Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-03-19

African battalions 2" he asked, in the
Arab tongue.
"Sous-officier of spahi cavalry"
said, smiling. And you are Kabyle
mountaineer from Constantine, see."
ut 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
never:to-be-forgotten 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,- I whimpered:
Give me a drink. in Gods name!"
Again he held up the blue water
bottle. After a moment 1 said: 'Is it
battle or a bousculade? But l need
not ask; the cannon tell me enough.
Are they storming the heights. Mus
tapha?"
"Macache comprendir." said the sol
dier, 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 l 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!"
T am salah Ben-Ahmed. a mara
bout of the Third Turcos." he said.
proudly. Have l my inspectors per-
mission to go?'
go, Salah Ben-Ahmed, the mara
bout" said I. laughing.
The soldier stiffened to attention;
his bronzed hand few 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
a tunic over my shoulders, and cried.
"Come I'M"
A trick of memory and perhaps of
physical weakness had driven from
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, I knew that it could be
nobody but my Countess.
She entered noiselessly. bearing q
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 a table
and hurried to my side.
What is 1t? Is the pain so dread
ful?" she whispered.
"No-oh no. I'm only 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 its
| liquid sunshine.
DO you know where you are?" she
asked. gravely.
"Oh yes-in MorsbronI."
"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?'
Ousut ". sHe sdlu, Idlntiy
amused. 81 was born in this room.
1t was to this house that | desired to
come before-my exile"
After 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 side
walk, l had been for some minutes
thinking of my friend Mr.. Buckhrrst.
when l heard the young Countess stir
ring In the room behind me.
You are not going to be cripple?"
she said, as l turned my head.
"Oh no, indeed!" said l.
Nor die?" she added. seriously.
| How could man die with an angel
straight from heaven to guard him!
Pardon, am only grateful, not imper-
tinent." / looked at her humbly, and
she looked at me without the sligh, It
expression.
Are you English. Monster Scar
lett?" she asked quietly.
! American, madame"
And yet you take service under an
emperor"
II have taken harder service than
that
"Of necessity"
Yes, madame"
She was silent.
Would 1t amuse you to hear what
l have been?" | said. smiling.
THAT is not the word" she said,
quietly. ITO hear OF hardship helps
| 0pa IN understand the