The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-08-04


he belonged Those women who were
devoting themselves to the wounded
in the hospitals when they needed
rest drove in the Bots de Boulogne,
and there they would see the hand
some Jules, his arm suspended in a
white silk handkerchief and his
crutches protruding throgh the cab
window.
One of the first acts of Jules after
his return to Paris was to call at
Mile. Desires residence with the bit
of shrapnel that would have killed
him had 1t not been stopped by his
belt clasp. She had Just come In
from the hospital and was resting
after great fatigue, but her hero lover
being announced she lost no time in
going down to receive him.
Dearest Nathalie" he said, II have
brought you a memento of the battle
field, as requested by you. In
bayonet charge a shell fragment struck
me and would have killed me had it
not been stopped by the metal clasp
of my belt. have brought 1t to you
as the most worthy of all the girls !
know to possess such a memento Of
the war"
Mile. Desire took the bit of iron
given her, looked upon it reverently,
then turned her liquid eyes up to the
hero, with mute thankfulness at the
honor done her.
"Oh, Jules" she exclaimed, "suppos-
ing it had struck you an inch higherw
I'm that case should not be here to
assure you Of my constancy."
There was a bit of ecstatic cooling,
and Jules left to carry to Mile. de Ia
Tour the bullet that had been extract
ed from his body. She was not at
home, but he was told that he would
find her in the rooms of society for
the making and distribution of com
forts of the soldiers. He went there
and found her packing socks.
"Delphine," he said, heaven has
spared me to bring you the bullet that
nearly cost me my life"
"Oh, Jules" she replied, holding 1t
up reverently, thank heaven that it
did not kill your
There were too many persons about
to admit of any demonstrations, and
after a brief talk Jules went to find
Mile. Cherbutier. He had carried his
cross In his pocket, fearing that either
Mile. Desire or De la Tour might
ask to be permitted to wear 1t. But
now he put it on his breast and walked
proudly to the residence of Mile. Cher
butler. He found her at home and
said to her:
Louise, when you asked to be per-
mitted to be the first woman to wear
a decoration that 1 might achieve
never dreamed that l should win one.
| can only attribute my having done
so to your lovely image being in my
minds eye when started for the
enemy's trenches"
"Oh, Jules" exclaimed the happy
girl, "you are as modest as you are
brave and truthful"
Jules should have WINGED at this.
Doubtless he would have done so had
his heart been capable of containing
only one girl. But since it was suffi-
GENTLY capacious to contain three he
felt no conjunction whatever. And
he was fortunate when he was with
one of the three to forget entirely the
others. He fastened his decoration to
Louises breast and, since they were
alone, her head fell on his shoulder.
How long may wear it?" she
asked.
Forever" replied the gallant Jules
A few days later there was a war
service In one of the hospitals, at !
which Jules was invited to be present
rs one who had distinguished himself
ma won decoration. 1t occurred to
him that 1t would be expected that he
would wear his cross, and he sent to
louise Cherbutier for 1t. But she could
rot be found In time for the ceremony.
md Jules went to the hospital with
tut 1t. Mile. Desire was a regular at.
endant at the hospital, and Mile. de
a Tour made 1t point to be present,
IS, indeed, did all those women in
Paris who were interested in war
work.
Jules received a great ovation. Be-
ng asked why he did not wear his
ross, he said that he had inadvertent.
y left 1t at home. The surgeon in |
barge of the hospital offered Jules
Reuse for him, whereupon Mile. De- !
ire arose and said:
Il have shell fragment that would |
ave killed our hero had 1t not been
topped by his belt clasp"
And l." said another voice, "have a
ullet that was extracted from his
ide."
Tnese announcements were received |
ifferently by different persons. Some |
Aughed that two such confessions
Mould Dc made by different girls.
ONE OF the wounded soldiers be- /
an to protest that Jules must have
'rongfully claimed that he had been
ecorated. At that moment Mile.
herbutier entered and asked what
'as the matter When told that the
ero OF the occasion was a man claim
lg to be decorated and yet without a
ecoration she held up Jules cross,
rying out:
Here 1t Isl He permitted me to
ear 1t for him!'
There were shouts expressing merri-
0nt Condemnation anoro,.I - ~ |