The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-20

Trains loaded with wounded began l"
,..v. tho front for Paris and for Ber-
lin. while thousands Of dead oodies
vere thrown into trenches or Durled
separately as those attending 10 inc
dead and wounded found time. HEN
rich Borngesser was reported among
tho missing. which meant that he had
been either killed or taken prisoner.
Rut the Germans were at that time
driving the French back on PARIS ano
were themselves losing few, II 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 al a
little town near Heidelberg. and after
q few months in hospital he received
permission to go home till ne was
ready to return to the 'front.' After
regaining his strength he concluded to
70 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
q few days later Carl went to Heide.-
berg again. Bertha hId 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 10th drew them
together They few to each others
arms.
1t was now autumn, ard the summer
was dying by gasps, as it usually does,
There would come cool snap-a win
ter skirmish line-followod 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 a bench in the Beckers' private
garden, as lovers have sat on garden
] benches from time immemorial, locked
| In each others arms
i The time was approaching when Carl
would have to 60 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 n 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 II he wero
about to be dragged away to execu-
ton.
One night they were sitting in the
garden together when they received n
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 II II
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 q
mind leaning toward q belief in ghosts
would accept the figure as the spiritual
body Of his ret,Hned comrade But
now that test was put on his credu
lity Carl doubted.
The ghost stood for a moment facinl
the couple. then resumed it's pace
across the opening. AS 1t passed Out
Of sight something fluttered from 1t tC
the ground. Carl ran to it and picked
it up. Holding it in the moonlight, ht
read with difficulty:
II forbid the banns."
Bertha was near state of collapse
Carl turned to her and, taking her il
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 tn,
bench and covered her face with he
hands.
We must part" she moaned.
Not by this command"
He has come back from the othe
world to warn us. 1t is not Gods will
that we should live for each other"
Sweetheart" said Carl, there i
something wrong here If he had real
ly come back from the dead / woul,
have felt the presence of spirit. OF
the contrary. felt the spirit of liz
ing man.
How do You explain his coming
, Did he not perish on the battle field :?
Il don't believe he did. He was re
ported among the missing believ
that he was made a prisoner and es
capped. l am sure it was he in tn
flesh"
| Time proved that Carl was right
but months passed before the matte
was eyDla inad RornpoSSor bod hoo