New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-25

You were there when he fell." she sskh.
and her looks devoured him. "How did b.
die? Was it really an heroic death, as .hc
wrote me when they sent me his personal
effects?"
Captain Ssndow plucked carefully one Of
the rosy blossoms with which the overhangins
bough Of the apple tree was laden. And vhls
he examined 1t he answered cslmlyi
"They told you the truth, gnadigs Frau
They did not exaggersta Your husband died
a hero's DEATH"
She sat quite still, her hands folded. And
in the silence which hung over the garden sr
oriole trilled its melodious notes. He talked
on. Laborously and slowly Were there not
untruths more sacred than the truth!
And he looked continually at the little app.
blossom in his hand.
81 found him mortally wounded on the edge
of wood. I bent over him. He opened bis
eyes anu lOOhcu at NE. OOHlI duc-d RIteNAs
to wife and child Then It was over
He stopped. And the oriole tried and
jubilated.
81 think" he resumed, after pause, 1T is
something beautiful and consoling TO be the
last thought Of dying man."
She gazed at him again. And again /.
seemed as if a ray of light penetrated the
settled gloom of her eyes. AS II full breath
stirred her whole body. AS If the lines which
had been craven about her tender mouth be-
came little less harsh.
THAT, gnadge Frau, was what brought me-
here" he said, as he arose to go.
Silently she reached him her hand, In heart
felt gratitude Words of confidence, born Of
that gratitude, seemed to struggle in her for
expression. But the shyness Of her grief con.
quered; and he respected that shynes.
The waves of the river 1ppied and sstensd
The officer in field gray, deep in thought, sat on
a lonely bench back near the stern Of the ~
turning steamer. Snow white moths few
about the vessel like pale spirits from another
world.
A group Of young girls IN Sunday clothes
with white summer hats and wreaths Of roses
sang merry song-a song Of spring snd love
and happiness. Care-free youth, which could
still face smilingly the deepest mysteries Of
life! Fortunate youth!
And the man in the stern Of the steamer
drew his etterbook from his pocket and TOOK
a photograph out of it.
photograph which on the morning sf'e.
the funeral he had found in letter addressed
to the dead man, lying at the edge Of the WOOD
not far from the burial place. letter winch
had probably fallen unnoticed when he was car
ried away by the ambulance corps men IN u'e
gathering darkness-which he had perhap'
himself with last effort taken out OF n'
pocket in desperate haste and which dea.n
with merciful insight had wrenched from d.
stiffening hands.
The picture with the laughing eyes, wn.'
he, doing comrades duty, was going TO mae
the fatal error of delivering 10 the wife o'e'
there in the green and gold garden OF '''
white villa.
He looked once more at it, at the beai'iiO'
'countenance with the eyes OF an enchsn"'
and hard smile played about his mouth
The deadly bullet had bored small foun,
hole through the breast Of the woman sau
then through that of the man who wore ''e
picture over his heart. On the snow white y
her costly lace waist there was little aa'A
spot. A tiny drop of blood.
Slowly the captain arose and walked 70 'n'
railing. There he broke the stiff caro- INTO
bits
Then he leaned over and while ne tosse'
the broken pieces of cardboard into the stresr"
he glanced once more up at the wooded helgns
Of the Elbe, in which white house lay M
bedded in the shining green--a house to whi'"
this golden spring morning had in measure
brought back peace.