Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-12-27

sergeant, to recOnnOitre on our TANKS.
One day I was sent out in charge of
one of these parties. Oh, yes, was
sergeant then, but lost my stripes
-disobedieIce of orders they called
it. I suppose ought to feel lucky
wasn't shot, but I'll leave 1t to you
whether l did right CT not.
Sat that time / was in for COM
mission, but, of course, didn't get it.
If had received it, no doubt by this
time I'd be pushing up the daisies
somewhere in France. In those days
officers didn't last long-made fine tar
gets for the Boches.
'This patrol I was In charge of car
ried rations for three days. We were
to scout around just in front of the
advancing enemy, but our orders were
not to engage them-just get informa-
ton. If the information obtained was
valuable enough, I was to send it in
by one of the men. There were four
teen Of us, and we were mounted. ]
was In the Lancers then, and was con.
sidered a fair rider.
"The first day nothing happened.
We just secuted around. By night
fall we were pretty tired, so when we
came to a village-wasn't a village,
either; Just five or six houses clus-
tered around a church, decided to
go into billets for the night.
"Riding up to the largest house,
which had a four-foot stone wall rum
ming around it's garden, I dismounted
at the gate and knocked with the hilt
of my sword. Pretty soon light ap-
peared at the front door-the house
was on a sort of knoll, so this door
was in plain view. Then the sweet
est voice I ever heard called out in
trembling tones, in perfect English,
too, but with just the suspicion Of an
accent:
"'Who is there, please?
ST answered, Just d few English
Lancers who desire place to rest for
the night. The barn will do. We
don't want anything to eat, as we
have rations with us. So, if you will
accommodate us, miss, will be much
obliged I was in love with that girl
before I saw her-the voice had done
| the trick.
"She answered, Just a moment,
please, until I tell father and then
| the door shut and the light disap-
| peared. We didn't have to wait long
before the door opened, and she called
| to me:
"Father bids you welcome, and so
do I, soldiers of England
"Then she opened the gate. There
she stood on the gravel path with the
| lantern held shoulder high. I trem-
bled all Over-thought saw a vision.
One of the kind you would like to
take in your arms, but won't for fear
Of crushing. No use for me to try to
| describe her, Yank, it's out of my line
| but she captured me, heart and soul.
There I stood like a great, big boob,
managed to blurt out a stammering
Thank you, MISS
"She showed us the way to the sta
bles and stood in the door holding the
lantern SO we could see to unsaddle.
was fumbling around with the buckles
but for the life of me couldn't get that
saddle off. One of the men, with a wink
and a broad grin, came over and help
ed me. That grin got my goat, so on
the sly, kicked him on the shin. He
let out an explosive damn After
| that damn the silence was painful
The poor fellow felt like fool. was
sorry for him, even though I could
have killed him for his thoughtless
ness. But our embarrassment was
shOrt-lived, because a silvery laugh
came from behind the lantern, laugh
that was not loud, but it echoed and re
echoed among the rafters overhead.
can hear it right now, Yank.
"After the horses had been unsad
died and fed, the men looked appeal
ingly at me. I knew what they want
ed-they were dog tired, and dying tt
hit the hay. Just as l Was about tf
ask permission for them to turn in, the
angel butted in with:
"'Poor, tired soldiers, sleepy ant
hungry. Come right into the house
Jean has some supper and wine ready
for you
I'VE stammered our thanks and fol
lowed her into the house like a strins
of sheep. Yank, to me that meal was {
dream. She fitted around the table
filling a glass here and there, laughing