The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-03-11

such n wave Of common suffering. that
II seems TO food out over the lndivid.
ual and embrnce us alle SO this
Is really. In a sense. your letter as well
as mine"
! took II and read:
I have had many letters to write since
my service began as "A nurse In the war.
but never have ! approached the task
with such mixed emotions The pain
must give you I would gladly bear myself
II could; but II IL not all pain; under
meath H. running through II in some way
! cannot explain. II n note so much deeper
than pain that II must be JOY.
You have already been advised that Da-
vfd Eden was among those who fell at
Courceiette II Is trite TO say that you have
the sympathy OF a grateful nation. How
grateful the nation really n we shall
know by Its treatment OF the heroes who
survive the war and OF the dependents OF
those who have crossed over But moth
Ing can rob you OF the knowledge that he
played a mans part Nothing can debar
you from that universal fellowship OF
sympathy which is springing mp wherever
manhood II valued at its worth.
new Order has been born into the
world. the order OF Suffering Not that II
Is new. either II has been with us since
the first mother went into the shadow for
her first child; but always suffering has
been Incidental, a matter Of the individ-
ual. a thing TO be escaped II possible. But
now II Is universal. a thing not to be
escaped, but to be accepted, readily,
bravely, even gladly. And all who so ac-
cept II enter into the new Order and wear
Its insignia, which Is unselhshness and
sympathy and service. And In that Order
ahaI L..
your sacrifice or the spirit In which you
accept Il.
But you are yearning for his last word
Tor some voice which will seem to you
now lmost voice out Of the grave, and
i am happy 10 be able to bring you that
word. II was something more than chance
that guided me that night-as II is every
nAght
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
i gone so directly to so great a destination
While trying to get my location, I became
aware OF presence. II will sound strange
TO you. but I became intensely aware Of
your presence. or course / knew Il could
act be you. in the flesh. but you II seemed
TO be. nevertheless. I moved as though
led by an invisible hand, and presently
found bit of shattered wall In the
gloom I could just discern the form of a
man lying in the shelter Of the WALTZ
you could call II shelter-it rose scarce q
foot above the ground
l knelt beside him and turned my torch
on his face. IL 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 II and on
his checks AS my light fell on his lips
they framed smile.
"RAenie" he said uaa GOOD ~ Won
TO come. ! knew you would come"
Il am here. Dave" l answered and
think you will forgive the impersonation
Now let me find out where you are hurt
and well FIX you up. and get you moved
presently"
He opened his eyes and looked at me
with the strange look OF a man whose
thread OF consciousness is half unraveled.
"Oh. It's you. Edith" he said when he
had taken me in. Funny. I thought Il
was Irene. Z must have been dreaming ="
l questioned him again about his wound
and began feeling his hair. IT'S not
there" he said. Guess I got II all over
my hands. They got me this time. Don't
waste time on me. Some other fellow
may have a chance"
Lfound. with a little examination. that
the case was as bad as he supposed For.
tunately. the wound had induced a local
paralysis and he was not suffering TO any
and felt his grip tighten on IT,
I'm going to stay TIL it's over. Dave
Well see II out together"
That's decent" he answered, and then
was still for quite time
I've often wondered what was on the
other side" he said, at length. 81 shall
know presently"
you are not afraid?" I whispered
mo. Only sort of-curious Andrew
erent i guess it's reverent You
know i haven't been much on religion
Never seemed to get the formula. What
is the formula7 mean the key-the
thing that gives II all in one word?"
"ln one word-sacrifice He that loseth
his life shall find IT." quoted
He did not answer, but could see his
lips smiling again. His breath was more
labored. A few drops OF rain fell and
some Of them spattered on his face.
Presently he chuckled. II was an eery
sensation. out on that broad plain OF
death. alone by the side Of this man who
was already far into the shadoVs-to hear
him chuckle.
That splash OF water-you remember
II made me think of the time we pulled
the old car into the stream. and the har-
ness broke or something and I had 70
carry you. You remember that, Reenie? ?"
i 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, 81 said
II 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 ccmpensations. 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 I had to lean
close 70 catch his words.
I'm going-out." he said. kiss me.
Reenie."
And then kissed him-for you
suddenly he sat up. THE mountainsi"
he exclaimed. and his voice was athrill
with the pride OF his old hills. "See the
moonlight-on the mountainsi"
Then his strength. which seemed 20
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 addf Dear. II is not
defeat II Is promise. II is hope
Some day we shall know. But until
then We shall go on. II 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 reverent
and little curious. and he went out
with a smile. And we shall 20 on, and
carry his smile and his confidence through
the valley OF our sacrifice. What am ]
doing. speaking OF our sacrinceY
i salute you. sister In the Order OF suf-
fering-and OF hope.
EDITH DUNCAN