New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-03
4 VAR TALE OF
THREE
Continued from First Column of This PAGE

the bonds which a common home and chilli
create to the wife whom he had once passion.
ately loved
Even if what was at first mere imprudencs
NAV grow into wrong and unfaithfuness, the
acknowledged wife still enjoys the protection Of
the home which the husband has created for
her. and the mistress remains nothing better
than the Other Woman, who must stand D.
fore the door, stripped of right. But he
latter was far more experienced in the art q
capturing and holding men than was the shy
ouiet wife who offered her love unreserveds,
as from an OVERLOOKING chaice. Men do not
long for that: few sweet drops satisfy then
better.
In mad whir the lonely officers thoughts
gaIoped through his fevered brain. His burn
ing eyes gazed into the darkness; his teen
chartered with the cold; he clenched his fist
How long would he have to stay here, This
accursed weather was too bad even for the Cos.
sacks.
But there-was there not something moving
across the fields? He lifted his whistle to his
mouth. But before he could give the prear
ranged signal, he heard the challenge Of the
advance posts, answered in German. In
moment three men stood before him, covered
over thick with mud and slime, scarcely recog
nizabe in the dripping wet and foulness Of
their great coats.
"Under-Offcer Bergner and two men-back
from patrol tour! The Russians have evacu.
ated their trenches and disappeared. The whole
front is clear Nothing is to be seen Of the
enemy in any direction"
God be praised That is sensible of them
answered Manzdorff with an effort, since he
was weak from crown to feet and could hard!
hold himself upright. "See that you get %
the fire. children, and also have something 70
eat You, Bergner, come again to me IN an
hour, We will rearrange the outposts."
AT your order!"
But when the under-offcer punctualy 81
hour later re-entered the hut, whose only room
left with a roof sheltered the First Lieutenant
he found the latter lying on the floor in his
wet clothes, unconscious.
"If only it isn't typhusl" exclaimed the
faithful sub-ofdcer
He made a bed as best he could for the sick
man on the miserable straw sheaves IN the
Weeks and weeks passed on the Polish 'front.'
Deep snow had piled itself like turNeted
wall around the little, half-runed village and
melted away again in running streams mus
andlass DAVIS of rain, when the clouds hung
like a heavy veil over all the woods and plans
Then came the late winter storms out Of kus
sia's mighty steppes and beat fiercely upon ths
wretched straw roofs, as if those most mlser'
able of all human beings, the Poles driven IRON
their homes by the Cossacks, now some"ners
far away in the depths Of Siberia ha
weighted the wind with all their passlonan
imprecations and longngs.
Its bowling sounded like human wall eche
ing down the chimney, and the young wiie' VIC
watched in loneliness at I'll bedside OF her sieA
husband. covered her head in her cloak. Die
had a deep dread of those stormy nights bu.
when the faithful Bergner, who had settled
himself with her husbands company IN winter
quarters in the Polish village, or some other
of her husbands comrades offered to relieve
her she always declined with thanks.
Weeks and weeks passed Then one morning
the staff surgeon stretched out both his han''
70 her and shook hers as he would have shaken
those of a good comrade.
81 think we can see daylight now, gnsclss
Frau" he said. Thanks solely to your d''
voton."
Slowly. almost reverently, he kissed one han'
and then the other. They were red and rough.
ened by the hard homework which she ns4
done for weeks and weeks. But who was 'he..
to cook and wash and clean except her'sl'
The soldiers, who one and all looked up 70 rs,
with a shy homage and among whom she moves
as TRANQUILITY as among friends and bro'he'S
would gladly have helped her. But she p's
ferred TO do the work alone. II made her eye
clear and bright The worried, harried O''
came back only when, as now, after the SUI
geon was gone, she stood alone at the h'u'
scrupulousy polished window.
There was feeling of spring in the air. =. a
sob rose in her throat. The spring woun
come and bring him new life. But what w9u"
it bring to her?
She threw her head back. For moment
seemed as if all that she had achieved IN 'n0S
lonely hours of watching about 70 erump"
like house of cards under the first soft oreS~
Of spring stirring about her. Yet her "es'
ness was only momentary. She must desP's
herself IL she should ever again be supp
ant for his love-if she should ever re-aeeeP'
it in a spirit of modest effacement. Her PR,
had been quickened Her tender body 10,
;+coIf -, s,;+a of rbvcica1 oXprtlOn anu