Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-07-28


to be transported that very day over
the Transsiberian railway to Manchu-
ria. He told me that were it not for
leaving me he would be glad to go.
since he wished active service. 81 am
consoled, however" he said, that
may have an opportunity to gain some
honor to place at your feet"
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 he was about to leave
me and | might never see him again !
had not the heart to chill him, so l
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 50 melancholy that
l advanced Il step, took his hands in
mine and kissed him.
That kiss put new life into him.
With n 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. \
few weeks after it had been fought
received a little package and Il letter.
The handwriting on both indicated
that they had been addressed by the
same person. | opened the letter first
1t was from the surgeon of the regi-
ment to which my youthful lover was
attached. 1t read:
Lieutenant Paul Nevinsky at the battle
OF the Yulu 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 q 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 1t was intended
to accomplish. But in the moment OF
victory he was struck by bullet and
carried off the field dangerously wounded
/ have attended him and extracted the
ball. He will not survive. He has asked
me to send II 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 feel | am taking time that be-
longs to them to fulfll my promise.
This hri": message written by one
who Wa g.. lied away from his patient
TO other ..',.:;fari1ms duties was all l
ever rrc,i' a.! ..,-a . AMI. / had no hope
tIn' lie 5:r..i. sd when the returns Of
the l.'t., Sizes. o,.n I'd came E.S name
was ua... l.t dead.
would ..,,.d have been hard heart
ed If this devotion had not affected
me. | had admirers, but all their ad-
miration seemed trihing beside that of
this young man who faced death that
he might send me medal and had
instead only had time TO send me the
bullet that had killed him. But !
kept my leaden decoration to myself,
No other knew of it or that the man
it had struck loved me. Nor did
intend that others should know of it,
especially those men who were honor
ing me with their devotion and their
offers Of marriage. | had before me
a career, and did not propose that 1t
should be blighted by the blue eyed.
beardless boy who had been killed By
the Japanese,
When Count Gravienieff, noble of
high rank, offered himself l would
have accepted him at once but for two
reasons First, l did not wish him
to think l was overanxious for him;
second, wished to complete n year Of
mourning for my young soldier lover.
A few days before the expiration of
this period a card was sent up to me
bearing the name Of Paul Nevinsky.
Was 1 glad or sorry?
l don't know. | only know that l
hurried down stairs. There stood the
young soldier, his cheeks, which had
been round. now hollow, his complexion
a pale yellow, his eyes sunken in his
head. l wished to be taken into his
arms that my heart might beat against
his. But | controlled myself. l showed
my delight at receiving him back from
the dead. but gave no indications that
Ii was from love. Gravienieff was a
-------~->-------------