The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-16

lin. W0lle tnOuSauuS Oh uedu UOAicp
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, il 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 q
little town near Heidelberg, and after
q 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
60 over to Heidelberg and enjoy
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 Heidel-
berg again. Bertha hfd 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, ard the summer
was dying by gasps, as it usually does.
There would come cool snap-a win
ter skirmish line-followe6l by q 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 bench in the BccAers' 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 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 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 cliuG to him as IL he wero
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
moon nearly full shining out Of u
clear sky. The lovers were sitting in q
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 horrible red
cash in the cheek and bandage across
one eye.
Carl was visibly affected. Was this
really the man who had promised If 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 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 fluttered from it to
the ground. Carl ran to it and picked
1t 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, 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 hel
| 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 il
something wrong here. If he had real
ly come back from the dead l would
have felt the presence of spirit. Or
the contrary. l felt the spirit of liv
ing man."
| "How do you explain his coming
Did he not perish on the battle field 2
Il don't believe he did. He was re
ported among the missing. l believe
that he was made a prisoner and es
capped. l am sure it was he in the
flesh"
Time proved that Carl was right
but months passed before the matter
was explained. Borngesser had beer
taken prisoner, but had got away from
his captors, had hidden in a wood ant
burrowed into the ground. After many
efforts to return to his own lines. from