Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-05-04

leave the front for Paris and for Ber-
lin, while thousands of dead bodies
were thrown into trenches or buried
separately as those attending to the
dead and wounded found time. Helm
rich Borngesser was reported among
the missing, which meant that he had
been either killed or taken prisoner.
But the Germans were at that time
driving the French back on Paris and
were themselves losing few, If any,
prisoners 1t was they who were TAX
ing prisoners. Borngesser's friends
therefore gave him up for dead.
Carl Freiberg was badly wounded,
and with many hundreds of others was
sent eastward. His home was at a
little town near Heidelberg, and after
few months in hospital he received
permission to go home till he was
ready to return to the front. After
regaining his strength he concluded to
go over to Heidelberg and enjoy a
glass Of wine served by Bertha Becker.
He found few persons in the place, and,
as for Bertha, she was working in an
ammunition factory.
But Bertha came home at night, and
few days later Carl went to Heidel-
berg again. Bertha had returned and.
seeing the soldier limping up the walk,
ran out to meet him. There had been
no lovemaking between the two. but
now. meeting after all that had hap
pened, what was in both drew them
together. They few to each others
arms.
1t was now autumn, and the summer
was dying by gasps, as it usually does.
There would come a cool snap-a win
ter skirmish line-followed by re-
turn OF warm weather, then another
colder period, which would after a few
days give ground before another warm
invasion. Carl and Bertha. when the
evening was not too cold, would sit
out on a bench in the Beckers' private
garden, as lovers have sat on garden
benches from time immeihorial, locked
in each others arms.
The time was approaching when Carl
would have TO go back to the front
His first departure had not troubled
him, for he had not then been aware
Of his love for Bertha; but now re-
turn TO that which was almost certain
death or manning was awful He was
not thinking of his own sacrifice. but
of Bertha's. Whenever he spoke to her
Of re-entering those dreadful scenes
she would cling to him as if he were
about to be dragged away to execu-
ton.
One night they were sitting in the
garden together when they received a
shock. The darkness was relieved by
a moon nearly full shining out Of a
clear sky. The lovers were sitting in a
bower open only to the front. Sudden
ly figure appeared at this opening.
Heavens" exclaimed Bertha. 1T is
Heinrich Borngesser!'
There was just enough light of the
moon shining full upon the figure to
show the features. The face was
deadly pale, there was a horrible red
cash in the cheek and bandage across
one eye.
Carl was visibly affected. Was this
really the man who had promised If it
were possible to prove to him that the
dead may communicate with the living
and had now come back to keep his
agreement? One would suppose that a
mind leaning toward belief In ghosts
would accept the figure as the spiritual
body Of his returned comrade. But
now that test was put on his credu-
lily Carl doubted.
The ghost stood for moment facing
the couple, then resumed its pace
across the opening. AS 1t passed out
Of sight something futtered from 1t to
the ground. Carl ran to it and picked
it up. Holding it in the moonlight, he
read with difficulty:
81 forbid the banns."
Bertha was near a state of collapse
Carl turned to her and, taking her in
his arms, endeavored to reassure her.
what is on the paper?" she asked
family.
Nothing of moment" replied Carl.
But she insisted, and he was obliged
to tell her She sank back on the
bench and covered her face with her
hands.
I'VE must part" she moaned.
Not by this command"
He has come back from the other
world to warn US. 1t is not Gods will
that we should live for each other"
Sweetheart" said Carl, there is
something wrong here. II he had real
ly come back from the dead l would
have felt the presence of spirit. On
the contrary. felt the spirit of liv-
ing man."
How do you explain his coming?
Did he not perish on the battle tield?"
81 don't believe he did He was re-
ported among the missing. l believe
that he was made prisoner and es-
capped. l am sure ii was he In the
flesh"
Time proved that Carl was right,
but months passed before the matter
was explained. Borngesser had been
taken prisoner, but had got away from
his captors, had hidden i'm a wood and
burrowed into the ground. After many