Catoctin clarion., 1918-05-16

GUS IRE lHtO Tie lOWHb Juic . ie6i-
ment waited impatiently for daylight.
With the first signs Of day the FIJI.
iplnos' fire ceased, but 1t soon broke
out again with increased Intensity as
the American line began to move for
ward through the swamps to the at
tack. Wadng in water up to their
breasts, crossing the swept bridges.
plunglng through jungles OF brush.
crossing open spaces exposed to the
full view of the enemy, with men fall
ing dead and wounded on all sides.
the volunteers pushed steadily for
ward until they came within charging
distance OF the forts and trenches, and
then they rushed into and over them
and swept the Filiplnos out as rest
less flood sweeps drlftwood from
river.
II was during this last desperate
charge that Jules fell with wound In
the head that rendered him insensible.
A little later the litter bearers OF the
hospital corps found him. and carried
him back to the field hospital, where
his wound was given temporary
dressing, and tag was tied to his
clothing. giving his name and regi-
ment. and a diagnosis Of his injury to
expedite work at the general hospital.
His name and regiment had heen
ascprtained from his identification tag.
little aluminium disk which nearly
every soldier wore suspended from his
neck by string. device presented
by the Red Cross society. An hour
later he was placed with others, both
dead anu wounded, ip an ambulance
and carried to the general hospital,
which stands on the bank Of the Pasig.
lust outside the city wall. The Oprr-
ating room was full OF wounded await
ing attention. the equipment OF the
hospital being utterly inadequate to
the demands so Unexpectedly mace
upon II. and 1t was several hours he
fore Jules turn came to receive sur
gjcal attention. In his case the delay
was not serious. for he was sent
10 cot hastily improviSed in one or
the casualty wards. II was here
he first recovered his senses sufficient
" to realize what had happened, and
TO think again OF the one absorbing
thing that had been on his mind con-
stantly as he lay under fire the night
before, and even during the excite
ment Of the advance and charge upon
the fort, why had Susie deserted him!
It seemed to him now, enfeebled hoth
mentally and physically by his injury,
that she had deserted him In the hour
~ peril and left him to die In II strange
land. Mental worry and increasing
fever from his wound gradually rem
dered him delirious. moaning and tos-
sing upon his cot, and representing
Susie for her faithlessness. II was thus
one of the new Red Cross nurses
found him as she went from bunk to
bunk in her ward ministering to her
charges,
The transport that had brought the
mail the day before had also brought
dozen Red Cross nurses, and never
was woman's help more badly needed.
They had not yet landed from the ship
when the sounds of battle warned them
that their services would soon he In
demand A launch was hastily sent
out into the bay where the ship was
anchored. and the nurses were taken
on board and conveyed directly to the
stone steps leading up from the river
to the back of the hospital, and they
were Immediately assigned to duty in
the wards A few wounded came IN
during the night but In the morning
came a perfect stream. All day long
these women worked. assisted by a
number of American ladies' who had
volunteered their services and when
night came, with II cessation OF new
cases they were completely exhausted
II WAS at this time that the nurse who
had discovered Jules condition went
to her companion and said:
Miss Preston. there is wounded
man from your state on my side OF
the ward who Is deirions. You said
vou wanted to see all the men from
your state"
Th"nking her, Miss Preston follow.
ed To the cot where julie lay, his head
swnthed In bandages as to expose only
- norton of his face. and stopped
down TO read his nnne on his identi-
tication tag. She had barely read:
"Julus OrtOn" when julie apparently
disturbed by the lifting OF the tag, be-
gan again to mutter ncoherently about
heing deserted and left to die. With
half smothered Shrek she fell on her
knees beside the cot and took Jules
hand in one of hers, while with the
pther she gently stroked his face, ex-
claiming almost as inc0herently as he:
II didn't julie, | didn't. I'm here.
only did It to surprise you. thought
was coming on the same boat. julie,
.Iule, I'm here julie. julie"
The n,uttering ceased. the head that
had been swaying from side to side on
the pillow came to u rest and the pa
tents eyes slowly opened and rested
upon the pleading, tenr-staiped face
held so close to his. For a moment
they rested there without recogni-
lion, and then a sweet smile gradually
stole over the white face, and softly
Whispering "Susle," the patient again
''oscd his eyes and fell into q calm
sleep.