The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-23
What Might
Have Been
By F. A. mitchell

Jean Dufour and Edouard Boyer |
when the great European war broke |
out were intimate friends One Of their i
girl companions, Clochette Larrabee
had received declaration of love from
each, but neither man knew Of the 9th !
er's proposal. nor did C4ochette 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 Marne 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 1t to Jean.
For" she said, III 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 Tor
his friends death. Did such wish
thrust itself unhdden 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 II 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 a 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 fol
wonder both returned unharmeC
with the wounded man, though they
carried him through a storm OF bul
> let's
Jean DufOur was puzzled as to the
y cause of his friend having become Sc
' harsh with him at his having desired
: to assume the risk of bringing In tn'
. wounded man. 1t was the first TIM
Edouard had ever protested with lrri
a tation against being thus favored Bu
;, Edouard volunteered no explanation
!, and Jean asked for none Neverthe
:, less from that time there was some
:, thing unexplained between them, tn
@ first OF it's kind. for up to that tim
= the relation between them had beel
q that Of older and younger brother
=. One day the Germans made an on
q slaught upon certain position dc
q Tending Verdun. For awhile trenc
n lighting was abandoned and the bat
e tie was In the open. The regiment 7
: which the two friends belonged wa
r much scattered, but Jean, ever solicit
A GUS for his friend, kept him In sigh
-e and in time the two found themselve
% In what, before a destructive hre ma
Is robbed It Of its trees, was fores
q Edouard had gone In advance OF nj
comrades. and Jean went to bring hiI
I'd back. In this way both had been lei
y on neutral ground. There was nothin
W for them to do but hide behind whs
,e was left of some tree that had bee
OF shot away above. Jean chose a lo
C. and Edouard stump.
,ff A small party of Germans came
IN occupy the ground The officer con
e- manding them was heard to say:
'el saw a Frenchman duck near here. "
at must find him before we move o
ed Show no quarter"
all Edouard arose and began to fire
the squad Before Jean could reali'
OF the situation his friend fell, riddle
Sc with bullets Then the Germans hu
ne ried away.
as lean Dufour remained where he W
sc and when night fell went to the boz
In Of his friend, took it up and carried
ed into the French lines.
on Jean was at loss to understal
ne why Edouard had not waited until I
Germans found him. The more
OK thought of Edouard's act the more
as was puzzled. At the same time I
words of the German officer that the