Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-03-14
her knees beside him, she suffered him
IN drow har closor IN him

ed existence for me. No As soon as
my wound permits ! shall 60 away
perhaps to America, where they tel
enough to prevent his being burden
on any one"
Louis, my life henceforth is yours
shall Take care Of you and II neces-
sary work for you. But that will not
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 | am sure he
would not grudge me the comfort of
sharing 1t 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. 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 TINT which would quench
the horrible thirst and give him little
strength to bear his sufferings. And
he rejolced that he had conquered his
own craving and bestowed the boon on
his comrade.
Marya came often to see the malmed
soldier, and while she rejolced that
she might minister to him he found In
the ministrations Of one he loved and
who loved him solace for his mis-
fortune. His wound healed slowly,
and since they were separated in their
homes, her attendance upon him was
inconvenlent 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 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
~" "OuhhNu NOiiNuuN1 MN
dead, passed on. Another party, ac-
companied by a medical officer. came.
and the surgeon, placing his ear over
the soldiers heart, found that 1t
still beat. He ordered restorative
and the man removed to hospital
There the soldier was revived, and
when he had come TO a condition to DO
questioned, an officer who was taking
the names of the wounded asked bis
name.
The soldier hestated. A faraway
look was In his eyes, but the officer
had no time to heed It.
Your manner 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 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.
II am going home" said the man to
Helm, ito my dear wife have done
my duty by my country and have
earned n reunion with her love"
II, too, am going home. TO find-I ex-
pect-my wife with former lover.
have doubtless been reported among
the dead, since I gave false name Mt
the hospital"
"And what will you do II you nnd
the case as you expectT
God knowsp replied Helm.
When their paths separated the sol.
der said 10 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 hlmT'
II don't know"
Helm tottered on. stopping at times
by the way to gather little strength
Or perhaps because he dreaded 10 know
what lie feared. lie could not but envy
his comrade who had gone on 20 the
woman OF whose affections he had no
doubt. And 80 one evening as dusk
was falling he approached the village
wherein was his home. lie 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,
Presently q woman entered cold
chill came over the watchers heart, for
there was no sign Of mourning in her
apparel. She put some logs on the Ere
then drew an easy chair up before H.
Leaving her apartment, she presently
returned, her hand on the arm OF a
man walking by means Of crutches.
The soldier without uttered stined |
cry.
The MANNED man was he who had |
given him his last drlnk--the drink he |
was mad for. the drink that snved his
life.
Recently a ship arrived at nm Amerl. |
can port on whose passenger list was
the name OF August Helm. In Monte. |
negro lives bis wife. who supp0ses him |
dead. Neither she nor the man she be. |
lieves 30 be her legal husband knows
that they owe their happiness 10 the
sacrifice OF little brandy on the field