The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-02
II
Belgian
By
PAULINE BRADFORD
MACKIE

0cepgrisht Ths Frank A. Munssy Coz
/ An night Maurice Beaujon was pos
0essed with the certainty that Jean
was lying. wounded, in the open field
He knew the lad trusted him to come
% Beaujon tossed ~ . mother might
and could scarcely wait for the dawn.
He talked to Jean. The stars were
paling.
There. 30. Jean"-he reached for
his boots-"so, Jean, keep up your
courage"
He raised his flask and tasted Of Its
contents:
$50. Jean, a few drops, they put
heart in q man."
He stuffed loaf Of bread into his
knapsack.
Nov, crumb, Jean-so!"
He gathered up gauze and dressing
for . wound and thrust 1t 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 q
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
70 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 It high above his head to
cover the retreat Of his companions.
And then the uhlans were on him
again, but he was mp and running with
the nag. and he had escaped; somehow
he had escaped. II was . miracle. He
never doubted Jeans safety until the
lad could not be found.
Where are you going. Beaujon?"
For JEAN" Beaujon answered.
wales. he IL missing?" the of1ceI
asked. Have you been through the
hospitals?"
HE 10 not in them" Beaujon an
swered.
This delay tortured him. He
knew he could make his search better
before the sun was up, for the CLEAN
Of the bayonets had daxsled him yes
terday, and from the neld they would
fash IN his eyes again.
Beaujon pointed. wales can't b.
far" he added. I'VE were right IL
those trenches, just back Of those
bushes"
well. 60 on. them" said the ON
Ger; "but be cautious. Remember thu
wounded have been taken OF the field
You won't ind him alive"
ALIVE" thought Beaujon impa
tiently; mo. not II this talking keep
up much longer" He saluted ant
burst away.
He stepped out into the field. HI
had known he should see the rifles ant
the bayonets first, but they did no
fash upon his eyes now.
No, they were dull and gray lik'
the sky. He gazed blankly into tn
zenith; his first instinct was to lool
away from the ground.
There was still a star shining; It wa
yellow and very faint. He met 1t
gaze. II looked at him steadily
blinked and went out. The though
Of Jean gripped him, and he force
himself to look down again over tn
field.
There were spots on the bushes
thin, slow streams furrowed tn
ground; a. the light increased thes
sluggish trickles, these splashes. wer
scarlet
This was q shambles; the world
slaughterhouse.
All the panoply Of war was gone
Ill that made II brilliant. all that goat
"a him on. was gone. Why had b
been promoted for bravery?
He was not brave now.
His mind was confused; he mui
stop; he must be clear. There was
word which would help him II b
could remember II.
He pressed his hand to his forehea'
struggling for that word. All. he hs
&! Sure. He must be sane.
He strobe firmly forward. lookin
neither to the right nor to the left. h
gaze on those bushes rust beyond Ii
farther trench.
He heard low means and cries. b
he did not heed them.
Something moved in . heap
bodies. How dead men struggled
He passed on. There, out on q m
space of ground, q dead Belgian ",
lying forward on his face.
Beaujon paused. Clutched In Il
mans hand was an arm. He stare
Then he saw that the mans 9th
arm had been shot on.
His heart jumped.
Could that slender fellow be Jea,
He went forward and turned him ovt
When he saw the face Of . strang
he began to laugh.
Now that the fellow did not pro
to be Jean. he saw how eomical II vi
Marvellous Activities.
A diner In . restaurant thought B