Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-12-13

VI t'ii w inADit iltii III tifIfEf VI
sergeant, to reconnoitre on our flank
One day was sent out In charge Q
one OF these parties. Oh yes, wa
a sergeant then. but lost my stripe
-dlsobedience OF orders they cnllc
II. | suppose ! ought to feel lucky
wasn't shot. but III leave 1t to yol
whether ! did right or not
"At that time | WIS In for com
mission. but, Of course. didn't get II
II had received II. no doubt by tbii
time I'd be p6shlng up the daisies
somewhere IN France. In those day,
officers didn't last iong-mndc fine tar
gets for the Boches.
This patrol | was In charge of car.
rled rations for three days. We were
10 scout around just 10 front of the
advancing enemy. but our orders were
not TO cbange them--just get informn-
lion. If the Information obtained was
valuable enough. / was 10 send II In
by one OF the men. There were four
teen OF us and we were mounted. /
was Ia the Lnpcers then, and was con.
sidered fair rider.
The 1rst day nothing happened.
We just secuted around. by night
fall we were petty tired. so when we
came TO villNge--wasn't village.
either; just five or six houses cus-
tered around a church, decided to
20 into biilets for the night.
"Rldlng up to .he largest house.
ss4i.t
ming around SIS garden. dismoupted
az the gate and knocked with the hilt
OF my sword. Pretty soon light APP
peared at the front door-the house
was on sort OF a knoll, so this door
was In plain view. Then the sweet
est voice ever heard called out in
trembling tones. In perfect English.
too. but with Just the suspicion OF TN
accent:
"'Who In there, pleaseT
81 answered. Just few English
Lnncers who desire place 10 rest for
the night. The bnrn VIII do. We
don't want anything TO eat as we
have rations with as. SO. II you win
accommodate us. miss. l viii be much
obliged | was In loSe with that girl
before / saw hcr--the vcice had done
the trick
"She answered. Just a moment, |
please. until l tell father and then
the door shut and the light disap-
penrcd. We didn't have TO walt 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 gnte. There
she stood on the gravel path with the
lantern held shoulder high. trem-
bied AL oyer-thought ] saw vision.
| tell you. Yank. she was beautiful.
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 | stood like a great. big boob.
shaking and suffering. At last l
TO blurt out q stnmmering
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 unsaddIe. /
was fumbllng around with the buckles,
but for the life OF me couldn't get that
saddle OF. One OF the men. with a wink
md broad grin. came over and help
"a me-. That grin got my goat. so on
he sly. l kicked him ON the shin. He
ct out an explosive damn After
hat damn the silence was painful
The poor fellow felt like a fool. / was
Iorry for him. even though I could
nave killed him for his thoughtless-
less. But our embarrassment was
because silyery laugh
anne from behind the lantern. laugh
Int was not loud. but IL echoed and re
choed among the rafters overhead. l
an hear II right now. Yank.
"After the horses had been unsad-
He'd AID fed. the men looked appeal
ngly ut me. knew what they want
d--thcy were dog tired. and dying TO
IL the hay. Just as l was about TO
Ak permission for them TO turn In, the
ngei hutied In with:
Poor. tired soldiers. sleepy and
gngry. Come right into the house.
can has some supper and wine ready |
or you
I'VE stnmmered our thanks and fol- {
owed her Into the house like string 1
I sheep. Yank. to me that meal was a (
ream. She fitted around the table. 1
Hing glass here and there, laughing s