The Arvada enterprise., 1915-02-18

African battalions?" he asked. in the
Arab tongue
"Sous-otticier of spahi cavalry" I
said. smiling. And you are a Kabyle
mountaineer from Constantine, ! see"
1T is true as | recite the fatha." !"
cried the great fellow, beaming on me-
The music of his long. forgotten
tongue refreshed me; old scenes and
memories of the camp at Oran. the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cavalry with the
scarlet cloaks. rushed on me thick and
fast; incidents, trivial matters of the
bazaars. faces of comrades dead, came
to me in flashes. My eyes grew moist,
my throat swelled, whimpered:
Give me drink. in Gods name!"
Again he held up the blue water
bottle. After n moment | said: rs it
a battle or bousculade? But | need
not ask: the cannon tell me enough.
Are they storming the heights. Mus
tapha?"
"Alacache comprendir," said the sol.
der. dropping into patois. There is
much noise. but we Turcos are here in
Morsbronn, and we have seen nothing
but sparrows.'
Are you detailed to look after me?"
He said he was. and informed him
that | needed nobody that it was
| much more important for everybody
that he should rejoin his battalion in
the street below, where even now l
could hear the Algerian bugles blow
ing silvery sonnerie-"Garde a
vous!"
Il am Salah Ben-Ahmed. mara
bout of the Third Turcos." he said.
proudly. Have ! my inspectors per-
mission to go?"
go. Salah Ben-Ahmed. the mara
bout" said |. laughing.
! The soldier stiffened to attention;
his bronzed hand flew to his scarlet
fez, and, Salute! o my Inspector"
he cried. sonorously. and was gone at
bound
| had been lying there motionless
for an hour. my head on my hand
sniveling. when there came a knock
at the door. and hastily buttoned my
blood-stained shirt to the throat. threw
tunic over my shoulders, and cried.
"Come in"
| A trick of memory and perhaps of
physical weakness had driven from
my mind all recollection of the Count
ess de Vassart since l had come to my
senses under the surgeons probe. But
at the touch OF her fingers on the
door outside. ! knew that it could be
nobody but my Countess.
bowl OF broth and some bread: but
when she saw me sitting there with
eyes and nose all red and swollen from
sniveling she set the bowl on table
and hurried to my side.
What is It? Is the pain SO dread.
ful?" she whispered.
"No-oh no. I'm only q fool. and
quite hungry. madame"
She brought the broth and bread
and a glass OF the most exquisite wine
ever tasted-a wine that seemed to
brighten the whole room with it's
liquid sunshine.
DO you know where you sre?" she
asked. gravely.
"Oh yes-in Morsbronn."
And in whose house. monsieur"
81 don't know" | glanced instinc
lively at the tarnished coronet on the
canopy above the bed. DO you know.
Madame la Comtesse?"
Il ought to-" she said. family
amused. 81 was born in this room
1t WAS to this house that | desired to
come before-my exile"
After a silence ! said. Il wish I
could look out OF the window"
She went to the window and folded
up the vanished blinds.
How dreadful the cannonade is
growing" she said. wait! don't
think OF moving! will push you
close to the window. where you can
see"
Lying there. watching the slow
shadows crawling out over the eide
walk. had been for some minutes
thinking OF my friend Mr.. Buckhurst,
when ! heard the young Countess stir.
ring in the room behind me.
you are not going to be cripple ?"
she said. ns turned my head.
"Oh no. indeed" said I.
Nor dic?" she added, seriously.
How could a man die with nm angel
straight from heaven to guard him,
Pardon. ! am only grateful. not impcr.
tincnt." looked at her humbly, and
she looked at me without the slight. Il
expression.
Are you English. Monster Scar.
lctt7" she asked quietly.
American, madame"
And yet you take service under an
emperor"
II have taken harder service than
that"
"Of nccSsity?"
Yes. madame
She was silent.
Would II Amuse you to hear what
I have bcen7" I said. smiling,
THAT In not the word" she said,
quietly. ITO hehf OF hardship helps
one to understand the world"
Suddenly n shell fell into the court.
yard opposite. bursting Immediately
In 4 cloud OF gravel which rsincd