Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-09
The Argus Daily Story
A Gift on the Field of Battle-By F. A. Mitchell
COpyrEntec 1919, by associated Literary Bureau

be necessary. My husband has left
me a competency, enough to live the
simple life TO which We have been ac-
cuStOmed from our childhood. have
done my duty toward him so long as
he lived, and now that he is dead what
was his is mine. and l am sure he
would not grudge me the comfort OF
sharing it with you,
Nader made no reply. He was
thinking of the words spoken by the
soldier on the field of battle But
now, since am about to die. all that
has gone from ME. l am even willing
that my wife should be happy with
him" He recalled, too, the look on
the mans face when he saw the flask
containing that which would quench
the horrible thirst and give him little
strength to bear his sufferings. And
he rejoiced that he had conquered his
own craving and bestowed the boon on
his Comraie
Marva came often to see the manned
soldier, and while she reioiced that
she might minister 10 him he found in
the miniStrations of one he loved and
who loved him Il solace for his mis-
fortune His wound healed slowly,
and since they We're separated in their
homes, her attendance upon him was
inconvenient and difficult. In order
that she might do more for him It was
deemed better that they should be
married and live UNDER one rooftree
Some shook their heads that a widow
of but few months should marry
but older persons approved of the plan,
and the pair were made one.
And now to return to the soldier ly-
ing on the battlefield, who had ac-
cepted his comrades last drink. The
same rescue party who had succored
his wounded comrade, thinking him
dead. passed on. Another party, &C
companied by medical officer, came.
and the surgeon. placing his ear over
the soldiers heart, found that it
still beat. He ordered a restorative
and the man removed to a hospital.
There the soldier was revived, and
when he had come to a condition to be
questioned. an officer who was taking
+, the names of the wounded asked his
\name.
The soldier hesitated A faraway
look was in his eyes, bat the officer
had no time to heed it.
Your name" he repeated impa-
tiently.
August Helm"
The officer passed on, not knowing
that the patient had, not given the
name that belonged to him.
Helm. as he appeared on the hospital
list. lay for weeks lowering between
life and death. At last pale and ENACT
ated, he was discharged, not only from
the hospital but from tn. army. and
tottered toward his home. On the
road he fell in with another discharg-
ed soldier limping along with his foot
and head bound up. and the two jour
! neyed together.
! II am going home" said the man to
! Helm. "to my dear wife. I have done
/ my duty by my country and have
! earned a reunion with her love"
! 81, too. am going home. TO find-I ex-
! pect-my wife with a former lover.
have doubtless been reported among
the dead. since gave a false name at
the hospital
And what will you dosif you find
the case as you expect"
God knows replied Helm
When their paths separated the SOL
der said TO Helm: "Goodby. | hope
that you will find that your wife has
loved you and remained true to you
"Goodby," was the reply. 81 am pre-
pared for the worst"
'Will you kill him." -
Il don't know"
Helm tottered on, stopping a: times
by the way TO gather little strength
or perhaps because he dreaded to know
what he feared. He could not but envy
his comrade who had gone on to the
woman of whose affections he had no
doubt. And so one evening as dusk
was falling he approached the village
wherein was his home He waited on
the outskirts until the inhabitants were
all within doors. then went on and,
coming 10 his own house, looked in
through window.
A cheerful fire baZed on The hearth.
but there was no one In the room.
Presently a woman entered. A cold
chill came over the watchers heart, for
! tutIe WIS li' rlE4i VI lllbui illhS III
apparel She put some logs on the fire.
then drew an easy chair up before It,
Leaving her apartment, she presently
returned. her hand on the arm of a
man walking by means Of crutches
The MANNED man was he who had
given him his last drink-the drink he
was mad for the drink that saved his
life
Recently ship arrived at an Ameri-
can port on whose passenger list was
the name OF August Helm. In Monte
negro lives his wife, who supposes him
dead. Neither she nor the man she be-
lieves TO he her legal husband knows
that they owe their happiness to the
sacrifice OF little brandy ON the field
of battle.
lI--