The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-01-30

Were YOU once an officer of our
| African battalions?" he asked, in the
Arab tongue.
"Sous-officier of spahi cavalry, /
said, smiling. And you are kabyle
mountaineer from Constantine, see."
1T is true as | recite the fatha,"
cried the great fellow, beaming on me.
The music of his long-forgotten
! tongue refreshed me; old scenes and
| memories of the camp at Gran, the
neyer-to-be- forgotten cavalry with the
scarlet cloaks, rushed on me thick and
fast: incidents, trivial matters OF the
| baZaars, faces of comrades dead, came
| to me in flashes. My eyes grew moist,
my throat swelled, | whimpered:
Give me drink, in Gods name!"
| Again he held up the blue water
| bottle. After moment / said: lis it
battle or bousculade? But / need
not ask; the cannon tell me enough.
| Are they storming the heights, Mus
| tapha?"
"Macache comprendir," said the sol
der, dropping into patois. There is
much noise, but we Turces are here in
Morsbronn, and we have seen nothing
| but sparrOws."
Are you detailed to look after me?"
He said he was, and informed him
| that | needed nobody; that it was
much more important for everybody
that he should rejoin his battalion in
the street below, where even now
could hear the Algerian bugles blow
| ing a silvery sonnerie-"Garde q
vous!"
81 am Salah Ben-Ahmed, mara
bout of the Third Turcos," he said,
proudly. Have I my inspectors per-
mission to go?''
go, Salah Ben-Ahmed, the mara
bout" said l. laughing.
The soldier stiffened to attention;
his bronzed hand flew to his scarlet
fez, and. Salute! o my Inspector"
he cried, generously, and was gone at
bound.
l had been lying there motionless
for an hour, my head on my hand,
sniveling, when there came knock
at the door, and hastily buttoned my
blood-stained shirt to the throat, threw
tunic over my shoulders. and cried.
"Come I'M"
A trick of memory and perhaps Of
physical weakness had driven from
my mind all recollection of the Count
ess de Vassart since I had come to my
senses under the surgeons probe. But
at the touch of her fingers on the
thot ha'
nobody but my Countess.
She entered noiselessly, bearing
bowl of broth and some bread; but
when she saw me sitting there with
eyes and nose all red and swollen from
sniveling she set the bowl on a table
and hurried to my side.
What is it? Is the pain so dread
ful?" she whispered.
"No-oh no. I'm only fool, and
quite hungry, madame
She brought the broth and bread
and glass of the most exquisite wine
I ever tasted-a wine that seemed to
brighten the whole room with it's
LIQUID sunshine.
do you know where you are?" she
asked, gravely.
"Oh yes--in Morsbronn."
and in whose house, monsieur"
81 don't know" | glanced instinc
lively at the furnished coronet on the
canopy above the bed. do you know,
Madame la Comtesse?"
81 ought to- she said, family
amused 81 was born in this ROOM
1t was to this house that | desired to
come before-my exile"
After silence / said, II wish I
could look out of the window
She went to the window and folded
up the vanished blinds.
"How dreadful the cannonade is
growing she said. wait! don't
think of moving! | will push you
close to the window. where you can
see."
Lying there, watching the slow
shadows crawling out over the side
walk, | had been for some minutes
thinking of my friend Mr.. Buckhurst,
when heard the young Countess STIR
ring In the room behind me.
"You are not going to be cripple? s-
sue sdiu, DIS turned my neau.
"Oh no, indeed" said I.
Nor die?" she added, seriously.
How could man die with an angel
straight from heaven to guard him.
Pardon, am only grateful, not imper-
tinent." l Looked at her humbly, and
she looked st me without the slightest
expression.
Are you English, Monster Scar
lett?" she asked quietly
American, madame
And yet you take service under an
emperor"
81 have taken harder service than
that"
"Of necessity?"
Yes, madame"
She was silent.
Would it amuse you to hear what
have been?" said, smiling.
THAT is not the word" she said.
quietly. ITO hear of hardship helps
one to understand the world"
~