The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-15
CHAPTER XIV.
As Handsome Does,


he fancied that he was at home in his
old room in Rouen, in the house where
he was born, in the little room In
which, as a child, dressed in his dimity
night gown, he had sat up in his bed
by candle light to learn his letters
from the cookery book.
The room was snowy white. Out
side the window he heard bird sing
and near by, he heard dogs smoth
cred bark. Then he knew that he
was not at home or a child, for with
the languor and weakness came his
memory. A quiet nurse in a hospital
dress was sitting by his bed, and
Pitchoune rose from the foot of the
bed and looked at him adoringly.
He was in a hospital in Algiers.
'Pitchoune," he murmured, no,
knowing the name of his other com
panion, where are we, old fellow?"
The nurse replied in an agreeable
Anglo-Saxon French:
You are in French hospital in Al
giers, sir, and doing WELL"
fremont came up to him.
II remember you," Sabron said. "Yoy
have been near me a dozen times
lately"
You must not talk, mon vieux."
But feel as though | must talk {
great deal. Didn't you come for me
into the desert?"
fremont, healthy. vigorous, tanned
gay and cheerful, seemed good look
ing to poor Sabron, who gazed up a.
him with touching gratitude.
Il think | remember everything,
think l shall never forget it," he said
and lifted his hand feebly. Robert d.
fremont took it. Haven't we trav
eled far together, Tremont?"
YES" nodded the other, affected
"but you must sleep now. We will
talk about it over our cigars ant
liquors soon."
Sabron smiled family. His clea
mind was regaining it's balance, an,
thoughts began to sweep over it cru
ely fast. He looked at his rescuer
and to him the others radiance mean
simply that he was engaged to Mis-
Redmond. OF course that was natural
Sabron tried to accept it and to b,
glad for the happiness of the mai
who had rescued him. But as b,
thought this, he wondered why h
had been rescued and shut his eye
so that fremont might not see hi
weakness. He said hesitatingly:
Il am haunted by a melody, a tune
Could you help me? 1t won't come.
"It's not the "Marseillaise %" aske,
the other, sitting down by his side an,
pulling Pitchoune's ears.
"Oh. mol"
There will be singing In the war,
shortly. A Red Cross nurse comes t
sing to the patients. She may he'll
you to remember"
Sabron renounced in despair. Haunt
ing, tantalizing in his brain and illu
sive, the notes began and stopped, be
gan and stopped. He wanted to AS
his friend thousand questions. Ho,
he had come to him, why he had com
to him, how he knew. He CAV
1t all up and dozed, and while he slep
the sweet sleep of those who are t
recover. he heard the sound of a won
ans voice in the distance, singing, on
after another, familiar melodies, an
finally he heard the "Kyrie Eleison,
and to its music Sabron again fel
asleep.
The next day he received a visitor
1t was not an easy matter to intro
duce visitors to his bedside, for Pi
choune objected. Pitchoune receive
the Marquise d'Esclignac with grea
displeasure.
'Is he a thoroughbred? asked tn
Marquise d'Esclignac.
He has behaved like one," reptile
the officer.
There was a silence. The MARQUIS
d'Esclignac was wondering what he
niece saw in the pale man so nea
still to the borders of the othe
world.
You will be leaving the army. q
course" she murmured, looking at hir
interestedly.