The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-11-02
.CORNERED
By G. WELLINGTON BLISS
Copyright by American Press Ass0-
citation, 1911.

y
menl OF the line. 10 the manner born.
twenty years OF age. defender Of
France from the Germans. who were
marching over the borders. at the
battle OF Gravelotte. received tw',
wounds. one in the leg and one in
the arm. The wounds we're made
with bullets. which were cut out BY
the surgeon They were shown to the
wounded men, who asked for them,
and they were given to him.
Then brilliant idea struck the
young soldier. Being good deal Of
q butterfly in the matter Of his loves.
before marching from Paris he had
tearfully bid adieu to two young la
dies. each one Of whom had went on
bis shoulder ~ will send Lucille one
Of these bullets" he said. land Clio
Ghetto the other. very pretty compli
ment. the bullets having wounded me
on the field Of battle. can see moth.
ing dishonorable in the matter since
mage 1t will be her own fault"
So he wrote letter to Lucille. tell.
ing her that he was sending her the
bullet With which he had been wound
ed in the late battle. and wrote
duplicate to Clochette. When he next
saw these young ladies the second EN-
pire had fallen and the republic was
restored. Antoine lived in one Of the
swell quarters OF Paris, on street
midway between his two charmers
when tranquility was restored had re
turned and again settled in their
homes. The war had cost France
much Of its best blood, and Lucille, one
e the young ladies who possessed
~the bullet with which Antoine had
been wounded" having lost an uncle
had fallen heir to a large fortune.
Antoine. like most young men Of so
c1al rank. having heard Of this acces
sion Of wealth. not averse to marrying
having favored the heiress with the
bullet that had wounded him, but felt
Ill at ease for fear the other "bullet
with which he had been wounded"
would ruin him. His first meeting
With Lucille was very tender. She die
not weep tears of Joy on his shoulder
ut bis return, but there were various
reasons for this. In the first place
France was great sufferer; in the
second. mademoiselle was now 4 prize
In the matrimonial market and could
not be expected to give herself away
- readily as before These were the
reasons Antoine gave himself for 9
want of demonstrativeness on the girls
part such as she had shown at his de
parture for the war.
It was some time after his return
that he called upon Clochette, who pos
sessed the other bullet with which he
had been wounded She received him
With the same demonstrations Of afIec-
dOn as before. permitting him to en-
brace her. though Antoine thought that
there was not the same genuine feel
ing she had shown before. She was
much interested to know where he had
been struck. and Antoine turned up
bis trousers and showed her a scar In
the calf Of his leg. The wound in bis
arm he was keeping for Lucille.
There was one weak spot IN this
little farce for its hero. The two
young ladies' were acquainted. An
tome felt hopt'ul that the one would
not learn OF the others souvenir since
high bred ladies' were not likely to tell
one another of their love affairs. How
ever. he was in hurry to wed Lucille,
for once married there might be half
q dozen bullet souvenirs In the hands
Of as many young ladies and no great
harm done. Lucille put him off on the
plea that she was not assured Of his
love for her, but declared that once
convinced she would yield.
One day when Antoine called on Lu
Gle he was concerned to find Clochette
there drinking English afternoon tea.
Clochette was surprised to see him.
but the three drank tea together very
socially. Anroine was called upon to
and both girls naturally manifested an
interest In his wound. Finally Lucille
said:
IN. CHANDELIER. show mademoiselle
the place in your arm where you were
wounded"
The bomb was about to burst. New
ertheless Antoine was q man Of cour
age. He did not dinch.
I'm the leg. you mean" said Clio
Ghetto.
He told me it was In the arm: In
deed. he showed me the scar"
II think | should know" said tn
other. "since possess the bullet that
wounded him"
Indeed" rejoined Lucille, with hau
teur. II supposed possessed that buI
let Is II not SO. monsieurT'
1T u.s."
"And do not possess the bullet that
wounded your" asked Clochette. with
spirit. ..:.
Antoine saw that 1t was all up with
HIM He surrendered. but to neither.
young ladies'" he said. II sent one
Of you bullet that wounded me IN