Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24
CHAPTER I'LL


The enemy had been met on the outskirts of
scripts first battie-but the Germans at length
had reiterated hastily.
There was many gap in the French ranks,
and Carlo was ono OF the fallen
When he came to himself again he wondered
at first where he was. The motionless bleed
ing bodies in all sorts of strange positions
dotting the ground soon reminded him. There
a terrible pain in his breast. and he saw
that his thick great coat stained with
blood His mouth too. tasted of It, He knew
that he was severely wounded. Leaning back
against a stump he tried to ease his position
The pain grew worse, and now ii was 50 cold
SO cold,
Far away in the distance he seemed to hear
the boom of the guns and the faint shouts Of
the soldiers. Then he thought he was home
once more: he heard the tinkiirg sheep bells
on the hillside az Saint Ange. and the vespers
ringing from the old cathedral; he could see
the women going TO evening mass; he heard
their prayers for the absent ones; and he
passed by he saw the cure and fIerre-the
dear old man looked little Grayer and he
stopped more: the winter was not treating him
well. Then he came TO the little garden-it
Just the same ever-the ole gate, the
rose bushes. the boUSh Of the apple tree; and
he was strollIng along the narrow ra;h
hedge and youder the dark trees and the roll
ing meadows iadlng in the distance. Then
suddenly he saw figure IN white coming
toward II. 1t looked familiar. 1t waS-nO--
yes. yes. 1t was-Gabrielie.
Just then deep groan called him from his
dream making him star; and open his eyes. With
an effort he turned 10 see whence the sound
, came-the movement sending twinge of pain
through him.
A soldier !av quite near him. He was suffer
ing. for he grOaned again, and Carlo heard him
moan piteously for water. At that moment he
turned his head and Carlo saw-Rudoif
What could he do for him! He could scarcely
stir EImsclf-much less help another And
whv should he help az ALP Rudolf had never so
much said kind word TO him: ne had al
WAYS hated him. And Carlo turned his face
, away. His eyes on tell an officers spirit flask
iyinS near the stump. With trembling hands,
for he was getting weaker and weaker. he
reached out, almost LOSING his balance, and
picked up the bottle. He shook il TO see how
much was left; very little, barely two three
mOuthiuls. He opened IL and his first impulse
to raise it 10 his lips. He could smell the
strong odor of the spirit Blu, voice within
him whispered:
NO. no. let him have it. He has Gabrielle
TO live for and You have no one"
He wavered "A moment. Yes, 1t was true.
Rudolf had Gabrielle. while he. ali. he had no
one-no one. so with set teeth 10 counteract
/ the pain he dragged himself across TO his
wounded comrade, and. supporting himself
wish one arm. he steadily poured the few
moutEfuis down the mans throat
Pour elleI Pour ele," he kept muttering
Then 1t seemed If the silvery tinkle of the
sheep bells came stealing over the battle field
once more. bringing peace with their music, a
mist rose up before his eyes. he fancied asweei
/ face-a face he had loved 50 well-was smiling
at him. while faint voice from the ground be-
side him murmured indIstinctly:
''Ierci. comrade, Mercir'
Then the elbow OF his supporting arm
treubed. the flask slipped from his fingers and
he sank inert across Rudolfs body.
few hours later. when the twilight shadows
began to fall. the ambulance wagons came
/ along to pick up the wounded; and together
I they found these two-the hero and the man
be had aided. But they took only one Of the
NO away with them.