The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-31
81 TOLD
YOU SO"
B, ESTHER VANDEVEER

only seventeen years old. Antoine was
SO full of fight that he wished to enlist
at once. But he was not of the age
required of recruit, and his mother
prevented his being accepted
Antoine was so disappointed at not
being able to go to the war and SO I'm
patient to get there that he excited
the attention of his associates. One of
them said. when he gets to the front
ne Will be glad to get to the rear"
Another remarked: Il have no conf
dence In the bravery Of these fellows
who are spelling for fight"
Louise Boyer, a little girl living near
Antoine, considered him the brayest
man In the world Whether this was
because she was impressed with his
desire to get to the front, which she
herself shrank from, or because she
loved him is not known. Certain II is
that when any one impeached his cour.
age she would say:
| Just you wait. Antoine will be call
ed with next years troops, and you
| Will see what he will do"
One morning notices were posted
that the reserves OF 1915 were called
for. Antoine was very happy. He
Dade his mother and Louise goodby
and, taking position on a gun carriage
Tor he was In the artillery-rode
away with his arms folded over his
swelling chest, for all the world like
gunner with many service stripes on
his sleeve.
Antoine was what was considered n
good soldicr-that is. he was soldierly
In his appearance and attended to his
duties with zest. But this Is no cri
terion as to how. man will act con-
fronted by missiles Of war or cold
steel. In his first fight his battery was
placed In a gap between two slopes I'm
the ground to defend 1t against
charge of Germans. Antoine, who had
been advanced to the rank of sergeant.
was placed in command of two can
non, separated from the rest, and or |
dered to hold his position at any cost. !
During the thick of the fight he left |
his guns and was seen running as fast I
as his legs would carry him to the |
rear with half dozen shells in his /
arms.
'That man." said one who saw him,
must be terrible coward to be able
to get away so fast with those heavy
steel shells. But why does he not drop
thapao How 81 u,,1o rvs
The Germans poured through the gap
left by Antoine. whose men fed with
him, and were thus enabled to turn the
position. The fight that day was lost
for they held the ground they took
The commander of the French force
whose duty 1t was to repel this attack
was furious. He ordered Antoine's ar
rest and trial by court martial An.
tome begged to be permitted to see
him, but his request was refused
When the news OF Antoine's disgrace
was carried back by wounded com
rade to the village where he lived every
one said: ~ told you So Antoine was
altogether too anxious to spill blood
1t is not surprising that his ardor was
cooled at facing an enemy"
Meanwhile Antoine sent for his cap
tain and turned over to him the shells
that he had carried from the battle
field asking him to produce them on
his trial. 1t was not long delayed, for
the general was anxious that punish
ment should be melted out to the man
tvu haI H.,
fight.
When Antoine was about to be
brought before the court letter from
Louise was handed him. Opening 1t,
he read it and took comfort. She said
that she did not believe that he had ..
run away from the battlefield and IL
he had he doubtless had good reason
for doing so. AT any rate, she was 7.
still of the opinion that he was brave
man.
When the court was opened the
,harges and evidence produced show ,
ID that Antoine had run away from
MS guns with his arms full of shells ,
rhe accused made a statement that .
ne had been placed In charge of two ,
guns without any ammunition. He ,
was confronted with the shells that :
ne had carried away. !
Taking up one of the shells, he asked
'or an ak, which was brought to him, 8
ind, setting the shell on Its base, he I
aimed a blow with the blade of the 4
X on its upper pointed end. Every I
nan Of the court dropped on the floor
% avoid the expected explosion. &.
But no explosion came. Instead the |
hell was split In two parts, and a 1
quart Of sand was scattered over the
ioor. a
MAY 1t please the court" said An !
oine when the members had regained |
heir seats. Having no ammunition, Ii I
vas impossible to defend my guns.
rhey were In such position that I {
,axxlA MT rxot <hovx, /,