Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-08-06

word. 1t was something more imam cnance
that guided me that night--as II is every
night
We were well behind the line of actual
fighting, but / had become detached from
my party in moving to another station;
lost II you like, yet not lost; never have
gone so directly to SO great destination
while trying to get my location. l became
aware of presence; it will sound strange
to you. but ! became intensely aware of
your presence. OF course l knew it could
not be you. in the flesh, but you 1t seemed
to be- nevertheless. l moved as though
led by an invisible HAND, and presently 1
found a bit of shattered wall. In the
gloom / could just discern the form of a
man lying in the shelter of the WALTZ
you could call it shelter-it rose scarce a
foot above the ground.
, l knelt beside him and turned my torch
on his face. 1t was pale even through the
brown skin: the eyes were closed the hair
was wet and plastered on the forehead;
there were smears of blood on 1t and on
his cheeks. AS my light fell on his lips
they framed smile.
"Reenie." he said. ut was good of you
to come. l knew you would come"
II am here, Dave" / answered, and I
think you will forgive the impersonation.
Now let me find out where you are hurt
and We'll fix you up. and get you moved
presently"
with the strange look of a man whose
thread of consciousness is half unraveled.
ooh, it's you, Edith" he said, when he
had taken me in. Funny, / thought it
was Irene. I must have been dreaming.
l questioned him again about his wound
and began feeling his hair, Its not
there" he said. "Guess l got it all over
my hands. They got me this time. Don't
waste time on me- Some other fellow
may have chance"
I found, with little examination that
the case was as bad as he supposed For
tunately, the wound had induced local
paralysis and he was not suffering to any
great degree. I placed my hand in his
and felt his grip tighten on it.
I'm going to stay till it's over, Dave.
Well see it out together
That's decent" he answered and then
was still for quite time.
1--WE often wondered what was on the
other side" he said, at length. II shall
know presently
"You are not afraid?" l whispered.
mo. Only sort of-curious. Andrew
erent. l guess it's reverent. You
know I haven't been much on religion.
Never seemed to get the formula. What
Is the formula? I mean the key-the
thing that gives 1t all in one word?"
I'm one word-sacrifice He that loseth
his life shall find it, l quoted.
He did not answer but could see his
lips smiling again. His breath was more
labored. few drops of rain fell, and
some of them spattered on his face
Presently he chuckled. 1t was an eery
sensation, out on that broad plain of
death, alone by the side of this man who
was already far into the shadow--to hear
him chuckle.
THAT splash of WATERPROOF remember
1t made me think of the time we pulled
the old car into the stream, and the har-
nnG hrPI Ii
carry you. You remember that, Reenie pa
l could only say, YES" and press his
hand. His mind was back on the old, old
trails
He became suddenly sober, "And when
Brownie was killed." he went on, II said
1t was the innocent thing that got caught.
Perhaps / was right. But perhaps it's best
to get caught. Not for the getting caught.
but for the-the compensations. It's the
innocent men that are getting killed. And
perhaps it's best. Perhaps there are COM
pensations worth while"
His voice was weaker, and had to lean
close to catch his words.
I'm going-out," he said. kiss me,
Reenie.'
And then l kissed him-for you,
Suddenly he sat up. 1.-THE mountainsn'
he exclaimed. and his voice was athrill
with the pride of his old hills See the
moonlight-on the mountains!"
AhoH his strength, winch seemed to
have gathered itself for this one last
vision of the place of his boyhood, gave
way. and he fell back, and he did not
speak any more.
And what can I add? Dear. 1t is not
defeat. 1t is promise. 1t is hope.
Some day we shall know. But until
then we shall go on. 1t is woman's bit
to carry on. But not in dependency, not
In bitterness, not in anger or despair. He
didn't go out that way. He was reyerent
and little curious and he went out
with smile. And we shall go on. and
carry his smile and his confidence through
the valley of our sacrifice. What am I
doing. speaking of our sacrifice?
l salute you. sister in the Order of Suf.
fering-and of hope.
EDITH DUNCAN.
l handed the letter back to her, and
for time had no words. won't Won
let me tell the story?" | said. at
length. "The world r full CT sorrar,
and 1t needs voices to give that sorrow
words, and perhaps turn it into hope
as this letter does
She hesitated, and realized then how
much | had asked ut is the story
of my life-my SOUL" she said. yet,
If it would help"
without Names" I FASTENED to ex.
plain. without real names of places
or people"
And so. in that little whitewashed
home, where the brown hills rise
around and the placid mountains look
down from the distance, and a tongue
of spruce trees beyond the stream
stands sentinel against the open prairie,
she is carrying on, not in dependency
and bitterness, but in service and in
hope. And so her sisters, all this world
over, must carry on, until their sweet
ness and their sacrifice shall fill ND and
flood over all the valleys of hate ;.
=. And if you should chance that
way, and if YOU should win the con-
fidence of young Three-year-ol he
may stand for you and say, with his
voice filed with the honor and the
glory and the pride of it:
MY father was a soldier. He was
killed ut Courcelettev
TIE END.