The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-22
The Crennieux
Brothers
By ELINOR MARSH

young man, Francois the reverse. The |
latter was very delicately made-in
deed, too delicately made for a soldier |
Soldiers are disposed to resent any |
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 a defense
served no purpose for lone convinced
against his will is of the same opiD
ion still"
One evening the command was or
dered to make raid on the enemy's
trenches. The CremeuX 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
1t was impossible to see in the dark.
ness who fell in the engagement. Ii
was not till the roll was called, or,
rather moses We're counted who had
returned Then it 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
raGes endeavored to cheer him, but to
no purpose. Those who were permit
ted to sleep slept but Francois Gre
mieux remained awake bowed down
with grief
Later in the evening Francois was
missed The captain Of his company
caused 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 OF
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 n murderous fire on their sally
were in no mood to encounter 1t u
second time.
, About 3 o'clock In the morning, when
It was still dark, there was quiet on
the line. One Of the French soldiers
saw dark object which seemed to be
( coming from the direction Of the enc
my. There were some trees left thar
0 had not been TORN away by shot and
shell, or. at least, the trunks were 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
g one of many who were skulking 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
a length. The upper part Of the body
was very large as though a mantle
' were wrapped around it. But, since II
n was only dark mass, nothing further
, could be distinguished.
e The soldier watching concluded to
call some of his comrades. who were
sleeping under arms, but when they
I strained their eyes for the figure 1t
!. was not to be seen. But while they
r pierced through the darkness it again
? rose up like some large animal on its
hind legs and resumed It's staggering
forward movement. Some OF the men
e leveled their rifles at it, but no one
fired.
d Nearer and nearer approached the
unseemly mass till it was within few
yards of the trench. Then 1t fell in a
I heap. Several sprang over the pro
: tecting embaiiNmcnt and took up two
men. One had been carrying the other
on his shoulder. Both were carried
Into the trench, and when light was
| brUu lit to bear on their faces they
| We're 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, he had gone for the
brother he loved so well; 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 wo-
man."
Francois, or, rather, Louise, confess
ed. She had been married to Antoine
Cremieux just before be marched 70
the war Unable to bear the parting,
Il Sha had donnad mans attire and had