The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-03
II
Belgian

Bp
PAULINE BRADFORD
MACKIE

Copyright The Frank 4 Nunsey Coz
An night Maurice Beaujon was pos.
Sessed with the certainty that Jean
was lying. wounded, in the open field
He knew the lad trusted him to come
% Beaujon tossed as q mother might
and could scarcely wait for the dawn.
He talked to Jean. The stars were
paling
There, so, Jean"-he reached for
his boots-"so. Jean, keep up your
courage"
He raised his flask and tasted of its
contents:
$50. Jean, few drops. they put
heart in a man."
He stuffed a loaf of bread into his
knapsack.
Now, q crumb, Jean-so!"
He gathered up gauze and dressing
for q wound and thrust It into his
knapsack so. now. Jean, let us see.
Ah-h-h-h. that is bad. but we'll get you
well. Let me tie on this bandage.
They'll do better for you at the hos.
pital. but this will serve till we get
there"
He flung his knapsack over his back.
$50, Jean, put your arms around my
neck. Gently, gently; I'll not jar you.
That's better, eh?" He laughed
"The uhlans didn't get you. jean"
It was gray when he went down the
road. People had their houses open,
but the shop windows were closed. At
the city gate an officer talking with .
sentry recognized Maurice.
Hello, Beaujon!" he called. you
have been promoted for bravery"
Beaujon nodded as q matter Of
course. He had fought like q demon
10 kill men: he must have yelled like
. maniac; his throat was raw inside;
he had risen to = kneeling position In
the trenches to snatch . nag which
had been shot away from Jean, and he
had waved 1t high above his head to
cover the retreat Of his companions.
And then the uhlans were on him
again. but he was up and running with
the nag. and he had escaped: somehow
10 had escaped. It was . miracle. He
pever doubted Jeans safety until the
1aa could not he found.
where are you going, Beaujonf"
For JEAN" BAaujon answered.
"valies. he IL missing7" the ofncer
tsked. Have you been through the
hospitalsr'
HE il not in them." Beaujon an
Swsrsd.
This delay tortured him. He
knew he could make his search better
before the sun was up. for the gleam
Of the bayonets had daxxled him yes
terday, and from the field they would
Fash in his eyes again.
Beaujon pointed. wales can't b
far" he added. I'VE were right II
those trenches. Just back Of those
bushes"
well. go on. them" said the ON
Ger: but be cautious. Remember thu
wounded have been taken OF tho field
You won't ind him alive"
"Alive," thought Beaujon impa
tiently; mo. not II this talking keep
up much longer" He saluted AM
burst away.
He stepped out into the field. HI
had known he should see the rifles AMI
the bayonets first, but they did no
cash upon his eyes now.
No. they were dull and gray lik'
he sky. He gaxed blankly into tn
senith: his first instinct was to lool
away from the ground.
There ~as still star shining: Il Va
yellow a~.j very faint. He met IT
Sase. It looked at him steadily
tlinked. and went out. Tho though
q Jean gripped him, and he forces
himself 70 look down again over tn
Asld.
TAsrs were Spots on the bushes
thin, slow streams furrowed tn
nFound; % the light increased thee
oausgish tzieklss. thsss splashss. vsr
scarlet
TAis was Q sAanblss: The world
s1augAterhoase.
An The panoply Of war was gone
In that made II brilliant, all that goe4
q hin On, IVES gone. Why had b
Desn promoted for braveryf
/; He was not brave now.
His mind WAS confused; he mus
stop; he must b clear. There was
word which would help him II b
could remember II.
He pressed his hand to his foreheat
struggling for that word. All, he ha
Il! Sure. He must be sane.
He strobe firmly forward, lookin
neither to the right nor to the left. hi
gaze on those bushes Just beyond th
farther trench.
He heard low means and cries. br
he did not heed them.
Something moved in heap
bodies. How dead men struggled
He passed on. There, out on q fire
space of ground, dead Belgian wa
lying forward on his face.
Beaujon paused. Clutched in II
mans hand was an arm. He stare
Then he saw that the mans oth'
arm had been shot on.
His heart jumped.
Could that slender fellow be JeaI
He went forward and turned him owe
When he saw the face Of q strang'
he began to laugh.
Now that the fellow did not prov
to be Jean. he saw how comical II we
MapvolOuo Activities.
A diner IN . restaurant thought \
-A,,tA . AaA~ Itch -,tA>p A.