to
ward him with open arms. In another
moment she had claSDed him and he