The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-06-24

| my u0uO1s
Were you once an omcer OF our
African battalions!" he asked, in the
Arab tongue.
"Sous-ofiicier OF spahi cavalry"
said, smiling. "And you arc q Kabyle
mountaineer from Constantine. | see"
1T Is true - l 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
never-to-beforgotten cavalry with the
scarlet cloaks, rushed on me thick and
fast: incidents. trivial matters OF the
basaars. faces Of comrades dead, came
to me in flashes. Ny eyes grew moist.
my throat swelled. whimpered:
Give me = drink. In Gods name!"
Again he held up the blue water
bottle. After q moment I said: is 1t
battle or . bousculade? But need
not ask: the cannon tell me enough.
Are they storming the heights. Mus
tapha?"
"Macache comprendir." said the SOL
der. dropping into patois. There is
much noise. but No Turcos are here In
Aorsbronn. and We have seen nothing
but sparrows."
"Ars you detailed to look aftsr me!".
He said he was. and I informed him
that I needed nobody; that It was
| much more important for everybody
that he should rejoin his battalion in
the street below. where even now
could hear the Algerian bugles blow
ing . silvery sonneris-'Uarde =
vous!"
Il am salah Ben-Ahmed. . mara.
bout Of the Third Turcos." he said.
proudly. "Have my inspectors per-
mission to GOT"
"Go, salah Ben-Ahmed. the mara
bout" said I. laughing.
! Tho soldier sti6ened to attention:
his bronzed hand dew to his scarlet
fes, 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 q knock
at the door. and hastily buttoned my
blood-stained shirt to the throat. threw
= tunic over my shoulders. and cried.
Come int" -ra.t. u,
A trick Of memory and perhaps Of
physical weakness had driven from
my mind all recollection Of tho Count
ess de Vassart since had come to my
senses under the surgeons probe But
At the touch Of her fingers ON the
door outside. knew that 1t could Be
nobody but my Countess.
She entered noiselessly, bearing .
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
full" she whispered.
"No-oh no. I'm only . fool. and
quite hungry. madame"
She brought the broth and bread
and glass Of the most exquisite wine
I ever tasted-a wine that seemed to
brighten the whole room with its
liquid sunshine.
DO you know where you are!" she
asked, gravely.
"Oh yes-in Morsbronn."
"And in whose house, monsieur"
II 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. II was born in this room
1t was to this house that desired to
come before-my exile" ~
After a silence l said. Il wish
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 car
see."
Lying there, watching the slow
shadows crawling out over the side
walk, had been for some minutes
thinking of my friend Mr.. Buckhrrst
when heard the young Countess stir
ring In the room behind me.
You are not going to be cripple ?
she said. as turned my head
"Oh no, indeed" said l.
Nor die?" she added, seriously.
How could man die with an ange
straight from heaven to guard him
. Pardon. am only grateful, not imper
tinent." l looked at her humbly, ans
, she looked at me without the sligh; ,
expression.
4 Are you English, Monster Scar
e lett?" she asked quietly.
J, American, madame"
4 And yet you take service under Al
e emperor"
+ II have taken harder service tha,
that"
|, "Of necessity"
= Yes. madame"
I She was silent.
Would 1t amuse you to hear wha
b have been?" said, smiling.
l. THAT In not the word" she said
( quietly. ITO hear Of hardship HELM
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