El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-27

in which he saw the Apocalyptie
Beast rising out OF the sea Four
terrible horsemen preceded the ap-
pearance OF the monster and these
scourges OF the earth. Conquest. War.
Famine and Death, were beginning
their mad desolating course over the
heads Of terrified humanity.
Julio. being an Argentinan, was
exempt from military service and had
! hoped to continue his life as though
! nothing were happening. His in
amOrata- however. from a woman in
fatuated with dress was gradually
transformed by her desire to serve
The war had made her ponder much
on the values OF life. and her sense
OF duty TO the husband whom she 50
greatly wronsed sent her back, 70
his side when she heard that he had
been severely wounded. To Julio she
said You must leave ne . Life
is not what we have thought Il. Had
il not been for the war We might.
perhaps have realized our dream. but
now! For the remainder OF my
life I shall carry the heaviest bur-
den and yet At the same time, Il VIII
be sweet since the more IL weighs
me down the greater will my atone
ment be-"
The vanquished lover said goodby
to Love and Happiness. but this re-
pulse gave him new impetus TO iii
the vacuum Of his empty existence
When Paris was threatened and
refugees told OF the wholesale sack
ings OF their homes. Don Marcelo be-
gan to fear for his castle and went
20 Ntlleblanche, arriving In time TO
witness the discouraged exhaustion
OF the French army's retreat Close
y following were the Invading
Germans. shouting 3oyously, Mach
Parisi"
ViIIeblanche became the camping
ground for a regiment and its be-
Wildered proprietor was subjected to
( innumerable indignities- saw his
most choice possessions looted and
was the powerless witness TO the
murder OF prominent civilians OF the
village. A young officer arrived who
introduced himself as Capt Otto Won
Hartrott He explained with true
German callousness the ruin and
plumber Of his uncle's castle by say
! ing TO him 1T is wap We have
TO be very ruthless that Il may not
last long. True kindness consists IN
! being cruel, because then the terror
stricken enemy gives in sooner, and
so the world suffers less"
For four DAYS Don Marceio lived
I through a period Of SPECIFICATION
slashed by the most horrible visions.
The village was reduced to a mass OF
ruins before his eyes, and his house
hold suffered unspeakably from the
bestiality OF the carousing officers.
A war hospital was established on
the estate but moved on under the
stress Of battle, though the banner
Of the Red Cross remained 10 deceive
the french about the artillery which
was installed in the park. When
French areoplane discovered this
piece OF treachery. Don Marcelo
found himself in the heart OF a
furious battle The cannonading OF
the Germans and the bursting OF
French shells terrified him until at
last he saw at the fool OF the high
way near his castle several Of the
attacking columns which had crossed
the Marine. They rushed forward IN
moved by the deadly fire OF the Ger
French were driving back the Teuton
horde.
Only ruins OF his once beautiful
estate were now left him and he
said farewell forever 20 VHleblanche.
AFTER his return to Paris a young
soldier OF the infantry called to see
him. It was his son Julio, never so
distinguished looking as in this
rough. ready made uniform. Their
reconciliation was complete.
With his son on the battlefield Don
Marcelo lived through months OF
anxious suspense Through the IN
luence Of a friend he was able 70
go see the young hero. It was a
tortuous journey through the zig
zags and curves OF the trenches,
while bullets buzzed like horseflies
through the air. and on through dark
galleries and subterranean fortified
tons until he reached the outer IN
trenchment line.
Desnoyers hardly recognised his
son on account Of his changed ap-
pearance. but in spite OF his hard
life Julio had found content in COM
radeships such as he had never
known For the first time in his
life he was tasting the delight OF
knowing that he was a useful being
As his father left him, hope sang in
his ears, NO one viii kill him. My
heart which never deceives me tells
me So"
Julio became a sergeant, then a
sub-lieutenant and for his exception
al bravery received the Croix de
Guerre, the military medal, and fin
ally was among those proposed for
the Legion d Honneur. One after
noon during the Champagne often !
sive. Desnoyers. stin cherishing the
fond Illusions Of hope returned to
his home in gay spirits 20 find the |
dreadful news awaiting him. Julio, |
his son. lay dead on the field Of |
honor
when he went 70 the burial fields