The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-01-10


to draw her closer to him.
ALAS" he said, you are now free.
but IL am 4 worthless cripple. You
will doubtless marry again. for you are
young and comedy. and again l shall
suffer the pain Of seeing you pass to
the possession Of another"
II will never inhict that upon you
again"
"And I will not permit you to sacri-
dee lifetime Of comfort with husband
and children for me. To be near you
and not possess you would be wretch
Cd existence for me. No. As soon n
my wound permits l shall 90 away.
perhaps to America. where they tell
me that even such ~ may earn
enough to prevent his being burden
on any one"
Louis, my life henceforth II 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 &C.
customed from our childhood ! have
done my duty toward him 10 long as
he lived, and now that he is dead what
was his Ia mine, and l 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 tho
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 dask
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 comrade.
Maya came often to see the MANNED
soldier. and while she rejoiced 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 we're separated in their
homes, her attendance upon him was
inconvenient and difhcult. 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 widow
Of but q few months should marry.
but older persons approved Of the plan.
and the pair were made one.
And now to return to the soldier ~
ing on the battlefield. who had &C.
cepted his comrades last drink. The
same rescue party who had suceored
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 1t
still beat. He ordered a restorative
and the man removed to hospital.
There the soldier was revived, and
when he had come to condition to b
questioned, an oflcer who was taking
name.
The soldier hesitated. A faraway
look was In his eyes. but the oflcer
had no time to heed It.
Your namer' 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 iimplng 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 reunion with her love-"
II. too. am going home. to fnd-l ex-
pect-my wife with former lover.
have doubtless been reported among
the dead, since gave false name at
the hospital
"And what will you do If you md
the case az you expectT
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. II am pre-
pared for the worst"
"Will you kill himY'
II 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 30 one evening AZ 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.