Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-04-08
Il
Belgian
=
Bp
PAULINE BRADFORD
MACKIE

MOpSSlSA@ 80 frank a. MuuScy Col
All night Maurice Beaujon was pos
ssssed with the certainty that Jean
was lying, wounded, In the open field
He knew the lad trusted him to come
~ Bsanjon tossed 40 mother might
and could scarcely wait for the dawn
He talked 70 Jean. The stars were
pAling.
There. %, Jsan'~-he reached for
his bocts--"so, Jean, keep up your
courage"
He raissd his flask and tasted Of It's
contents:
80, lean, ! few drops. they put
heArt IN i man.
He stuffed ! loaf OF bread into his
knapeack
Now, q cfumb. Jean--so!"
is gathered up gauxe and dressing
6of ! wound ana thrust Il into his
knapsack 80 now. Jean. let no see.
Ah.h-h-h, that u had. but we'll get you
we'll. Let mo tie on this bandaEe.
They'll 10 bsttsr for yea Of the hos
pitall but this will serve TIL ws sst
.sh0fo."
HI AunS his knapsack over his back.
10. Jean, put your arms around my
neck Gently, gently; I'll not Jar you.
THAT'S better. chr He laughed
Tho uhlans didn't gst you. Team"
i Mas oray whsn no went down the
rad People had their houses open.
hit tho shop windows were closed. At
The city g1te m ofSlcer talking with
sNntry recognised Maurice.
Hello. Beaufort. he called. "You
have Oeen promoted for bravery."
Bsaujon nodded - q matter Of
tourss. He had fought Hike . demon
70 hin men; no must have yelled like
= maniac; bin throat was raw inside:
he had risen TO kneeling position In
the trenches 10 snatch 6ag which
Ind been shot away from Jean, and Ne
had waved Il high above his head To
cover the retreat OF his companions.
And than the uhlans were on him
again. but he was up and running with
tho fag, and he had escaped; somehow
~ hed escaped. Il was miracle. He
never doubted Jeans safety until the
Ia could not % found.
where ars ron going. Heaujonf"
"FOr Jsan." Bsaujon answered.
Wales, no II missing!" the officer
asked. Have you been through the
hospitalsr'
''iis i not n Thorn" Beau,on an
swered.
This delay tortured him, He
xnew No could make his search better
before tho nun was UP. for the gieam
Of tho bAyonets had dasxled him yes
teFday. ana from the ileid they would
Nash IN his eyes again.
Beaujon pointed, "valles can't be-
mr. 40 added. 'swe we're right In
1Aoss trenches. lust back Of those.
bushea."
wen. % on. thsn.~ said the ON
Ger; 'sbut be cautious. Remember thu.
wounded havo been taken on tho field.
You won't And him alive"
sAliye,s thought Beaujon impa-
tlsntly: mo. not II this talking keeps
up much longer" He saluted and
burst away
He stepped out into the field. He
mad known no should see the rifles and
the bayonets nrst, but they did not
Hash upon his eyes now,
No. they wero dull ana gray Hike
The aky. He gAxed blankly into the
ssnith. his hrst Instinct was to look
away from the ground.
There was still Z star shining: II was
yellow and very faint. He met Its
8axe. n looked q him steadily.
blinked and went out. The thought
or Jean gripped him. and he forced
himself 70 look down again over tho
neId
There were spots on the bushes:
thin. slow stresms fusrowcd IN.
ground; 40 the light Increased these
aluggish tricklcs, these splashes. ware
scarlet
This was I shambles: the world
slaushtArhouse. @
All the panoply Of war was gone:
all that made II brilliant. Ill that goad-
"a him on. was gone. Why had he
been promoted tor bravery
He was not brave now.
His mind was confused: no must
stop: no must DO clear. There was
word which would help him II he
could remember e
He pressed his hand to his forehead.
strugxling for that word. An. he had
Il! Gurs. Hs must be sane.
He strobe firmly forward. looking
aeither 10 the, right nor 70 tho left. his
eAss On those bushes Just beyond tho
An1ther trsnch.
He heard low means ana cries, hut
~ did not heed them,
Something moved In . heap OF
hodies. How dead men struggled!
nj paased On. There. out on ! free
opace of ground. dead Belgian waa
hing forward On hia faoe
Bsanjon paused. Clutched In the
man's hand. was m arm. He stared,
IAen no saw that the mans other
arm had been shot on.
Hin heart jumped
Could that slender fellow b Jean.
M4 went forward and turned him over
when he NV the face Of . stranger
- began to laugh.
Nov that the fellow did not prove