Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-01
AGift on the
Field of
Battle
A Story Of the Balkan War
BY r. A. Mitchell

near Adrianople. had been fought. and
the latter had been defeated. but not
without terrible cost To their enemies.
From the field arose the mingled cries
Of Turks and Balkans. the former ap-
pcaling to Allah to send them succor.
the latter to the Christians God.
Two wounded Montenegrin soldiers
lay side by side. one of them. whose
leg had been shattered by rifle ball.
sat ny aud. pulling little flask from
his pokct. was about TO take the
single drink II contained when lie saw
the other. who seemed 10 he wounded
unto death looking At II longlngly. A
struggle arose within the man who
possessed H. lie would soon likely
he carried of the field To recover from
his wound. while the other gave evi-
dence OF being in a dying condition.
Both men craved the single dram
that remained IN the flask To either
II was more than untold wealth. But
the posscssor OF the treasure could not
withstand tile look on the face OF the
other Slowly. reluctantly longingly.
be reached out his hand and held Il
TO his companions lips. who drank IL
down gree,iily.
The hitter closed his eyes for few
moments then. seeming TO gather
strength. there came II regret that he
should have been So weak Ms TO accept
n gift Of what n fellow soldier needed
for himself
Pardon" he said family. 'the
couldn't resist H."
"You needed II far more than |. |
will recover without II. II may be
the means OF saving your life
Il would that might live TO reward
you for your sacrifice. hut ! cannot: /
am dying"
Cheer up. Exercise your will power
Remember that there are those M home
who love you and are looking for youi
return This will pull you through"
There is hut one such person IN the
world my wifc-and she would prefer
that | should never return"
"Do you mean itf'
81 do She loved another. Fate de
prlvcd her of him and gave her TO me
Our parents arranged marriage be-
tween US My heart was In II. but not
hers | have hated this man. though
have never seen him. ! only know
that he exists Hui now. since ] am
about 10 die. al that has gone from
me am even willing that my wife
should Ice happy with him"
As h. spoke the last words he passed
into Inconsistencies while the atten-
ton NJ The other. hearing sounds OF an
approaching rescue party. was turned
IN another direction
Darkness fell upon the battlefield, but
only caused the cries Of those lying
there to sound more melancholy. as the
whIppoorwill sings saddcst when the
twilight has passed
Lights appeared here and there. NOV
ing about from place 10 place as rescue
parties relieved the wounded or carried
them away 30 the hospitals. The man
with the broken leg. supporting him
self by an arm. looked eagerly nj the
lights. praying that some Of them
might come his way 4 party drew
near him aud he called to them. but
either Their. we're too many such calls
for them Ia heed his or he had not the
strength To make them hear Al any
rate they PASSED ON. leaving him bleed
ing In the cold He sank IN stupor.
doubtless from loss of blood. from
which lie ~as aroused by bright light
which dazZlrd his eyes Behind II was
the dark figure OF soldier
This on" * alive. said the man
Bring q sireieh.r
There was inSi enough animation IN
the sufferer io remember tie romran
ion Ia whom he had given his last
drink OF liquor and lac wondered II b.
still lived and would he carried on the
| field or would later br shoVeed with
the other dead into trench But with
bodily weakness both our liner and
coarscr feelings are beunmbed. and Ii.
did not even ask the question He was
carried 10 u hospital or. rather. u lie
| pot for the wounded where surgeons
Were ~ work aihu uunHi.uS OF poor
wrelchcs who we're awaiting theii
turn TO lee examined Finally sur
geon appruae he'd him. Looked nj his leg
and az once began To ampuiate H.
| Louis Nader when he iefi the hosp
tai did so with the help OF pair ol
crutchcs lie Ind made his contribu
ton to the grim god Of war in LEI
aud WAS reserved 10 die a uaiura
death, for his fighting DAYS we're over
He sought hls hom. IN a little noun
tain village ~ Montenegro where. will
other of wars WRECKS. he WAS receive,
thankfully that he had returned al nj
| by those WHO were near aud dear L
him He would sit by the fireplace
telling his friends OF the battles II
which he had fought and the privhtion,
he had endured
| One day Young widow Who ha,
lost her husband IN the war came from
neirhboriug village To- see Nader
As she entered the room his eye light