The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14
A STORY OF 1870.
e Dream That Came True After
an.



the siege of Sedan was vet a thing Of the
future, and the battle of Gravelotte had
only just been fought. We were at a little
town neor Metz, just within the German
frontier, and our ambulance was busy, for
all day long for three long days wagon
Ioads of wounded had been coming to US,
ind the workers were all too few for the
work to be done.
1need not enter into explanation of why
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 tnat my life has had sorrows in it
which be-. forget when hands and brain
are occupied in helping Others | had at
tached myself to German ambulance and
we had taken possession of chateau from
which the owners mad fed.
Most OF our wounded were Germans But
o few French had been sent to u.s. too: and
among these wes young officer Gustave
de Bochet, bronzed. gOod-loOking Young
fellow, who, few months ago, could have
been but lad and now had lines of stern
ness and frmneSS about his mouth which
told their own tale. 1t was in the evening
OF August Is the third daV of Grayelotfe
tha5 he was brought in. He was badly
wounded in the shoulder, where ball 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
heap Ok Straw was often all that could be
offered, and mattress laid upon the floor
was q luxurious resting place. This young
soldier, though French and prisoner. was
wounded badly, and in such cases our am
bulGnce strove to be impartial We found
m&VcreS5 Tor him, and by the time the
surgeon came 70 redress his wound he had
recovered consciousness and was looking
about him at hiS new surroundings.
Our LIel.h patients did not, as a rule,
show much Interest in things around them.
They were iii the hated German land as
prisoners and not as victors As that was
SO, what did az else matter! But our new
patient Wa cvi3eG.ly anxious aud curious
concerning his whereabouts. His obServ-
ant glance Travelled al round the room.
rested moment on me, then travelled
round again. F-alliy it rested on the sur
Eeon, HeTr Hartmann, who knelt On the
fiOor beside him and was preparing to re-
bandage the wound.
Gerr Har,uann'S was no. an attractive
face. 1t was fair anG fst, with puffy cheeks
cG8 cOlOrless ewes. aud closely shayen lin
and chin. He locke! with no GOOD viii on
the patient he tended and the patient re-
turned the antcConistic glance with interest.
Neither spoke; the bandaging was soon
done and the sU- gson departed,
1remained by tGe bed when he had gone
fOc had some soup for nv patient and had
been waiting. BE thanked me courteously
as ne took 10 from me and | suppose the
word or two I poke betrayed that 1 was
not German.
.AiadaEne is sEnGlish, perhaps!" he said
"Yes; | have come to help.n
"No on We're right to come to Germany"
WI
mora thsG ny cCuutTY." For these were
the ca'iy days when France was confident
and her young soldiers spoke proudly as
though success FOR taeir arms was a fore
gone CCucluSiJu.
''Nou mus take your SOUP" I said,
hastily: fc1 the ward was full of Germans
and Suca UDseemlN confidence was apt to
offend Tne dark, sanken eyes met mine
and smiled.
',Ja1ame is Discreet" he said But he
orcak his sorip obeIiontly, and made no
more dangerous remarks.
he had given me back the cup, and had
thanked ne and was turning away, when
be called ma back.
- am not sure where they have brought
ne" ne said. with more eagerness than the
occasion seemed 70 warrant. Perhaps
madame vii be good enough 10 tell me-"
told him the name of the little town, and
it seemed, for some mysterious reason, to
satisfy him. His face frightened.
"You have friends here?' l 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"
I could nos STAY 10 answer him; some one
was calling for me elsewhere and / went
hastily. had charge of two rooms, and it
yves from the other room that the summons
had come. Our surgeon was there, deep In
conversation with an old German civilian.
Herr Steinberg. VINO owned pretty little
cbateal near oGg ambulance, and was good
enough 70 take much interest in us and TO
give rs good deal of his company, and
all bis opinions concerning the Emperor
and his army and the valley of humili-
alton that certainly and deServedly lay
before them. Ee was a fine. upright old
, man with iron gray hair, and keen. gray
ewes. and the nose and mouth and chin of
man with an obstinate viii of his own.
He liked 20 lsy down the law d0gInatlcally
10 rs all and 70 Herr Hartmann as well as
Co the rest. The surgeon loved his own
Ouinion. too. and generally abode by 1t,
but lie yielded il 10 Herr Steinberg; and
that had osSen been q wonder to me. 1t no
longer perpiezed me after the few words
nov overheard
ssYou viii come in when all is done to-
nightl'' said Herr Steinberg.
az will cone-yeS. But last night came
and Traulein Ninna would have no word to
cav % me :
to ae-." said the old man grimly. ''She
will know better n the future"
After that. many things were clear 20
me I understood why Herr Hartmann
smiled so ssrerely ON mis- troublesome old
visitor an6 reserved his opinion when 1t
wrs litelv 70 clash with Herr Steinbergs.