Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-07-29
CHAPTER xxv--contInued.
il

Sabron could not reply. Her rib
bonB and flowers and jewels Shook in
bis eyes like kaleidoscope. His
flush had made him more natural. In
his invalid state, with his hair brushed
back from his fine brow, there was
Isomething spiritual and beautiful
about him. The Marquise d'Esclignac
looked on man who had been far
and who had determined of his own ac-
cord to come back. She said more
gently, putting her hand affectionately
over his:
Get strong, monsieur-get well. Eat
all the good things we are making for
you. dare say that the army cannot
spare you. 1t needs brave hearts"
Sabron was SO agitated after her
departure that the nurse said he must
receive no more visits for several
days, and he meditated and longed
and thought and wondered, and near
Iy cursed the life that had brought
him back to world which must be
lonely for him henceforth.
When he sat up In bed he was a
shadow. He had book to read and
read few lines Of it, but he put it
down as the letters blurred. He was
Sitting so, dreaming and wondering
how true or how false it was that he
had seen Julia Redmond come several
times to his bedside during the early
days of his illness here in the hos
pital Then across his troubled mind
suddenly came the words that he had
heard her sing, and he tried to recall
them. The Red Cross nurse who so
charitably sang In the hospital came
to the wards and began her mission.
One after another she sang familiar
songs.
How the poor devils must love it,"
Sabron thought, and he blessed her
for charity.
How familiar was her voice! But
that was only because he was so ill.
But he began to wonder and to doubt,
and across the distance came the
notes of the tune, the melody of the
song that had haunted him for many
months:
God keep you safe, my love,
All through the night;
Rest close in his enclrclIng arms
Until the light.
My heart is with you as kneel to pray,
Good night! God keep you In his care
alway
Thick shadows creep like silent ghosts
About my head;
lose myself in tender dreams
While overhead
The moon comes stealing through the
WIFin 1nU -hnW
"A silver sickle cleaning mid the stars.
For 1. though am far away,
Feel safe and strong,
To trust you thus. dear love-and yet,
The night is long.
say with sobblng breath the old fond
prayer
Good night! Sweet dreams! God keep
y you everywhere"
When she had finished singing there
were tears on the soldiers cheeks and
he was not ashamed. Pitchoune, who
remembered the tune as well, crept
up to him and laid his head on his
masters hand Sabron had just time
to wipe away the tears when the Due
de fremont came in.
''Old fellow, do you feel up to see
ing Miss Redmond for few mo-
ments?"
: When she came in he did not know
whether he most clearly saw her sim
pie summer dress with the single
fewel at her throat, her large hat that
framed her face, or the gentle lovely
face all sweetness and sympathy. He
believed her to be the future Ouch
esse de fremont.
Monsieur de Sabron, we are all so
glad you are getting we'll"
THANK you, MademoiselIe."
He seemed to look at her from
great distance, from the distance to
the end Of which he had so YEARLY
been travelling. She was lovelier than
he had dreamed, more rarely sweet
and adorable.
did you recognize the little song,
Monsieur"
IF was good of you to sing It," e
This is not the first time have
Eeen you, Monsieur de Sabron. I
came when you were too i'll to knov
OF It." ~
~TIien did not dream" said the
10 officer simply,
He was as proud as ne was poor
He could only suppose her engaged
t0 the Due de fremont It explained
her presence here. In his widest
dreams he could not suppose that she
had followed him to Africa. Julia on
her part. having done an extraordin
AIRY and wonderful thing, like ever,
brave woman. was seized with terror
and a sudden cowardice. SAFFRON
aEtsr all. was stranger. How could
she know his feelings for her? Sh,
spent a miserable day. He was ou
Of all danger; In a fortnight h,
might leave the hospital. She dix
not feel that she could see hin
aGsfn as things were. The Com
tesss de Ia Maine had returned d
Paris as soon as fremont came d
fEnm the desert.