El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-29

- ARTS, France. Dec. zs.-A Metro
( ~ train pulled into the Aims
4 station on the Champs Elyseei
/ line. Il was nearly 6 o'clock and every
seat was taken and the aisles we're
/ crowded The crowd, as IN the New
York subway during rush hours
/ packed itself tightly around the side
doors OF the cars.
A slender. fair haired, well dressed
girl-not more than 20 years old
managed 70 burst through the knot ri
I officers. fashionably gOwned women
and civilians who were TANNED at
/ the center side door OF the first class
car. Behind her traiIed a man wear
I ing the Uniform OF g French soldier.
She held his sleeve clutched tightly
in her hand. and he followed her with
fumblinE steps
No sooner had they entered than
! the train started. and the girl. still
pulling the soldier after. edged away
! from the door and TO the nearest seats
there are cross seats like IN railway
cars in the Paris UNDERGROUND system
Two young Women-Clad in furs and
silks. their blackened eyes, scarlet
lips and crimsOned cheeks proclaim
ing them OF the demi-mOnde, were Oc-
cuDvinE the nearest seat
"Wul you please give your place 70
a mutile Of the war" said the fair
haired girl the soldier always at her
heels.
Instantly. as the crowded train
stared with curious eyes, both women
/ arose The girl pushed her companion
forward from out Of the crowd and he
sat down. She sat beside him
When the soldier sat down one
could understand why the girl LED
him. and why he stumbled uncer-
tainly. He was sightless, and the blue
| powder marks still staining his
I cheeks and forehead showed what
had blinded him.
And as he sat there one could see
why the fair haired girl had led him
| by the sleeve He had no hands, Both
arms had been amputated just below
] the elbow.
The crowd stared as crowds will
stare-some curiOusly, some feeling
4 ", some dispassionately, for they had
undergone their own SORROWS In this
war, others critically as they won
dered who the beautiful, fair haired
girl might be and what was the name
{ OF the soldier hero.
Nearly all had thought. when the
girl entered the car with her COM
I pani0n that she was an American, one
] OF those engaged IN war relleT WORK
/ and attached to q hospital or home
! for the blind, taking out a sightle7s
man. such sights are common ir
Z Paris: American girls and women
[ take blinded and crippled soldiers
I walking in the Bots de BoloEne. in
/ the Champs Elysees, in the Tuileries
Gardens. and they take them TO the
outdoor terraces Of the cafes alone
the grande boulevards and 10 the
o aters. too.
But the perfect French uttered by
the fair haired girl when she re-
8 quested the seat for her companion
/ indicated clearly enough she was nd
/ American she was French, born and
/ bred
Medals Proved Him War Hero.
The soldier. a young. rugged. blacB
{ haired figure. clad In the familiar
! horizon blue uniform OF the French
] line regiments. wore the Croix dt
3 Guerre. with two palms and a star
the Medaule and the Cross OF the
Legion ~ Honor. pinned 90 h's tuuic
France has no other medals
BE sat half facing her and the glr
SAT half facing toward him h
/ uudEed her with the stump ce thl
I arm nearer her and she took q unde'
{ her own arm The solder vas pi1irl3