Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-12-17


into deeper and swifter whirlpool than
before.
He was living this reckless life at Dres-
den; day after day, night after night was
spent at the card table; but at last there
came a time when fortune frowned. He
lost, and lost heavily.
Then came the uprising Of all Germany.
The genius Of war sprang like Minerva,
and hurled with resistless force her
iron battalions against presumptuous
France
He told how gladly he had Joined a
regiment bound for the front; anything
that meant action was better than the
frozen torpor Of his life Then came that
memorable 14th of August, the first battle
before Metz, when the night closed over
a field strewn with a, 900 Prussians killed
and wounded. He had belonged to the
glorious Seventh Crops, under Steimetz,
and when the left, commanded by Zastrou,
rushed madly in the advance, the French
fire moved down the line with terrific
and murderous sweep. Their ranks were
filed Immediately and they passed on.
Pandemonium seemed opening beneath
their feet with the Internal growl of the
mitrailleuse the hiss of the Chassepot,
and the ring of the needle-gun bullets.
There came sudden burning sting, and
he remembered no more, until aroused by
a stab of pain; lantern flashed in his
face; they were lifting him into an ambu-
lance
Long weeks of suffering succeeded;
torturing days OF pain, delirum, and pitt
full weakness. After time the fever be-
gan TO abate, and during the tedons con
valescence, his past life came like a
hideous spectre and stared him in the
face. He had been 50 near death, he had
been forced to think OF it; his physical suf-
fering seemed to have purified his gros
ser elements and frightened the spirit
ual
The young surgeon who had charge of
him was countrylnan of his own, and
sort of friendship had sprung up between
them. He grew to look with kind of
childish longing for his visits. There was
something in his presence more inyigorat-
ing than his tonics.
In Fred Hulett's case, the interest be-
tween doctor and patient was mutual.
The former had mused many time and
speculated much on the man in No. IL.
The face, which was still fine, despite the
ravages of dissipation and disease, the ele-
CANT manner and well chosen speech, the
sloical endurance under the probe and
knife-an American and common soldier
of the German ranks. Here was an object
of the most interesting sort, within close
range of the doctors penchant for the
study of character.
One day he found his patient in state
of mind Just bordering ON the oyerstrung
condition which had produced the nerv-
Gus chill before. He changed his tactics,
and delicately asked him ii there was not
something beside the giving Of medicine
that he could do for him; could he not
write home for himz
Barrie, " said Fred, Il broke down at
that and cried like baby. He left me
have it out and said nothing, but when l
grew little calmer, felt that must tell
him, and perhaps | should be better and
stronger to take up new life and stand
to it. After had finished he took my
hand in warm, strong grasp: You are
young he said; there is yet time TO
retrieve something Of what you have lost.
The mistakes Of even ten years should not
draw down and engulf a whole life in
their wreck. God knows that temptation
comes to every man under the sun, else he
would not make the cry for help a daily
prayer We all have our hourly battle to
fight We will breast it together if you
win 1t is not a matter Of favor from
the gods, but each man fights Oh his own
metlle, and the doughtiest wins.
II was not slow in making him under
stand the good he had done me; and he,
for his part did not forget the offer OF
friendship, but has stood by me like a
brother ever since.
Il wanted to put the Atlantic between
me and the country where the very air
seemed thick with sickening memories.
As soon as the doctor could wind up his
affairs, we came back together. Through
his influence | got situation. I've sue
ceeded so far in giving satisfaction, and
hope to keep on. The doctor has furnished
his rooms and put out his sign. There
no doubt but that he'll soon build up a
practice, but he won't starve in the mean
time, as he has something Of a pile to fall
back on. Barrie, l want you to know
the man who has done SO much for
me" ael
Jeannie had been shocked and awed by
this tragic chapter Of life. The suffering
0AA AAAAoOAJ ANA0 NA1 W IL Oob nCA lCAOO1CS0
sympathies.
They took the train together that night
for home. A short time before they
started, Fred Hulett dashed into the doc
tors office in a high state Of excitement,
and nearly fell over small valise, which
stood, of course, in the middle Of the floor,
whereat Thorndyke appeared suddenly in
the doorway with some clean clothes
on his arm and alarm On his counte-
nance.
Pm going home tonight, and with
whom do you thinkln He did not give
him time to think. with little Barrett
herself. God bless you, Thornl you sent
me to the very house where she boarded.
Wasn't it stranger She's just as sweet
and sensible as she used to be, and was SO
glad to see me"
Thorndyke, with hearty grasp of his
hand, tod him how glad and happy he
was in his good fortune, adding that he
now saw no obstacle in the way of his full
filling his engagement. and doing double
justice to the dinner on the morrow. ''It
win be a Thanksgiving indeed to you,"
he said, at parting.