The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27
The Colonel S
Convalescence
BY ALAN HINsDALE

In one of those battles between the
French and Germans when the latter
were endeavoring to reach the channel
Colonel Latrobe. n man of forty, WAS
wounded and instead of being sent &c
hospital was left for want of trans
portation at a chateau by the way.
The lady who owned the Place directed
that he be placed in one of her best
rooms and at once assumed his care.
Fortunately for both, the fighting did
not come near the chateau, and the
colonel was left to recover, his wants
being supplied by the lady. a spinster
named Remercier.
Mile. Remercier was some five years
younger than Iatrobe. and spinsters
usually preserve their youthful appear
ance longer than their married sisters
At any rate this is liable to be the case
with unmarried women who have no
cares or troubles The coloners nurse
was still handsome woman.
There was a long period of GONZALES.
cence, during which the colonel was
unable to join his command. Mile.
Remercler read to him. chatted with
him, fed him, indeed made his conva-
lescence delightful. Every morning she
gathered flowers from her garden, car
ried them to his room and arranged
them in vase of Dresden china with
her own hands. Many of the delicacies
prepared for him to eat she cooked
with her own hands. No matter what
time of day he called for anything he
needed the lady responded and always
with a sympathetic smile.
In time Latrobe spent a portion of
the day in an easy chair; then nearly
all the day there; then he was able to
walk about his room and finally to go
| downstairs. He was chatting to get
back to the front, though loath to leave
his luxurious abode and especially his
| fair hostess.
One morning in June he was sitting
on the terrace with Mile. Remercier
The sun shone brightly, and delicious
perfume came from the roses growing
] beside the terrace. Conversation turn
! ed upon the school of st. Cyr, from
which the colonel had been graduated
ii subIieutenant into the army.
| 81 visited st. Cyr when but seven
teen years old" said madamoiselle. 81
can conceive of no place so enthralling
to girl of that age as a military acad-
envy. The young men in uniform are
far more Respondent than those in
civilian dress. There are the martial
music, the military ceremonies. every
thing to turn a girls head"
"And | remember" added the colo
mel, "how we youngsters delighted in
making love to the girls who visited
St Cyr. Lovemaking had not the
meaning that it has for older men. 1t
was what the Americans call flirting.
We thought nothing of telling a girl
we loved her. and the girls thought
nothing of pretending TO reciprocate,
We enjoyed the sentiment without hay
ing to fret about the responsibilities
When we had made love to one girl
we were ready for another. And when
they had gone we returned to our stud.
hes as free mentally rs before they had
come"
Your picture may be true with re.
spect to the young men," said the lady
and in most cases perhaps with re-
gard to the girls. In my case it was
different. In one of these young mill
tary students | met that which was
the most serious episode of my life
He made love to me simply for the
temporary enjoyment of the sentiment
Alas, il was far more than that to me-
That is why have never married"
"The brute" exclaimed the colonel.
mo; he was simply young and did
not realize the danger to me of what
he was doing"
Perhaps he did realize it in time, tC
his cost. | confess that there was one
of my affairs that stood by me fol
many years. | could not shake 1t off
Even today, after twenty years, | SEE
In my dreams that young face and
press again that soft hand"
"And why did you, after discovering
that You really loved her, not seek heI
Out?"
"Ah, that would have served II
America, where they marry for love
but not in France, where parents ar
range marriages for their children"
who was the girl?"
'Tf l remember correctly she was the
daughter Of gentleman of fortune
: living In one OF the provinces. Hel
name was Hortense"- He was stall
. ed: he had forgotten her surname.
Would you know her again, do vol
suppose. after not seeing her for TWEEN
. ty years?"
THAT I could not say"
Mile. Remercier arose and went int
the house Presently she returned
with miniature painting, which SHE
handed to the colonel He looked a
: it for Il few moments as though 1
brought back some vague memory
; then suddenly he turued his eyes upol
; his companion in scrt of wonder.
, Where did you get this?" he asked
Il have had it ever since the origi
; nal visited st. Cyr twenty years ago.
f The colonels steady gaze gradual,
revealed TO him that the miniatur
, was likeness of Mile. Remercier q
4 seventeen.
, "Hortenser' he exclaimed.
p Henri was the low reply.
r When the colonel went back to tn
\ front he returned a married man. In
l deed, had not duty called him b
4 would not have returned. He was yer
much pleased at receiving anOthe
: wound, just severe enough to lay hiI
up for a month. He returned to tn
a chateau of his wife, and the month c
. recovery and his honeymoon were on