The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-11-12


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E0lEYEA u guSh the faint outlines OF the compart
ESyElAK mcnt, With its three wounded soldiers
EES MN The man the top bunk opposite NhO
HGA2GS3E had groaned and muered all night IN ii
SwfSe u dchriun had suddenly become silent anC
y bis white face stared out At him iron
EFspysxu<G among the pillows, the eyes black mo-
uonlcss circles and the Ike blunt
pen The man beneath that one hac
fallen aslecr at last and was snoring hoarscy The
tlird was tossing in the bunk under him But Dor
Ganrlo lay as motonlcss the dead man opposite
though he was unwoundcd
An orderly dressed in blue serge. with tho red cross
'Harng upon the white band on his arm, through
tie corridor and looked in lie approached the dead
soldier and raised the which icl sily and heavily
upon The breast again He turned to Don Camille
docs His Excelicncy require anything he asked
Camille shook his head then he remembered that he
must all Suspicion Water" he easped IN .imu-
lated agony, and elt tie military canteen placed be-
tween his fingers and thumb
Then Don Camille was LETT alone again with the
dead man and the TWO wounded ones lying IN his BUNK
mouonlcss watching the stuncd olvc-rces crawl past
the slowly moving train. Thus every night respected
by the kab}c Warriors, it crept painfully down the
line, flying the Ned Cross flag, to transport those
wounded at the from; TO the base hospital at Meilla
thence to be shipped 10 Sn2j1 The train would reach
the terminal by dawn Then Don Camille must escape
before tlicy learned that deacrtcr shammng his
way to safety IRON tlc horrors OF the hatle-hed The
uurolling scroll ci thuc appeared n'ermina,le as ne
lay there, the oHt d.simuator among the dying and
dead the only scbciner among those simple heroes.
Yet the nenta suffering that he underwent
seemed preferable nYing preferable to those
scenes Of violent death thc kissing bullet the uncx-
1t was not that ne feared imprisonmcnt. His rank
would prevent that would suffice send him home free
to bear the scorn that would greet him How prefer
able if he had volunteered Yet all the young
MOBILES of Spain had gone the front MANY simple
soldiers and how could he have held back His heart
kndng with hopes Of glory lad n0t revealed To him
its craven fears until the first engagement Besides
his widowed cousin, Dona Isabella would never have
tetrothed herself to a coward
She had gone out with the Queens company Of
nurses we shall meet N Melilla, Camllo she said
Put they had not met since they placed Spanish soil
behind them for he had been sent to the front mne-
diatcly upon his arrival
Presently soft palm closed upon his and he became
aware that a nurse vas standing beside him AS her
tugcrs snoohed back the hair from his forehead a
white illumination thrown upon the screen Of his dark
thoughts irlpced him to an agony Of sef-confesson.
He groancd and turned lis face 10 the compartment
so that her face looked in his As their eyes met,
shuddcr through his body, and fear icader than
that wlci hc Nabylc forces had inspired entered ms
hcarl This was Isabella,
How is your head Camllo2" she mrmurcd Does
1t ache In three hours shall be at Mehla. cousin
and then"
As She bent over the b1ood-staincd bandaecs that he
had wrapped round his forehead Don Camille half
leaped from the couch and seized her by the arm.
isabella must tell you' he painted, Il I'M
wounded"
He saw her dark eyes irht up her melancholy
tmilc "Not badly Camille she whispered Beyond
doubt the doctors will soon mend your wound
"Yo,, dant understand" nc cried II was not
wounded Don't YOU understand ! am dcsercr
crawled from the field into the hospital tram to escape
his blood bcspattered me- He shuddcred again at the
remcmbrance -.
"Ncycr mind she answered, gently, beating mp hi;
pillows I'VE will reach Mela soon. IF your wound
is not scrious-pra>e Christ it is not bad ny,.u .
Put | must make it clear, he raved VIII you
not listen2"
She sat on the side OF the bunk "Yes will listen,
Camille She said softly. Tell me everything But
h.st--somc water"
He quped il down and tightening his grasp upon
her palm began lie told Of war not that anticipated
~ those who marched through Madrids streets Spck
IN their uniforms between flying flags and photog-
sDhers but war unwritten and undreamed ola war
Of dyscntcry and scepless nights on picket duty IN
1uoQgv boots beneath the sluces of the skies, when
the rcbclous frame craved but instant Of q oSed
eyeids that would mean court martial and a firing
souad; one of coarse brawlS and petty plfcriug OF
bottles haversacks and rae-ccaners and stolen
rations sold by camp cooks; war Of insect plaques
C,,y innoscd bv malignant corporals OF thirst to-
bacgo hunger. mclinte intoxication of incessant
craving Tor chocolate that produced Tantalus Dreams
a war Of endless and uniuclliqibc night patrols OF