The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-01
By PAULINE D. EDWARDS

anu LuerG was d reserve dDOuC her IUuC
prevented those she served from the
usual jollying that young men are apt
to give a waitress. The only person
who ever tried it was Borngesser, and
he called to her face look so panied,
30 entirely out of keeping with his ban
ter, that he never tried it again.
Freiberg occasionally went to Beck
ers place for his beer. 1t 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 no one could tell.
All were equally respectful to her, but
II after she had set down their wine or
beer they tried to detain her by a bit
Of chat she would invariably bring it
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 the 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 commission. The officers were
appointed from the ruling class
About the time these two young men
were leaving the university the pan
European war broke out. Borngesser's
attempt to rally Bertha Becker had
affected her so much that 1t sank
into her heart 1t was as If he had
hr.oIxop froorflo uoca Tharo xx,oe M
anger in her manner toward him. 1t
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 to the war he found
time to stop at the wine house to say
gOOdby to her He might as well have
said goodby to stone
But when Freiberg babe her goodby
1t was very different. There were few
words spoken between them. Indeed,
Bertha spoke not at all. Carl simply
said goodby, with pressure of the
hand, while she said goodby with her
whole soul through her eyes, and when
he hurried away to the rendezvous she
followed him with those same eyes
while he was in sight.
Borngesser and Freiberg were in diff
ferent regiments, but hard fighting
commenced at once between the Ger
mans and the Belgians, and the corps
to which they belonged, being deci-
mated, were Joined in one, and thus
the two young men were thrown to-
gether. Borngesser seemed to know
that Freiberg had obtained a 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 fer GHOSTS
as he called it and on one occasion,
changing from banter to 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. 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 l, 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. l have a
feeling in me that In going to be
downed, and that before long So you
may expect to see me, my boy, for /
shall certainly keep my pledge If
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 you
to be cognizant of me, spirit"
''That is what we men of psychical
research are endeavoring to deter
NINE" replied Carl.
Immediately after this dialogue there
began that sacrifice Of life, the like of
which was never seen before in war.
Trains loaded with wounded began to
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
a 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
a 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 a re-
turn of warm weather, then another