Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-09-24
4 Day in a Soldiers Lie.

when she announced this good news. She
was already far away; her white cap
| futtering like bird, a messenger of
mercy. lowering over this room full Of
sick and protecting it. In this hospital,
in a small town in Normandy, Sister
| Jeanne was in charge of the wards re-
served for the military. She was 10
longer young. and certainly she had never
been beautiful. But she was tender
hearted, caring for the fate Of the poor
young soldiers, and she cooled their
broWs with her gentle motherly hands.
She was happy in supporting the first
steps Of the coEvalescout Gouni the little
garden, where the paths were carefully
rakcd. and the evergreen box edges al
ways neatly clipped. We're a perpetual re
mindcr Of crisp Easter Sundays. An
Dire Freuil put on the onralescents
loose oyercoat with white metal buttons.
He tottercd on his feet as he dressed. and
his head felt empty. He scarcely heard
his mei@hbor. an old gendarme. who con.
cratulatcd him on ms recovery and be
walled his own fate because he had vet
to spend some weeks in bed \ corporal
hummed an old Breton tune, as in Il
dream. Sister Jeanne offered Andre the
support of her arm ana spoke to him
kindly.
She led him to a bench in the sunshine
Two young soldiers wer there already,
warming themselves with a SILVER in the
April CLEAN. They, too, were pale and
emotional. Good morning. Freuil: SO
you are better? Good day, Gosset. All
right again! Good day, Cathelin: feeling
pretty well now?'' They shook hands
and looked at each other, pathetic from
weakness. Sister Jeanne was knitting.
and by her side Sister Marie. the young
est and prettiest i'll the hospital. was
finishing Il little garment for baby.
The plain of Normandy spread away into
the distance: men We're blowing near and
encouraging the horses with harsh, loud
voices. In an orchard close by, apple
trees, with twisted, gnarled trunks. dis
played their garlands of flowers
Fine weather for field work" said
Gosset.
I'VE should be poor Iaborcrs." re-
marked Cathelin. feeling the muscles of
hi, still feeble arms. They were quite
Jest they said to Freuil: you are the
lucky one, Scholar You need no strength
for reading" Andre shook his head: a
strain of artless music was heard from
the neighhorlng chapel; the voice Of
women and children singing.
The soldiers were silent, thinking Of
their past lives and of the future Cos.
set and Cathelin looked back on their
farm homesteads--a house full of old
furniture, a bright kitchen. ward where
fowls cluclleG and crowed, dewy mead
oWs where guge cattle pastured, fields
golden with ripe corn. Freuil was drean
INC of the rooms in Paris where his
father and mother were anXiously think
ng of him III hospital; every chair was
remembered as an old friend impatientlV
lwaiting his return. He could see the
old Sorbonne and the terrace Of the Lux
embourg. Oh! what long delightful
hours lie had spent under the trees near
the AIedicis fountain The eager discus
sions! The bright dreams when some
elegantly drc> sod woman left a wake Of
perfume as She passed! The three Young
fellows gazed out al the distance. Sister
Marie murmured lullaby a7 if she
were singing the baby to sleep for which
she was making the little bodice \
light air brought the scent of the or
chaT,ls to the convalescents. and tossed
some white petals on TO their knees, eN-
naiirg the sweet breath OF spring
Under the blossoming apple frees came
Il strong healthy girl. Shc carried a pail
If foaming milk. Her sleeves were rolled
lp above her white arms Then she set
down her pail. looked at the trees and
lazilv stretched herself. She bent her
head and shut her eyes, for a snowy
boueh caught in the hair at the back of
her neck. Suddenly she saw the soldiers
and the sisters, and hastily went on her
way. She colored slightly; nevertheless
before disappearing from view she turned
round and blew kiss 10 the Young men.
Gos.et and Cathelin agreed that she WI.
ike a girl in their village Frcul was
reminded Of the blue cyts Of a lite
singer he had adored How miserable
ne had been at having TO ION his rogi-
ncntl lie remembered the first nights
IN the baIrack dolInit0ry; he could not
Sleep Men lay dreaming and uttcring
ncohercnt sentences in far-aWay tone.
others snored noisily He listened for
the chime, Of g clock ncaI at band At
half past 10 he had rcHoetei ''She j,
INST going ON to The stage. Ard he had
actually vcpt His illness had ciaeed
that bitter erict. His heart was as fresh
a. the Young spring.
Sister Jeanne rolled up her knitting.
tNUw." said she, we must 90 in
The soldiers obedicntly rose, but Sis.
ter Marie aid no; move. and tears
drol ped from her lowered eye, down her
thin checks. She had finished her work
ard looked al it sadly. As Sister Jeanne
alfcct.onate!y questioned her:
"Oh. il j. nothing -he murmuued. Il
aa7 OIL, thinking af habv'- helpless
movements and its mothers happines
The bells t1i'ol for .tryilc. ard in the
distance a bnelc call Mt Tie bar1ack, an
rounced the coming Of the aHarternlaster.
bringing the latest new, ~ The men,
Illustrated fc'rC.