The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-03
and his shadow fen across the two

women.
Mime. Wales raised her hands. She
was going to cry out, but somehow
she did not. Instead she managed to
get to door: it opened into her
/ bedroom.
Put him here. Maurice. Can you
/ get doctor?"
Beaujon laid Jean down on his
mothers bed. He pstted Nine.
Wales cheek 20 softly in his pity.
mo. Jean does not need . doctor,
Mama Wales"
He went out. closing the door on
the two. There was . stranger In
he dining room, and he remembered
f; Nine. Wales did not like curious eyes.
He sat down In the arst chair he
reached, exhausted.
The guest in the hotel was an
American-Miss Dewey. She had OK.
pected to join friends in Berlin. She
kept saying to herself that she had
never expected this war when she
went abroad.
When she saw Beaujon's pallor she
ran to the kitchen and called Marie,
the young girl who assisted Nine.
Wales as kind of underhousekeep.
er, to bring hot coffee at once.
"They have brought home Nine.
Valles' son dead" she exclaimed,
''and l think the man who brought
him is Ill. He looks so white"
Eyes, mademoiselle," answered
Marie. Her hand shook so she kept
pouring the coffee into the saucer in
stead of the cup.
Here" said Miss Dewey, II will
attend to that" She seized the coffee
pot and poured the coffee with q
steady hand. Nov you bring . basin
Of warm water to wash his feet. They
are bleeding and his stockings are cut
In shreds."
Eyes, mademoiselle," answered Ma.
RE. please tell me-where IL Jean?"
His mother has him in her room.
She has shut the door, Hurry with
that basin, Marie" Miss Dewey went
back to Beaujon. TRY to take q little
Of this coffee. It will do you good"
Beaujon lifted his heavy eyes to her
face. Thank you"
Marie came hurrying in with towels
and a basin Of water and. kneeling
down, peeled OF the ragged stockings
with tender fingers. She was young
and dark and richly colored.
Suddenly she pressed Beaujon's
bare feet to her bosom, sobbins,
while she murmured: my Jean, my
Jean!::
She was to have married Jean
Wales in the autumn.
Beaujon's brows contracted with
pity. Poor Marie!" he said. poor
4ariei" His mind seemed entirely
clear again.
The coffee helped him. He watched
her - she sat back on her heels, let.
ting his feet drop into her lap and
looking up pitifully At him.
Nov, I shall have no husband"
He saw her poor. little, dropping
mouth. the woe in her eyes.
II was more than grief for Jean. Il
was desolation come upon her. The
issues Of life were cut of. She would
have no husband, no children. Why
was she left . woman?
This was what war did for women!
Beaujon spoke with dimculty, for
his throat was tired. Marie. II I live
I will return and be your husband"
When she saw the kindness on his
face she bent forward and laid her
face against his breast, sobbing. He
patted her shoulder until she grew
quiet. Then he said: Nov, I must
be going"
Miss Dewey was crying. too. She
ran out to get him another cup OF
coffee. What . good man." she
thought.
Marie knelt and dried his feet and
put q pair Of clean stockings on him
They were Papa valles', as were also
the boots. she brought. Papa Wales
had gone to the war. too; and he wal
q big man like Beaujon. not slight
like Jean. Jean was 90 pretty-like
= girl. Her tears fell more gently.
| Beaujon pulled on the boots. He
rose and shook hands with Mis-.
Dewey. "Good-by," he said. "wher
you return to your own country re
member u.s."
She stood on the steps Of the hotel
while Marie followed him to the road
WATT" he said; Il was forgettin,
something"
He thrust his hand into his poke
and drew forth . big key and gave 1,
70 Marie. 1T 10 the key to my shop
II I do not come back al 10 yours"
She took It % Q child might
Yes" She kept her eyes nxed visit
fully on Besujon's fAce.
"0ood-by," he said. ana bent TO his
her cheek; then suddeoly drew be-
into his arms and kissed her mouth
"0ood-by. my wifs!"
The blood courssd freely througi
his veins once more. That kiss-s'
fresh. % sweet-had revived him.
was a. though Marie had become
stranger with whom he had fallel
In love ut FIRST sight.
Their love sprang new born from
this moment: It had no past. He wen
OF down the road with q swingin,
step. his shoulders squared. The goo,
God meant well by man. His han,
must be over this somehow-yes-
over 1t ALL
Where Is his shop, Marie?" aske,
Miss Dewey.
THE fourth one down on that side
mademoiselle." answered Marie.
'Oh, that beautiful lace shop!
: Miss Dewey exclaimed. There ar