Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-04-01
THE SPY
BY ETHEL N. 0ADpAS.


poor old Nanette. II was the village
cure. himself white-haired and bowed
by the burdens of war, who read the
closely written pages. French this, in
4 woman's fine hand. and hl"ttcd here
and there as if by Il woman's tears.
10 the old stopped woman who
lives in the tiny cottage under the hill.
In what was lie Bots DIES Oiscaux."
That Is because he did not know
her name," intcrposcd the priest, and
the gray head nodded, though wonder
insly.
ut is many days since / left you.
stole away In the night like a man
ashamed. What could you have
thought? l shall never know. Per
hnps you expected only inSratitwde.
Sinking silence. from such as I. Yet
thought / saw
Il am very weak. That last night
sappcd my small strength, and then
the fever erippeI me. But my mind
is quite clear.
Il Gun see you now, the compassion
In your kind eyes as you stopped over
the wounded lad fallen at your door
compassion that changed involuntari-
iy to aversion, TO hatred. as you saw
the to0-familiar gray Of the German
field uniform.
"You would have turned away-I
knew it-but you could not. Some
thing held you. Was IL the thought
of q boy in the horizon blue? Or was
IT the utter helplcSsncss OF the young,
stranger that touched your mother
heart? No tears Of pity softened your
eyes. yet / felt your knotted hands
fumbling at my stained coat, dragging
my weight over the low doorsill -.
Then I was lying in a bed, such
bed as my weary body had not known
for months. l was clean, too, AMI ~
ing between clean sheets. the numbins
pain somehow Softencd Someone bent
over me, Offering food. Your touch
was gentle; you no longer shrank
from me.
again ] Weakened. 1t was night,
the moonlight streaming in through
the tiny window. You We're knceling
on the Garthcn floor, talking with your
God.
Then l saw anew this awful con-
nlct, III It's power To scar woman'S
heart. For You spoke Of loved ones
conceive sons with the colors, Offer
Ing their lives daily for France; the
husband of your youth, lying beneath
a wooden cross; daughters purity
violated by the invader; the child.
Your last, slain before Your very eyes.
All, how well you knew the bitterness
OF war.
yet YOU could pray. Knecling there.
crushed and alone In your old age.
amid the ruins of all you had cher
ishcd, you prayed for me. Enemy
though he waS you asked Gods bless
ing upon the wounded lad YOU had
taken I'm
"lou slept. that night. upon the
hard floor. And MS" slept in spite
of my pain. for Your words had
brought me Il strange peace.
"F"r two days ami nights | lay pas
SiVc. gaining strength to complete NY
mission. Patiently was cared for,
and tcndcr!y, and mnrv"lird III the
miracle Of your love.
''For how could You know that it
was for France. ia" France of my ia.
theirs. that ! had fought. for her, that
had risk"d life and honor: And how.
indeed. could YOU know of the bitter.
ness Of soul, The cruel diSilluSinninrnt
and loss Of faith. that had driven ne
10 This Unhouurrd task?
IL could not speak. Even when, dis.
cardinS the Iyin:: uniform that could
no longer serve me. slipped away in
the stolen Sm"rk Of your dead hus.
band, ] could leave no word.
Nov at last l may speak for my
work is done and | rest.
What may come | know not, hut
this | know: My spirit that was
crushed * whole again. You saved q
life, q mother OF Franco, but YOU did
more than that--ynu gave back faith
to sOul that was dead. That is why,
rs ! wait here, have no fear. Surely
the God who has culnfortcd your hear,
Will not FORGET me.
'Now ii is evening. and | am weary.
But in my heart l.; Il peace fha, will
never leave 100. Goodnight. dear
mother, ana may III" good God bless
you for what You have done"
e
The postscript WAS short, scrubbed
by tired NUS" in pause between
duties.
''Hc Is gone. dear mother" read the
old cure, while Nunette listened and
wcpt softly, 'but his smile is Won
drous sweet as he sleeps. France Will
not hear his name. for the work of u
spy is in silence and shame. You
may never know lfDw great tusl.
your mercy has helped TO accomplish.