Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-08-11

AAANA NV AN ~
RANCE"
to be transported that very day over
the Tra%nssiberian railway to Manchu-
ria. He told me that were it not for
leaving me be would be glad to go.
since he wished active service. IT am
consoled. however, he said, that l
may have an opportunity to gain some
honor to place at your feet"
l was moved by this. though l saw
no reason why bravery should make
me love him. | was pleased that he
wished renown for me rather than for
himself. Since be was about to leave
me and | might never see him again l
had not the heart to chill him, so 1
bade him goodby without giving him
any definite knowledge with regard to
my feeling for him. When he left me
before going out Of the door he turned
and gave me a look so melancholy that
l advanced a step. took his hands in
mine and kissed him.
That kiss put new life into him.
With a wave of the hand he walked
quickly away. apparently not wishing
to risk looking back at me again.
The battle of the Yalu was. be-
lieve. the first great battle of the war.
At any rate. it was one of the first. A
few weeks after it had been fought l
received Il little package and a letter.
The handwriting on both indicated
that they had been addressed by the
same person. l opened the letter first.
1t was from the surgeon of the regi-
ment to which my youthful lover was
attached. 1t read:
Lieutenant a Nevinsky at the battle
OF the Yalu distinguished himself. In a
charge the Japanese fire was so deadly
that all the officers of his regiment who
had not been picked off were driven back
before the storm OF bullets except Lieu
tenant Nevinsky. who stood his ground.
rallied a small number OF men and with
them kept the enemy at bay till the 9TH
ers had returned. then completed the
charge. winning all that it was intended
to ccompllsh. But in the momen OF
victory he was struck by a bullet and
carried off the field dangerously wounded.
l have attended him and extracted the
ball. He will not survive. He has asked
me to send 1t to you. saying that since
he cannot live to receive a decoration to
send you he gives you what he denomi-
mates his leaden medal.
So many wounded men need my atten-
ton that 1 feel l am taking time that be-
longs to them to fulfill my promise.
This brief message written by one
who was called away from his patient
to other multifarious duties was all l
ever received from Paul. | had no hope
that he lived. and when the returns Of
the killed and wounded came his name
was among the dead.
1 would indeed have been hard heart
ed if this devotion had not affected
me. l had admirers, but all their adj
miration seemed trifing beside that Of
this young man who faced death that
he might send me a medal and had
instead only had time to send me the
bullet that had killed him. But I
kept my leaden decoration to myself.
No other k4aew of it or that the man
it had strl~ck loved me. Nor did I
intend that others should know Of it,
especially taose men who were honor
ing me with their devotion and their
offers of marriage. l had before me
a career. apd l did not propose that it
should be blighted by the blue eyed.
beardless boy who had been killed by
the Japanese.
When Count Gravienieff. a noble of
high rank. offered himself I would
have accepted him at once but for two
reasons. First. I did not wish him
to think I was overanxious for him:
second. ] wished to complete a year Of
-ass..