The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-07-09
TheGirlHe! Fl
Behind Him
BY F. A. MICHEL

oA0 ONACA . OAN "o0 NVx4OOAVSO
on his fathers farm. He had received
only a few years schooling, but he
was a bit Of a philosopher in his own
way. He was engaged to be married
to Ellen Briefly and expected to in
her1t her fathers farm and 1--we and
die there. Ellen was a high strung,
emotional girl and when the wal with
Germany broke out insisted that John
should enlist.
what forT" asked John.
"Why, all the men are enlisting."
1T seems to me, If that's so, some
m 'ad better stay 'ome and do the
farmin'."
But think Of the excitement of 60
ing OF to the war with the flags flying,
the drums beating and the band play.
ing The Girl l Left Behind Me!"
And hobblin' back singin' the leg
left behind me-"
John, I'm afraid you're a coward
John looked at her, leaning O. the
spade with which he had been dig
ging, then threw it down and said:
Il can't stand that from the girl
love. I'm gOin' to enlist"
"Forgive me-" said Ellen, throwing
her arms about him. II knew you
weren't afraid to 60 to the war.
thought you needed a little prodding.'
"I'm goin' to war to please you.
don't believe in wars. The fellers that
go either don't come back or, If they
do, they find the excitement all over
and people talkin' about somethin' else.
They don't cut no figure at all. The
fellers that stayed at 'ome has got the
Jobs, and the soldier as to git a Twin
the best way e can"
Don't fear for that, Johnny, dear.
I'll be ere to welcome you back, and
II you are manned I'll take care Of you
for the rest of your life."~
She kissed him and patted him to
make him feel better about the sacri-
f1ce he vas making, but Johnny refus-
ed to be comforted. However, he went
to the nearest recruiting station and
enlisted. When he marched away with
the regimental band playing "The Girl
l Left Behind Me" Ellen stood by the
roadside waving her handkerchief at
him, her eyes bedimmed with tears.
One day, the better part Of a year
later, a discharged soldier. walking
along q road in Yorkshire on one flesh
leg and a wooden one, met q man with
a hoe on his shoulder.
Mister" said the ex-soldier. ''Hi
been to the war. Hi was taken prison
er by the Germans on the battlefield.
all hexcept my leg, that was shot OF
and wasn't worth anything. been a
prisoner for months, but was hex.
changed not long ago and sent 'ome.
l went from this place and want to
arsk you about some people l left ERE.
Wot's become O. Ellen Brierly2"
"Wot's Ellen Briefly to your snarl-
ed the man.
"Wot's she to me-? A good deal.
seem that Hi went to- the wal for 'er
sake and left my leg in Belgium for
'er sake too"
Are you John 'Obbsw
"Fauncy l are. wot's left o. me. Be-
sides my leg, my right and AS. gone
and my left heye."
"And you've come back to marry
your sweet'eart?"
Hi fauncy. She promised to take
care O. me for the rest O. my life If
came back MANNED"
The nan looked thoughtful. stroked
his beard. changed the leg he was
standing on several times, then said:
This ere promisin' to take car o.
any m for life is a bad business"
"'Ow so?"
II promised to take care Of a wom-
an for 'er life. and I'm a-doin' Of it,
but it's q ard job. I wouldn't mind
givin' 'er to you to take are of you"
II don't want 'er. l want Ellen
Briefly. the girl I left behind me when
I went to the war and the girl l went
to the war to please"
I'm sorry you did that"
"Why?"
"Well your goin' to the war got me
into a lot O. trouble. l was mighty
AAu0pCuOCAS ~ IuS" O0y6 i az uO
wOrryment wOtsoever. A girl took a
shine to me and married me. amt
'ad no peace since"
"Is that wot comes o. matrimony?"
That's w0t come to me. See ere.
young fellow. l fancy It was very
ard stayin' In German 'ospitals and
leavin' your leg and your fingers be-
hind you and losin' your eye. but you
missed a lot O. troubles worse than
that by goin'."
"WOt %troubles?"
1.-The troubles O. matrimony. You
missed 'em; l got 'em."
low SOP.
Il married the girl you left behind
you"
"Wot! You married Ellen Briefly p
II did. knew that a Teller named
John 'Obbs that 'ad gone to the war
was expectin' to marry 'er when e
got back-if he eve did git back-and
I thought l was wrongin' i'm. l don't
mind DOM the best l can to make
amends. If you want 'er I'll light out
49, ~~- ~@All~s A~. a. 1---a-S D. l.