The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-16
A STORY OF 1870.
a Dream That Came True After
AL,

CHAPTER I.
1t was early in the autumn of 1870, when
the siege of Sedan was yet thing Of the
future and the battle of Gravelotte had
only just been fought. We were at "a little
Ftown near Metz, just within the German
frontier, and our ambulance was busy for
all day long for three long days wagon
loads of wounded had been coming to US.
land the workers were all too few for the
work to be done
need not enter into explanation OF why
u was wearing the red-cross badge, and why
- was working here. This story is not of
myself. ! have told enough about myself
when have said that am English; that
even fifteen years ago, in that year of the
war. was no longer a very young woman,
and that my life has had sorrows in it
which best forget when hands and brain
Gre occupied in helping others had at
tached myself to a German ambulance and
I'VE had taken possession of a chateau from
which the owners had fed.
Most of our wounded were Germans. But
q few French had been sent to us, too; and
among these was a young officer, Gustave
de Bochet, bronzed good-looking young
fellow, who, a few months ago could have
been but lad and now had lines of stern
ness and firmness about his mouth which
NOlu GlGlf own Tale. IL was III UQe evening
of August IS, the third day of Gravelotte,
that he was brought in. He was badly
wounded in the shoulder, where hell had
struck him; and had tainted from the loss
of blood and the fatigue of the long, slow
journey in the jolting wagon in the dust
and dirt and heat.
We had not beds for all our wounded. A
heap ofstraw was often all that could be
offered, and mattress laid upon the floor
was luxurious resting place. This young
soldier, though French and prisoner was
wounded badly, and in such cases our am
bulance strove to be impartial. We found
a mattress for him, and by the time the
surgeon came to redress his wound he had
recovered consciousness and was looking
about him at his new surroundings.
Our French patients did not, as rule,
show much interest in things around them.
They were in the hated German land as
prisoners and not as victorS. As that was
so, what did all else matter: But our new
patient was evidently anxious and curious
concerning his whereabouts. His observ-
amt glance Travelled all round the ROOM
rested a moment on me, then Travelled
round again. Finally it rested on the sur
geon, Herr Hartmann, who knelt on the
floor beside him and was preparing to re-
'bandage the wound.
Herr Hartmann's was not an attractive
face. 1t was fair and fat, with puffy cheeks
and colorless eyes, and closely shaven lip
and chin. He looked with no good will on
the patient he tended and the patient re-
turned the antagonistic glance with interest.
Neither spoke; the bandaging was soon
done and the surgeon departed.
l remained by the bed when he had gone,
for had some soup for my patient and had
been waiting. He thanked me courteously
as he took it from me and | suppose the
word or two spoke betrayed that / was
not German.
MADAME is English, perhapsgn he said.
Yes; have come to help"
"You were right to come TO Germany"
he replied; Germany will need your help
---.asaara- tlaan-IaN countrV- For these We're
the early days when France was confident
and her young soldiers spoke proudly as
though success for their arms was fore
gone conclusion.
'You must take your soup" / said
hastily for the ward was full of Germans
and such unseemly confidence was apt to
offend. The dark, sunken eyes met mine
and smiled.
MADAME is discreet" he said But he
drank his soup obediently, and made no
more dangerous remarks
He had given me back the cup, and had
thanked me and was turning away, when
he called me back.
~ am not sure where they have brought
me-" he said, with more eagerness than the
occasion seemed to warrant. perhaps
madame will be good enough to tell me-"
told him the name of the little town, and
il seemed, for some mysterious reason, to
satisfy him. His face frightened.
'You have friends hereP' | said, drawing
q swift conclusion. But the question
proved unfortunate. His eyes grew grave
and his lips stern again as he answered;
eve have no longer, madame, any
friends in this country. The war has
broken all friendships"
/ could not stay to answer him; some one
was calling for me elsewhere and l went
hastily. had charge of two rooms and it
was from the other room that the summons
had come. Our surgeon was there deep in
conversation with an old German civilian,
Herr Stenberg, who owned a pretty little
chateau near our ambulance, and was good
enough to take much interest in us and TO
give us q good deal of his company, and
an his opinions concerning the Emperor
and his army and the valley of humili'
ution that certainly and deservedly lay
before them. He was q fine, upright olu
man with iron gray hair, and Keen, gray
eyes, and the nose aud mouth and chin Of