The Press., 1913-02-26

Nader made no reply. He wa
 thinking of the words spoken by thu soldier on the field of battle. "Bu
 now, since am about to die, all tha
 has gone from me. I am even willing
 that my wife should be happy witt
 him" He recalled, too. the look or
 the mans face when he saw the flasl
 containing that which would Quencl the horrible thirst and give him little strength to bear his sufferings. AnG
 he rejoiced that he had conquered hif
 own craving and bestowed the boon or
 his comrade.
 Marya came often to see the maimed soldier, and while she rejoiced that she might minister to him he found ir the ministrations of one he loved and
 who loved him a solace for his mis fortune. His wound healed slowly and since they were separated in their homes, her attendance upon him was inconvenient and difficult. In order that she might do more for him 1t 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 a 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, but the officer had no time to heed 1t.
 Your namew he repeated impa- tiently.
 August Hehn.'
 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 emaci- ated, he was discharged, not only from the hospital but from the 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.
 "I 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-"
 '1, too, am going home. to find-I ex- pect-my wife with a former lover. I have doubtless been reported among the dead, since gave false name at the hospital.'
 And what will you do if you find the case as you expect?
 God knOwsr' replied Helm.
 When their paths separated the sol dier said to Helm: "Goodby. I hope that you will find that your wife has loved you and remained true to you.'
 "Goodby," was the reply. "I am pre- pared for the worst"
 Will you kill himY'
 ''I don't know"
 Helm tottered on, stopping at times by the way to gather a 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 was his home. He waited on the outskirts until the inhabitants were all within doors, then went on and, coming to his own house, looked in through a window.
 A cheerful fire blaZed on the hearth, put there was no one in the room. Presently a woman entered. A cold hill came over the watchers heart. for here was no sign of mourning in her pparel. She put some logs on the fire, hen drew an easy chair up before it. leaving her apartment, she presently her hand on the arm of a nan walking by means of crutches.
 The soldier without uttered a stifed ry. The maimed man was he who had wen him his last drink-the drink he } IS mad for, the drink that saved his fife. Recently a ship arrived at an Ameri- an port on whose passenger list was he name of August Helm. In Monte legro lives his wife, who supposes him lead. Neither she nor the man she be- | ieves to be her legal husband knows | hat they owe their happiness to the acrifice of little brandy on the field | f battle.