Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-02-03

eFlueuL luul 1enrl ana L must leave
our hiding place and get back TO our
men or be shot down.
"But the changes were so rapid that
before we could make up our minds to
take our chances in flight a gentle
breeze from the southeast waited a
poxious cloud upon us that drove us
down into the very bottom of the
trench and held us there with our
faces buried, our eyes closed, In the
soil. Then the enemy charged upon
our men, and down came the bodies of
those who were shot while crossing
the trench, burying us under a pile of
dead and wounded.
ITO be thus crushed was no better
| than to inhale noxious gas. and,
! struggling against our covering, we
reached point where we could look
about US. The gas had been blown to
our own trenches and had been fol-
| lowed by a bayonet charge of the en-
/ emy. who had been thinned TO moth
| ingness by rapid fire guns.
"'Let US run for it, l said to my
! chum.
"'No,' replied Henri. We would
never make our lines. Do you see the
enemy tumbling into those trenches not
hundred yards from us? We would
have to run the gantlet of their rifles.
Let US stay where We are for the pres
ent Our men may push forward and
cover u.s.
There was not now living man in
the trench where we We're, though
there Were many dead. And yet l can
not be certain of this. for there was
such din that if there were wounded
l could not hear them groan. 1t seem
ed that Satan had brought hell with
him to the air as well as on the land,
for, being exhausted. lay down in the
trench, and there above me l saw two
aeroplanes carrying on the fight far
above the heads of those numbering
one another on the land. 1 dared not
rise to get any other view. for above
the trench missiles were flying so thick
that not spear of wheat would have
been left standing if in the way.
Presently the firing from our lines
In the enemy's ranks indicating that
they We're about to make a charge.
We knew that We must go down in
that rush if We remained where we
were and we must get out. There was
a possibility that we might reach our
lines alive, though we could not hope
to do so unhit.
Come said Henri; we must be off.
Something tells me that I shall be
killed and that you will be saved. If /
can do anything to insure your being
spared to Clochette shall die content.
Co.
"He pushed Inc out of the trench, and
we ran as swiftly as our legs would
carry us toward our men. During that
brief flight l was conscious that Henri
was running directly behind me, cover
ing me with his body. What could l
do to prevent this? Nothing. To stop
and protest would only have brought
death to US both. 1 ran on till 1 came
within few yards of our lines; then
one of my legs was knocked from un-
der me, and fell. l was conscious of
being picked up and carried away, but
after that for some time knew nothing.
when l came back to consciousness
l asked If Henri had escaped l was
told that he had protected me from the
enemy's fire till just before l fell, when
he was shot through the body. Then q
surgeon came and amputated my leg.
And now you see me with life be-
fore me that has been given Clochette
by Henri. Do you wonder that we dec
crate his picture with flowers? Do you
wonder that Clochette loves him dead
as well as she loves me living? What
use for me to say that I would rather
have
The sentence was not finished, for
his wife put her arms around her hus-
band and stopped the words with a
kiss.
"Now, madame" said the wife, "you
understand how it is possible for an
honest woman to have a lover and a
husband. How could I help loving the
man who gave his life that my dear
husband might be returned to me?"
She brought out some simple cakes
that she had made with her own hands
and poured a glass of wine for each Of
US. We stood, about to quaff the wine,
when both the husband and the wife
turned to the picture Of the man who
had died that they might be happy
with each other. and | joined them in
drinking to his memory.
The episode revealed to me how i'm.
perfect Is language. There are no
words to express how woman can
have lover and husband without
reproach. And yet here was case. 1
left the couple not only with respect.
but with heartfelt sympathy and thank
fulness that the poor mutilated soldier
had such woman to cheer him.
Incidents l saw during my ministry
moved me more than this, for / tool,
the last message OF many dying sol.
dier, but no episode affected me In the
same way. There was In the sacrifice
rs well as in the situation something
UNIQUE. And who con toll hn,y ,,,.,.-