French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-11

| a. regiment OF foQ-CfOuSored soldiers
that was hurrying to the front.
mo. For two years you received
a military training in your own coun-
try. Tomorrow you must join the army
of France"
But you" he pleaded, and broke
down. She returned his kiss.
IF NC are both alive we will find
each other upon your great day of
Thanksgiving ten weeks away. And
| until then" But there is no need
of going into their parting, for the last
words of love are sacred. However,
three days later she was in Belgium
and. he was marching and counter
marching in that wonderful unknown
army which even the eagle eyes of the
.enemy's spies had not discovered; the
army Of minute men which lay hidden
behind Paris.
Came the day when the hot breath
OF advancing hosts was in the very
race or the great capital upon the
Seine. In companies, regiments, bat
talionS and divisions they came In an |
endless martial sea, sweeping the le- |
g1ons OF the tri-colOr before them miles
each day. And then it was that the |
great French general sprang his trap. |
la cars, buses, automobiles and by.
every means which ingenuity could de-
wise, the secret army from behind the
city was rushed to the front. Billy. +
IN the midst Of it, heard the rumble
and grumble of the battle from miles
away, and seeming it felt the hair on +
the back Of his head brfstIe as il
does upon a dog when he smells a
Weir Then in great surge there
swept over him the thought Of Char
mette, and tears blinded him as he
Imagined her SO slender and helpless
hOmelessly in her desolate III
country; and with it a longing vast
and unutterable to throw down his
gun and go rushing blindly away in
search of her that he might take her
n MS arms and bear her away from
all this hell to the peace and happi-
less that had been theirs through the
ong summer when the days had fallen
softly as thistledown. God how he
lated 1t all-this war and blood and
learthreaks. And then without know
ng why, he suddenly found himself | 4
ushlng forward into gray murk with
thousands of his companions on either.
land, fierce yell bursting from his
FPS and the battle lust turning him
lot as flame as he realized that thew 4
we're charging.
D1mly he was conscious Of showers !
Il invisible things that passed him
n hurtling flight. Huge clouds Of II
lust arose on all sides and where there n
ad been level ground suddenly
awned great pits; thunderous eEplo-I
ions deafened him and he staggered
efore tine impact of blows of corn-ts
ressed air. On every side men and
orses were going down in groups, in
caps, in whole windows like wheat =
efore hail. Before him in a clump
/ trees was something that belched
no roared like dragon, and before /.
is scattered senses told him that it
as a battery he found himself in q
lid bayonet conflict with a naleIll
aired young man who wore spiked /
elmet, and almost at the mouth of the / ,
etching monster of the brush. Then
they thrust and parted, suddenly !
lie fair-haired man went down and ]
lily leaped Oh, not knowing what had
ade the other fall, yet vaguely CON
'ious that his bayonet ran red. Then
great darkness enguIfed him.
1t was evening and he was living
pom the bank of stream that ran
ose by his old home At his side
lie brook was tinkling like bells and
lie GOODNESS of it's waters was upon
s face. Lord, but he was thirsty. andII
lling over he buried his face in the
pples and drank interminably. Then 81
he turned upon his back again AL 81 !
lin shot through his head, and some
he whom he could not see, but who 1
as close by him, began whimpering
re a hurt puppy. Endlessly the Whin-1
rings continued, until, unable to en-
ire them longer, he sat up and rough
babe the complainer cease his noise
nd as he did this the fog was swent
pm his brain and he found himself
ing in the debris of battle-swent
1od with the noise of the conflict stiIl --
ming to him from afar. A fright =.
pain stabbed his brain and from =,
8 dry throat burst weak moan. and ~ ~
EN- 1t was that he realized that it had - =.
en- his own voice which had been -