Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-07-05
What Might
Have Been
By F. A. Mitchell

had received q declaration OF love from
each, but neither man knew of the 9TH
er's 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 Marine Boyer was
severely wounded and was sent home
to recover Clochette nursed him, but
showed only the sympathy of friend.
She also revealed such solicitude 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 a wish
thrust itself unhidden into Boyer's
breast? Such a thought might come to
any one under similar circumstances.
Dufour was ten years older than
Boyer. They had been playmates, and
Dufour's superior age and strength
caused him TO look upon his friend as
something to be protected, though
Boyer 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, and If there
was any exposure needed from one or
the other Jean insisted upon bearing
it. Not that Edouard assented to this.
Indeed. he did what he could to de-
feat his friend thus from favoring him.
One day comrade in passing from
an advanced trench to one in the rear
was felled by bullet before he reach
ed his goal. Jean and Edouard both
started to bring him in. Jean ordered
Edouard back. Edouard rebelled and
so fiercely that his friend was surpris-
ed. Both went to the rescue, and for
wonder both returned unharmed
with the wounded man, though they
carried him through a storm Of bull
lets.
Jean Dufour was puzzled as to the
cause of his friend having become so
harsh with him at his having desired
to assume the risk of bringing in the
r.
EdOuard had ever protested with irri-
tation against being thus favored. But
EdOuard vo'unteered no explanation,
and Jean asked for none Neverthe
less from that time there was some
thing unexplained between them, the
first of its kind, for up to that time
the relation between them had been
that of older and younger brother.
One day the Germans made an on
slaught upon a certain position de-
Tending Verdun For awhile trench
fighting was abandoned and the bat
tie was in the open. The regiment to
which the two friends belonged was
much scattered, but Jean, ever solicit
Gus for his friend. kept him in sight,
in what, before a destructive fire had
robbed it of its trees. was a forest.
Edouard had gone in advance of his
comrades. and Jean went to bring him
back. In this way both had been left
on neutral ground There was nothing
for them to do but hide behind what
was left of some tree that had been
oh 1or
and EdOuard stump.
A small party of Germans came to
occupy the ground The officer COM
manding them was heard to say: II
saw a Frenchman duck near here. We
must find him before we move on.
Show no quarter"
Edouard arose and began to fire at
the squad. Before Jean could realize
the situation his friend fell. riddled
with bullets. Then the Germans hur-
ried away
Jean Dufour remained where he was
and when night fell went to the body
Of his friend, took it up and carried it
into the French lines.
Jean was at a loss to understand
why Edouard had not waited until the
Germans found him. The more he
thought of EdOuard's act the more he
was puzzled. AT the same time the
words of the German officer that there
was one man to be found would come
up in jeans mind to suggest that
Edouard had sacrificed himself that
Jean might escape.
Some months after this Jean Dufour
was so badly wounded as to incapaci-
tate him for further service and was
| sent home.
He recounted to Clochette the cir
cumstances attending Edouard's death.
1t was not until after Jean and
| Clochette were married that she re-
! vealed to her husband the remarkable
| sacrifice his eriend had made for him
and LeI. Not until then did Jean know