The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-28

He was leaning against one OF his amou-
lanoes. "a tall, thin man In black frock
coat and brown wide-awake hat who stood
by apparently directing operations. he
had a PLEASANT clean-shaven face, and he
was smoking q large and evidently excellent
cigar, both Of which things were attractive
The hero supposed him TO be surgeon.
like himself, but Smartte corrected him.
Said the American.
Not q bit Of II. I'm wheat 10 Chicago.
Erode Eason Smartte-S-M-A-R-T-T
II you please. and don't YOU forget III
Smart e e, the boys call me when catch
'em short on three months ahead wheat
and smite 'em on the hip. I spend good
deal Of my time over here. you see, and
happened in just when they were putting
the shutters UP, 80 thought I'd stop and
see 1t through. helped, financially. to
rig up this AFFAIR." ne nodded toward the
ambulance in front, so they let me potter
about and feel as II was bossing the show.
But only as regards picking 'em up. When
I've turned my cargo over to the medicos.
then my parts done. 'cept that now and
again oan help smooth things bit for the
poor. broken beggars. How long Will IT
last. do you Think
Smartte Ii the most interesting charac-
ter In the story. 1t seems TO Us, and we are
not sure but that We should call him the
hero. We find him saying to Glyn little
later: I'm inclined to believe I'll smell
hospital for the rest Of my natural Ire.
I've got pretty strong stomach as rule
and was with little Phil Sheridan on the
Shenandoah and at Cedar Creek and Five
Forks, and I take my beefsteak rare; but
somehow I never seem to get used TO see
ing my brother man broken In bits. Now
IL had my way-make straight for that
little church first, Frank, the Dutchies won't
touch us-H had my way. I'd Just have
put this poor old Louis Nap-Badinguet,
we call him now-and old Father William
the Mystic Drunkard we call him, Heaven
only knows why. I never heard that he
drank more'n was good for him-Td just
have put EN- inside ring fence and handed
them in anything they wanted and let 'em
fight 1t out. Best man to take the belt and
the loser to pay the reckoning. God! man,
Just think what 1t would have saved In the
way Of human life and broken hearts. Forty
thousand killed and wounded I tell you
what, Glyn, that's HE'LL
The American was q tremendous favorite
in the hospitals. He had a power Of soothing
the dying which no priest seemed to pos
sess. Glyn records: Il knew he had some
formula which he administered to the
dying, GSi I have seen the faces Of case
hardened elderly troopers soften strangely
under his whispered words "a the sands
ran out. often wondered what he said
to them, but he and they liked to be alone
at the last and as rule they got their way
in spite of priest or sister. was sitting by
the side Of young sailor from Plougastel
one afternoon. He had been hit by shell
while serving his gun in Bicetre. He was
30 typically Breton that had taken a great
fancy to him. We had had more than one
cheerful chat about Brittany. and Brest,
and the great strawberry grounds. and he
had longinRly declared that IL he could
get back there all would be well with him.
But that was impossible and he was going
another way, and he knew II. Smartte
happened to pass the bed, and after one
glance came and sat down by 1t. saying
to me, He's going And then heard his
simple formula. It was rendered In his
own peculiar French, but no one could mis-
take its practical simplicity.
Mon gars! he said gently, taking the
brown. hairy hand in his. 'Le Bon Dieu est
tres bon. ct II pense oe moment ! vous.
II eat comme votre pAre ct votre mere.
Pensez-A hui. mon cher, ct II vous recevra
chez lui. II besoin de vous-'
De moil' murmured the dying boy.
Mails oui. 10 vous Pasture
Mon dieu-bon dieu-' and another soul
slipped It's moorings and was gone. and gone
comforted.
1T was very simple. To me who had
.l~ tcp Id
matters, IL was very beautiful
Once q live shell rolled under an ambu-
lance, and Smartte acted He did not
hesitate ono second. He ran forward.
seized the vicious thing, carried II half
dozen steps while my heart stood still and
the blood foamed in my head. Then he
hurled IL away. and as Il left his hand 1t
burst and he sank In a heap. ran to him
with a sob In my mouth and cold fear at
my heart. He lay quite still ! could not
hope 10 find life In him. And why he was not
dead I do not know to this day, except. in
deed. that shells are unaocountable ma
chimes at best and full Of surprises.
But he was not dead. though very badly
shattered. and my heart groaned for him.
A. far a. could see. his right arm was gone.
the whole OF his right side from crown
10 heel was more or less damaged, and his
right leg badly hurt
he came out pretty well. considering
We are glad TO say; retired TO Brittany for
good air and proper food and nursing. and
married Glyn's mother. q handsome and
e~,imable lady.
One other incident OF this stirring narrs-
tive ~e must try 10 give some littls notion
~ Glyn and Marie de kerhuel we're stand
ing up Ia be married ih the little ian IL tie
Iion dor. They were surrounded by
thar frisnds. Tho priest had jusi put hs
Art question when q shell came In Glyn
reoofds His question was never ANSWERED
Pke-i - . ~as. ! looked straight o. chs
t~o windows b.fore me. And suddenly
tho Ioo,n shook aud the wsil Ls,wasl tl,s
windows bars, rasssdiy inward. paI~f
plss,sf. Hath aud brioks. ~ though und.s
tho blos ~ . mighty hammer sac tho
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and as nuas mysrlf oh top II my a.af ass
on tho oo,oh . blssiil.s efash hll"d al iis
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