Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-08-09

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
glass of wine served by Bertha Becker.
He found few persons I'm 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 bad returned and.
seeing the soldier limping up the walk,
ran out 10 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 flew to each others
arms.
1t was now autumn, and the summer
was dying by gasps, as it usually does.
There would come cool snap-a win
ter SkirmiSh line-followed by re-
turn of warm weather, then another
colder period, which would after few
days give ground before another warm
INVASION. Carl and Bertha, when the
evening was not too cold. would sit
out on bench In the Beckcfs' private
garden, as lovers have sat on garden
benches from time immemorial, 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 10 that which was almost certain
death or manning was awful He was
not thinking Of his own sacrifice. but
of Bertha 5. 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
shock. The darkness was relieved by
a moon nearly full shining out of
clear sky. The lovers were sitting in
bower open only TO the front. Sudden
ly u 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 yisibly 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 10 keep his
agreement: One would suppose that
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 a moment facing
the couple. then resumed its pace
across the opening. AS it passed out
of sight something fluttered from it to
the ground. Carl ran to it and picked
it up. Holding it in the moonlight. he
read with difficulty.
II forbid the banns.'
Bertha was near state of collapse
Carl turned to her and, taking her IN
his arms, endcayored 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 hack on the
bench and covered her face with her
hands.
we must part" she moaned.
Not by this command"
He has come back from the other
world 10 warn us. 1t is not Gods will
that we should live for each other"
Sweetheart" said Carl. there is
wrong here. If he had real
ly come back from the dead | would
have felt the presence of a spirit. On
the contrary. felt the spirit Of liv-
ing man"
How do you explain his coming?
Did be not perish on the battle Geldf'
II don't believe he did He was re-
ported among the missing | believe
that he was made prisoner and es-
capped. am sure il 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 in II wood and
burrowed into the ground. After many
efforts 10 return 10 his own lines. from
which he had been driven, he had
finally succeeded. He had sought
Bertha and found Carl in possession.
Taking advantage OF this agreement
he had yielded TO temptation to sep
arate Carl from her.
Borngesser returned to the front. and
neither Carl nor Bertha ever saw him
again. for he was killed i'm one Of the
attacks the Germans made to possess
themselves of Calais. But before this
fatal ending he wrote Carl, confessing
the deception
Before Carl went bac., 10 the iron.
he married Bertha. His experience
with n spurious ghost turned him from
his disposition to dwell upon the mar
velous. Carl was SO badly wounded
as To unfit him for active service. so
he was discharged Then married
Bertha and settled do1 in Heidcl
berg as tutor.