The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-09-01


men, not the kind who struggled to
get back to life.
Jeans blue eyes looked straight up
into the sky.
Beaujon touched the boys face.
1t was still warm. Then he knew
that pale star which blinked at him
and went out was a signal from Jean.
He wished he could lie down beside
him, but he had promised to return.
He had been promoted for bravery,
this Beaujon. Who was the fellow
Beaujon, Beaujon, Beaujon. But he
had promised to get back to him. He
must find Beaujon again.
He lifted Jean on his back and
started homeward. It was strange
that he was carrying Jeans rifle in
stead of his own.
1t was message that he must fight
for them both. He was grim but ex-
ultant as he strobe on. Where he had
killed one man before, now he would
Der always, double for Jean.
The ground was uncertain and he
stumbled; then he realized he was
trampling over the dead with his
boots on. He laid Jean down and took
off his boots, then lifted his friend
again and went on in his stocking
feet.
When he came into the city again
no one offered to help him, for Beau
Jon was giant in strength and he
bore Jean as though he had been a
girl.
He climbed the road and turned
into a small hotel
Nine. Wales sat at the table with
the one guest left in the hotel: she
was having an extra cup of coffee with
her and they were talking about the
war.
Beaujon's figure filled the doorway
and his shadow fell across the two
women.
Nine. Wales raised her hands. She
was going to cry out, but somehow
she did not. Instead she managed to
get to a door; it opened into her
bedroom.
Put him here, Maurice. Can you
get a doctor?"
Beaujon laid Jean down on his
mothers bed. He patteds Nine,
Wales cheek so softly in his pity.
NO. Jean does not need a doctor,
Mama Wales"
he went out, closing the door on
the two. There was a stranger in
he dining room, and he remembered
Nine. Wales did not like curious eyes.
He sat down in the first chair he
reached, exhausted.
The guest in the hotel was an
American-Miss Dewey. She had ex-
pected to join friends in Berlin. She
kept saying to herself that she had
never expected this war when she
went abroad
When she saw Beaujon's pallor she
ran to the kitchen and called Marie,
the young girl who assisted Nine.
Wales as a kind of underhousekeep-
er, to bring hot coffee at once.
They have brought home Nine.
Valles' son dead" she exclaimed.
and / think the man who brought
him is I'LL He looks SO white"
Yes, mademoiselle," answered
Marie. Her hand shook SO she kent
pouring the coffee into the saucer in
stead of the cup.
Here said Miss Dewey, 81 will
attend to that" She seized the coffee
pot and poured the coffee with a
steady hand. Now you bring basin
of warm water to wash his feet. They
are bleeding and his stockings are cut
in shreds."
Yes, mademoiselle." answered Ma
RE Please tell nowhere is Jean -
His mother has him in her room.
She has shut the door Hurry with
that basin, Marie" Miss Dewey went
back to Beaujon. "Try to take little
OF this coffee It will do you good. !"
Beaujon lifted his heavy eyes to her
face. Thank you.1
Marie came hurrying in with towels
and a basin of water and, kneeling
down. peeled OF the ragged stockings
with tender fingers She was young
and dark and richly colored.
Suddenly she pressed Beauion,s
bare feet to her bosom, sobbine.
while she murmured: Ny Jean, my
Jean!s