Metropolis weekly gazette., 1917-06-22

- regiment of infantry in the
trenches fighting the Germans
Antoine was a robust young man,
Francois the reverse. The latter was
very delieately made-indeed, too DELI
cately made for a soldier.
Soldiers are disposed to resent anys
thing like cowardice in a companion.
Francois inability to bear without
starting the explosion of a shell about
his head drew down upon him the con-
tempt of his fellow soldiers. Antoine
defended his brother, but defense
served no purpose, for zone convinced
against his Will is OF the same opin-l
ion still"
One evening the command was orr
/ dered to make a raid on the enemy's
! trenches. The Cremieux brothers were
in the same company and marched
out shoulder to shoulder. The French
drove their enemies out of their
stronghold and some distance beyond
TO the second line. Then the Germans
turned upon their enemies and drove
them back.
ness who fell In the engagement. 1t
was not till the roll was called, or,
rather moses were counted" who had
returned. Then 1t was discovered that
Antoine Cremieux had been left be-
hind on the field.
Great was the distress of his BROTH
er. Indeed, he shed tears. His COM
/ aot fn oh i'm httf f1
no purpose. Those who We're permit
ted to sleep slept but Francois Cree
mieuX remained awake bowed down
with grief.
Later in the evening Francois was
missed The captain of his company
caused a search to be made for him,
but he could not be found. Some one
suggested that he had deserted to the
enemy. Since he was not popular on
account Of his want of manly strength,
this explanation of his absence came
to be believed
During the night the groans Of those
who had been left wounded on the
field were distressing. The commander
of the force called for volunteers to
go out and bring some of them in, but
the Germans were supposed to be very
near, and the men who had encoun-
tered Il murderous fire on their sally
were in no mood TO encounter 1t
second time.
About O'Clock in the morning. when
1t was still dark, there was quiet on
the line. One of the French soldiers
saw a dark object which seemed to be
coming from the direction of the enc
my There We're some trees left that
had not been torn away by shot and
shell, or, at least, the trunks We're still
standing. The soldier saw the dark
figure move slowly as though stagger-
ing between two of these giant tree
trunks. At first he was about to rouse
the command, thinking that he saw
one of many who We're skulklng for
ward to make a surprise attack; but,
seeing no others. he concluded to
await further demonstration. Present
ly he saw the figure again or another
he could not till which--rise slowly
from the ground and appear at full
length. The upper part of the body
was very large as though a mantle
were wrapped around it. But, since it
was only dark mass nothing further
could be distinguished
The soldier watching concluded to
call some of his comrades, who were
sleeping under arms, but when they
strained their eyes for the figure it
was not to be seen. But while they
pierced through the darkness it again
rose up like some large animal on its
hind legs and resumed its staggering
forward movement. Some of the men
leyeled their rifles at it, but no one
fired.
Nearer and nearer approached the
| unseemly mass till it was within a few
yards of the trench. Then it fell in a
heap. Several sprang over the pro-
tecting embankment and took I'D two
men, One had been carrying the other
on his shoulder. Both were carried
into the trench, and when light was
brought to bear on their faces they
were found to be the Cremieux broth
| ers. Antoine was previously wound
ed, Francois was exhausted.
And now it began to dawn upon the
command that this weakling, Francois.
had dared to do what they had not
dared. True, be had gone for the
| brother he loved SO VOL: nevertheless
| he had performed a deed Of heroism
from which they had shrunk.
When day came again the general
commanding the division was inform
ed Of Francois act, and the young
soldier was ordered to headquarters.
There the general complimented him
on his deed of heroism What did the
| boy do but burst into tears.
Something entered the generals
| head. a suspicion that this youth was
a masquerader. He spoke soothingly
to him. Then, having sent all but
| Francois away, he said.
'You are not a man. You are a wos
man."
Francois, or, rather, Louise, confess
ed. She had been married to Antoine