The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-26
What Might
Have Been
By F. A. mitchell

Jean Dufour and Edouard Boyer
when the great European war broke
out were intimate friends. One of their
girl companions, Clochette Larrabee,
had received a declaration of love from
each, but neither man knew of the 9th
ers proposal, nor did Clochette tell
them or make any difference in her |
treatment of them from what it had
been. The truth is that both these |
declarations were made shortly before |
the young men marched away In the |
same regiment to meet the German in !
vasion.
In the battle of the Marne Boyer was
severely wounded and was sent home
to recover ClOchette nursed him, but
showed only the sympathy of friend.
She also revealed such soicitude for
Dufour that Boyer knew she had given
him her heart He recovered from his
wound and before he returned told her
that he knew she loved his friend.
Then she admitted that such was the
case, but charged him not to communi-
cate it to Jean.
For" she said, "if Jean is killed and
my marrying you will add to your com
fort will do SO"
Edouard shook his head mournfully,
but said nothing.
1t did not occur to Clochette that she
had given BOYER reason to wish for
his friends death. Did such wish
thrust itself unhldden into Boyer's
breast? Such thought might come to
any one under similar circumstances,
Dufour was ten years older than
Bower They had been playmates, and
Dufour's superior age and strength
caused him to look upon ,his friend as
something to be protected. though
Bower seemed perfectly able and Will
ing to take care Of himself. This feel
ing of an older for younger brother
clung to Jean in the war, ana II there
was any exposure needed from one or
the other Jean insisted upon bearing
II. Not that Edouard assented to TINS
Indeed, he did what he could to dc
feat his friend thus from fayoring him
One day comrade In passing from
an advanced trench to one In the rear
was feled by bullet before he reach
cd his goal. Jean and Edouard both
started to bring him In. Jean ordered
Edouard back. Edouard rebelled an0
40 6ercely that his friend was surprls
, ed Both went to the rescue, and FOL
a wonder both returned unharmec
with the wounded man, though they
: carried him through a storm OF bul
lets.
lean Dufour was puzzled as TO TN
" cause OF his friend having become s.
! harsh with him at his having desired
70 assume the risk Of bringing In TN
wounded man 1t was the hrst tim
Edouard had ever protested with irrl
. tation against being thus favored. Bu
= Edouard volunteered no explanation
y and lean asked for none Neverthe
Il loss from that time there was some
T" thing unexplained between them, th
F.. first OF its kind, for up to that tlm
:. tho relation between them had pee
= that OF older and younger brother.
:. One day the Germans made an Oh
= slaught upon ccI ain positloh Ut
: :, fending Verdun. For awhile trenc
fighting was abandoned and the Da
- tla was In the open. The regiment |
. which the two friends belonged wa
. much scattered, but Jean, ever solici
!, Gus for his friend, kept him In sign
> and in time the two found themselv'
10 in what, before a destructive nre ha
"a robbed II of Its trees, was torres
q Edouard had gone In advance or
comrades. and Jean went to bring hi
"a back. In this way both had been ie
~ nm neutral ground. There was nothir
w for them to do but hide behind WIN
no was left of some tree that had pee
OF shot away above. Jean chose y
.c. and Edouard stump.
,G small party of Germans came
nm occunv the ground. The officer col
10. manding them was heard to say:
,el cav Frenchman duck near here. '
az ,nust find him before we move
ed Show no quarter.
all Edouard arose and began to nre
tho souad. Before Jean could reaii
OF the situation his friend fell, riddi
lse with bullets Then the Germans h'
he ried away.
as lean Dufour remained where he
,se ond when night fell went to the DO
in OF his friend, took it up and carried
ed into the French lines.
on lean was at a loss to understa
the why Edouard had not waited until
Germans found him. The more
lck thought Of Edouard's act the more
7as was puzzled. At the same time
words Of the German officer that tn