The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-12

toes.
Madame the lieutenant says calm
ly, \ ask for you because am lost
! The Great Sacrifice.
"'You lost! Why talk auch foolish
ness?'
Thanks, madame. but It is useles:
to deceive me. 1 am lost; feel it
and know it. Oh, am not complain
ing: SO many of my comrades are
gone. 1t was my turn; that's all. Be
sides, I have the immense Joy of know
ing that | die for something. The!
will not get to Verdun and they arc
wearing out. Only land he turns te
the darkening window. only l would
have liked to see the sun again
Madame, have some letters. here and
a photograph. Will you do me the
favor to burn them
The bronZed hand reaches out and
seizes the papers on the table and
| presses them over his breast, which
rises in a sigh. For a brief moment
his fingers tremble and his mouth
contracts. Then he holds out the pa
| pers.
Take them. Thanks
HE is silent. His sacrifice has
been contaminated. Tears fall from
the nurses eyes on her white bodice
and on the love letters, which she
presses tight.
my mother begins the lieutenan,
| again.
do you wish to dictate a letter 70.
herr
There is a pause. No; an not
strong enough. You will tell her
You will know best how to, tell her.
His eyes close, and then all al
once they open again.
my notebook. All my war life Is
inscribed in it, day by day. have
entered the date of my wound. When
all is over, will you please add the
day and the hour
The nurse mods her head affirma
lively.
"'Thanks once more. madame; you
are kind. You must not cry. Go back
to the others, who need you more.
Goodnight, madame
The courage which has not al
s.. -..lus the fever and intoxication OF
battle, the call OF duty or the example
of superior, courage naked and sub
lime, is the courage on the hospital
bed.
"reminiscences Of the Day.
The wounded continued to arrive.
There are hardly any beds unoccupied.
Some young officers who can be
moved-broken arms, bullet in the
shoulder and general wounds-will be
sent to the rear in the evening. They
are seated around fire in their
muddy uniforms, which are torn and
stained with blood, and they chat in
low tones, for there are three com
rades in bed near them. They are
talking of the recent fighting and
their movements are feverish and
their eyes shine.
How funny you looked, old man.
says one to another, as you ran for
ward, with your hair in the wind and
bagful of grenades on your stcm'
ach like an opossum.
Ibid you see Lieutenant u?
After the first attack he waved his
yellow gloves and said in that mincing
voice of his: rs not this Smelling ri
diculous? Those poor Boches have no
sense Of art
"'All the same, with his gloves and
his funny voice, Z is more reck'
less than all of US together
"'Oh, for reckless bravery
Another stretcher shakes the
stairs. At the top there is a pause
Then a gentle voice is heard:
Madame, it would be awfully good
of you If you could find little eau
de cologne for me. A few drops would
do. am really ashamed to be
brought into your presence in such a
dreadfully unclean condition.
THE tones are soft and clear and
just trifle affected.
No Sympathy Desired.
1.-THE three officers rise and dash
| forward.
why, it is X-!'
Here l am, he replied. "A little
late. but l was occupied
Where are you wounded?
THE young man, very pale, lifts the
covering and raises with an effort the
stump of an arm.
"'You have lost an arm? Already
amputated!'
Ives, it was very ugly bruised
mess and Disguised me, SO we had il
off,
Poor old chap
Nonsense. With a nice little arti
fetal hand with a glove over it, no one
will tell the difference. Besides, it's
cleaner for some purposes. You fel
lows used to make fun of my gloves
/ was just practicing
"X@, you are wonderful. AnC
how were things going when you left
the front?'
"'Fine, marvelously. The Boche'
were falling like tenpins. And not al
inch did they gain. my boy, not sin
gle inch.'"
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