The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-01-25

come to YOU rs soon as he was strong
| enough 2"
The withered lips are pressed tightly
! together but they quivcr nevertheless.
| She keeps her eye steadfastly fixed on
| the Englishman.
1t may I've that he will never be
strong; that is in the hands of the good
God; but he will be happier for the
sight Of his mother. All, m'sieur, you
do not know the loving heart of my
jacques" She turned away her face
abruptly, and then came little choll
| ing sob. 1t was not as if she was
ashamed of her sorrow, but she would
not OhtrudC it on her companion. He
| left her in peace. He thought if She
cried herself to sleep it would do her
good and she did sleep peacefully.
just at two o'clock the NOitnre halted.
1t had halted before, but not with so
violent Jerk. The old woman started,
awolle, and the Englislman, who had
dOzcd Off for few minutes, yawned,
and shook himself. The conductor
came to the door of the coupe.
"We are near o., m'sieur
Where does m'sicur wish to be set
down p
AT the hospital"
"BieE, m'sieur!"
In lew minutes they were rolling
again along the high road.
"Whrn you get to the hospital how
shall you find you son ~ The English
man had been in similar scenes, and he
fOresaw that Il crowd Of wounded and
dying men lay at D..
Pardon, m'sicur, but have the num-
Der OF my Jacques. He is number ScV-
Ell. And also have the chaplain'S let
ter. am to ask for M'sieur SAKE, the
chaplain, and he will conduct me to my
jacques.
Again her eyes glisten with that won
derful blending of hone and sorrow.
, Hitherto their way has lain across open
country, unscathed us yet by the tread
of war; only the untitled fields and the
absence OF crops speak Of the universal
desOlatiOn that brOOds over France.
But close too everything changes;
, blackened houses III ruins, others riddlcd
with balls, and windOWlcss, are to bc
seen on all sides as the voitllre draws
up within short distance Of the hos
pital. The Englishman helps his com
: panion out of hevOiture very carefully
, My visit here,n he says, sis to DR.
5 l., the head of the medical staff
If can be of any assistance to you, yOr
will find me at his quarters"
The gllstenlng eyes twinkle, but it is
? an effort to hold back the tears which
! run freely over her Withered, scOrcheC
j., cheeks.
' "M'sicrr," she says i'll a quivcrins
, voice, " cannot thank you enough, bu
} it YOU will come to see my jacques VIZ
c will thank you tOgether.n
. The Englishman is going to ansWe1
c her, but his hand is grasped suddenl,
y by some one who has come out Of th'
t hospital.
"Ma fol, Martin, I did not look fo
t You so soon; are you really come t.
f help us 2"
t II am come to do what I can. I hav'
t no medical skill, hut | am Il tOlerabl
G nurse. But, +, this good woman
= to see him." Then in lower voice h
told the story of her weary journey ant
r. of her letter from the chaplain. Mon
sieur l. answered at once, but h
= spoke to the old woman instead of t
:, his friend.
= Madame, your son is in cxccllen
G hands. Monsieur SAKE is as good q doe
o tor as he is a priest. will take YOU t
him at once"
:. S3fe made deep courtesy, and one
S more hope returned to her dark eyes
e There was an indescribable expressio
n of thankful resignation in her face, an
" in the thin brown hands which she fol
= ded one over the other as she fOllOWe
the doctor to the entrance Of the long
G low building. DR.. L---spOke to
is woman dressed like q Sister and pointe
4 to the mother of Jacques. The Siste
e shook her head.
e The Pere SAKE is not to be seen jus
e nOw," she said. "He is burying poe
e boy who died last night"
h Then you will wait till he returns
IS said DR.. &. "COme Martin, wi
If take you round at once"
is The rapidity, the keenness of decis
: sion in the dark-cyed doctor has in
c posed silence on his companions. NJ
Martin mods at the old woman and fO
p lows into the hospital. The Sistt
If stands looking at the mother of JacQue
is The Smur Ursule has broad, gOOt
Is natured face, and looks pitifully at tt
II weary woman.
le Madame, is it far to the cemetery
,e The Sisters eyes opened widely. 90
10 the contrary, it is too near; but you Wi
% not see our good father any sooner fl
seeking him there. VIII you not |
II glad to rest till Monsieur Sake comes in
le You are surely very weary; | will tai
~ you where you can repOse yourself"
IS 81 thank you, madame, but too Won
h like to pray for the soul Of the poor be
| who died last night. Madame, I've 10
it four boys in battles, and it may be th
T. good souls have also prayed at the
s; lonely graves"
le "Bien, my mother, as you will" TT
Sister points out the way to the Gem
is tery, and then hastens back to her dutie
ed But the mother of Jacques finds tn
Id she has more power in intention than
at execution. Whilst she sat resting
lis the cushion Of the yOiture wondering
s. it's sOftness, her back and her legs ha'
ut stiffened; she can scarcely move alOl
IN the way the Sister pointed out. AIDES
IL late way enough, with ruined cOtt1g
"a, on each side, till they gave place to VIII
G. has been q stone fence scattered in hea
beside therOad. There is no living sig
sc or sound except a crowd of gnats viii
is trumpet forth a joy song at the apprOa
of a victim. They buzz about her hea
ne they settle on her face and hands, b
We she does not notice them. Another mu
en- reached her, and she turns in on the rig
between the heaps Of gray stones. II
at has been field once, but the grass h
le, been trOdden away. There are alrea
several mounds rising about it's brOy
ed surface. A priest and his attendar
ne stand beside an open grave, and near a
er, several men who have already lower
to the body. The service is neal
is ended. The priest takes the aspt
Is sOry from his assistant, walks rou
ed the grave and sprinkles the cof
he for the last time, and then
he chants the versicles while the aSsistal
es. make the responses. Then all KIN
lst while the priest offers the last pray
as and the mother of jacques, spite of |
ce. stiffness, kncels reverently with the T.
| nc+I ITr @ln4