Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-06

-N oASN ~ Ioh III
throw out both his hands into the air.
Then I knew what had happened.
"In another instant he would fall
backward over his horse's launches
and lie on the ground with q Prussian
bullet in his Intervals and his COM
rades' horses trampling the beauty in
his young face. On I went, the blood
trickling down on to my saddle, my
teeth gritting together and a pretty
strong resolve in my soul to see some
Prussian fluid very soon.
"'Holy Virgin!' Jean Joseph Cam
bert's voice reached me through the
screaming and the Kissing OF the bull
lets. He was speaking grimly. 'Cour-
age, comrade, he said; you win your
wager, for you ride before me toward
the enemy's line And, monsieur, il
was SO! Leon st. Paul had been caught
as he fell, and lay across the saddle of
his rival, supported by his left arm.
"What followed then? You must pic
ture it for yourself, for l cannot. Some
of us never reached the hop vines, some
never returned, but those who left us had
Prussian comrades on their journey to
the other world, be sure Of that. All, ha.
on that journey a good soldier of France
is comforted by the presence Of a detest-
ed Prussian. though in life no road ia
broad enough for them to travel AMIGA
bly,.
'NIhnr ~ yryac nV,n1 tx,n rnfVrn0H aud
we three, Cambert, St, Paul and l, were
still together.
"Cambert bore St Paul to the place
where M. Vendome aud Marie Emman
uel we're at work. They were both cov
cred with blood and sweat. The surgeon
groaned as we brought the youth in, for,
as I have said, he loved St. Paul. but
Marie uttered a cry which was hard on
Cambert and made him look more grim
than ever.
II was in very great haste to part
company with my right arm, but l stood
aside to give young Leon his chance. A
right arm is a good friend and sticketh
closer than a brother. But even the best
IL LCuu lS SOl1lOlklllCS uC tlOp.
1.-THE surgeon ripped the garments up
with his scissors and tore them from the
wound, disclosing the white flesh of the
patients body, but just then Leon
reused and tried to drag himself Oh to
his side, away from the healer's hand,
muttering something that seemed to i'm
ply that, exclusive to the last, he would
not be touched or handled in our pres
ence.
"The surgeon drew back irresolute,
which was indeed strange with mo-
ments SO precious and gaping wounds
waiting for him on every side.
"Then it was that the vivandiere
spoke, turning to those who stood with
in the door of the hut, moved by such
curiosity as men can feel who are used
to scenes of blood.
$50, go, my friends she said
monsieur must find that bullet, and
this is no place for you. You all have
had mothers, women of France, sisters,
some Of you wives or sweethearts.
Retire, / beg. If I come to the door of
the hut and say, MY friends, it is the
death'-here her strong voice broke
then pray-pray for the soul of a brave
daughter Of France
1--WE who had called the young SOL
dier comrade and loved or hated him
for his smiling, handsome face cast a
strange look upon the silent figure I'M
der the DOCTORS hands. We saw with
opened eyes, and every head was bare
in an instant, for patriotism and the
courage which God himself gives some.
times to his weakest commanded our
respect as no other earthly attribute
might.
1.-THE doctor, with a gasping sob.
turned to us as we drew toward the
door of the hut. I loved the youth he
said. I find that I have loved our sis
ter. 1t is we'll that you should go-she
wishes it-but courage, my brothers, the
time has not yet come to say of u
brave comrade in arms-may the soul
Of the faithful departed rest in peace.
SWELL, monsieur, my arm was taken
off and I did we'll enough. They ex
tracted that bullet from young Icons
body, and the doctor kept it. A bit of
German lead, of course, but made pre-.
cious by a oountrywoman's blood, They
moved us to the house of a wealthy pa
triot, and she lay in the temporary
ward among the men, but separated by
a screen. My bed was next to it.
"Cambert came to visit us, clean
shaven, and not half so fierce and grim
without his mustache. When he left,
he was weeping like a child
Zone day I heard Marie Emmanuel
talking to the patient behind the screen.
and then I heard the voice of Leontine
st. Paul,
"'How shall | face my comrades,
she said; how meet them, now l no
longer dare to wear the dress in which
they knew me-
And the vivandiere answered: Meet
them, dear friend, as the wife Of our
brave surgeon. He loves you'll have
said it. Surely such women as you were
meant to be the mothers of our future
heroes.
"And what became of Cambert?" I
demanded.
ooh, he married" said the old sol.
dier. "He has ons and daughters. Per-
haps he married Marie Emmanuel. I
have seen his daughter. She is very
like Marie. Cora Langlois in New
York Journal.