Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-08-09
STORY OF
A GHOST
The Scene Is aid In Ger.
many During the Pan.
European War
BY PAULINE d. EDWARDS


The Germans are especially fond OF
what Is mystical Young persons OF all
chimes are given that way, but Ger
many is the home Of secret societies
composed not only Of young men. but
OF those who are older.
Heinrich Borngcsser and Carl Frei.
berg were regular students at the
University of Heidelberg. Borngesser
was n merry chap. always ready for a
joke. while Freiberg was OF "A serious
cast BorngesSer was member OF a
corps whose business it was 10 prac-
tice on one another with the short
sword. Freiberg was a member of the
society for psychical research, whose
object it was TO discover some tan
gible link between the material and
the spiritual world.
The students of the university fire.
qucnted a wine and beer house presid
ed over by man named Becker. His
daughter Bertha, a girl of seventeen.
was accustomed 10 wait on those who
gathered there. she was Madonna
like creature. with large. serious eyes,
and there was Il reserve about her that
prevented those she served from the
usual jollying that young men are apt
TO give n waitress. The only person
who ever tried Il was Borngesser, and
he called 10 her face Il look so panied.
so entirely out of keeping with his ban
ter, that lie never tried 1t again.
Freiberg occasionally went to Beck
ers place for his beer. Ii was soon
noticed that he was the only man who
frequented the place with whom Bertha
would converse. What the secret Of
this Willingness was 10 one could tell.
All were equally respectful TO her. but
If after she had set down their wine or
beer they tried to detain her by bit
of chat she would invariably bring II
TO halt and leave them. In time she
received "a nickname from the stu
dents. 1t was Lady Purity.
Neither Borngesser nor Freiberg
was OF TIE nobility, but Borngesser
aspired to be an officer IN the army
Both young men served their term In
the military service. but Borngesser
was doomed to disappointment in Sc
curing a commission. The officers were
appointed from the ruling class
About the time these two young men
were leaving the university the pap.
European war broke out. Borneesser's
attempt to rally Bertha Becker had
affected her so much that IL sank
into her heart. 1t was as If he had
broken q fragile vase. There was no
anger in her manner toward him. Ii
was simply that she had been hurt
Strange as 1t may appear, it irritated
him. He was ignorant of what this
irritation meant, but it was plain to
others that it was the awakening Of "A
passion for the girl When he was
hurrying away 10 the war he found
time to stop ut the wine house to say
goodby to her. He might as well have
said goodby to stone
But when Freiberg babe her goodby
il was very different. There were few
words spoken between them. Indeed.
Bertha spoke not ut all Carl simply
said goodhy. with pressure OF the
hand, while she said goodby with her
whole soul through her eyes and when
he hurried away 10 the rendezvous she
followed him with those same eyes
while lie was In sight
BornecSser and Freiberg were in diff.
ferent regiments, but hard lighting
commenced at once between the Ger
mans and the Belsians. and the corps
to which they belonged, being deci-
mated, were joined in one. and thus
the two young men were thrown to-
gether. Borngcsser seemed TO know
that Frciberg had obtained success
with Bertha Becker. which was denied
TO himself. Nevertheless he maintained
the same friendly treatment of Carl
that he had borne toward him at the
university. Heinrich had often rallied
Carl upon his prediction for GHOSTS"
as he called il and on one occasion
changing from banter 10 a serious
mein. had said:
Carl, suppose we make an agree
ment.
what agreement
"One which will satisfy either you or
me OF your belief in a hereafter and
its connection with mortals still on
earth. u propose that whichever dies
first shall appear TO the other"
II have no objection TO that" replied
Carl.
Every well. 1t is understood and
agreed that If /. Heinrich Borngesser.
die before you will in some way
make you sensible of my existence"
And / will do the same by YOU"
When the two men were in Belgium
Heinrich reminded Carl Of their agree
ment and added This fighting Is
getting thicker every day. have
feeling in me that I'm going TO be
downed, and that before long So you
may expect to see me, my boy, for
shall certainly keep my pledge il
pass into another existence and am
able TO excite the senses Of mortal.
My own theory is that / cannot: that
you have no sense that will enable Won
to be cognizant of me, spirit"
THAT is what we men Of psychical
research are endeavoring to deter
mine." replied Carl.
Immediately after this dialogue there
began that sacrifice Of life, the like OF