New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11

wanted TO go on; but my legs refused to do
their duty. ! sank TO the ground
The tunult Of the battle still ragged. but its
vortex seemed to be moving away from me.
had, however, but one thought, but one wish
| saw at a little distance thick copse Of
oaks. wanted TO get there. for there knew
| should be safer. II was the instinct of the
stricken animal seeking to hide in the thicket
Painfully | crawled forward on all tours.
The way seemed without end, and when /
reached the copse it was blessing TO lie down
in quiet. The wound began to give me great
pain.
you must bind it up" The thought ran
through my mind, but was too weak to move.
Over my head | saw the green and brown oak
leaves fluttering in the wind | saw the sky,
too blue and dotted with quickly travelling
white clouds. rested my head on a clump Of
grass and lay on my side.
Then | noticed that very near me lay an
other soldier. An arm in blue sleeve back,
head with dark hair. And from the posture
of the head, the relaxation of the arm, knew
that this comrade was going to be very quiet
and silent comrade.
Did he also crawl here to die?" thought.
| envied him his untroubled rest
Eyes, to die, to die" | kept saying to myself.
as it coming now? Is this death? Is this the
way it happens?" And l sank into uncon-
seriousness
cold shudder running through my body
awakened me out of my stupor For while
! lay quite still. 1t seemed to me that I could
,,,o,-a nathan bopd nor foot Eipa1lv 7 opeped
my eyes. Darkness reigned, yet now and then
pale light penetrated the darkness. All about
me heard gentle rustling.
Where was 1? lifted my head little. Was
this merely an uneasy dream that was dream
ing? Then a sharp pain in my side made me
drop back l felt burning thirst and began
to grow cold all over.
This cleared my mind little. Now l knew
where I was and what had happened to me.
1t was night. The moon was in the sky.
Black clouds passed over its face. The leaves
on the trees made the rustling sound which
had noticed. Beside me lay the motionless
Frenchman his arm stretched out, in the inert
posture of DEATH
Yes. now I knew that it was not all over
yet-that the bitter ordeal of death was still
ahead Of me.
Then l thought heard steps cautiously conf
ing and going. Was it some wild animal on
his nightly prowl? / lifted my head again
and saw a small dark form moving slowly In
and out among the bushes.
1t was a woman, enveloped in a black cloak,
her head bent down as if she was searching
for something With a shudder | gazed at
this phantom, black and sinister, which stole
through the moonlight Now she came quite
near. She stopped at the dead man beside me,
bent low over his body; then heard cry Of
grief, short and shri, such as a wounded ami
NAL might make She knelt down, then threw
herself on the body of the dead man and began
to sob heartbreakingly. With the sobs were
mingled words, spoken in youthful voice,
which was full of the strange vibration which
tears cause in the voices of weeping women.
She talked the broad French dialect of the Dor
der lands.
"Alfred, my darling, how have searched for
voul Everywhere have searched for you! |
knew that you were in need, that you were
waiting for me. You knew that your Simone
would come You are wounded, Alfred? Say
that you are wounded, not dead! Oh, mon
Dieu. mon Deu."
She seated herself on the ground lifted the
head of the dead man, placed it in her lap,
stroked the dark hair and, bent deep over him,
began again to sob and to talk plaintively to
him.
"The Boches have killed you They have
made this black hole in your forehead They