AT THE HOSPITAL OF CHAUMONT-SUR-ÈRES.
_March_, 1917.
The poor boy will suffer no longer--he passed away quietly. The nurse
is bent over him, and, one after the other, closes his eyes----
She is deeply moved on seeing her _poilu_ go! This exquisite creature,
wife of one of our comrades, loves her wounded with all her soul!
Her last one arrived in terrible shape. She remained at his side night
and day. Two times he was operated on. At times he was better, at times
worse. During his first moment of consciousness, he asked that his wife
be summoned----
What difficulty she had in obtaining a complete address and formulating
a telegram according to his wishes! Then he murmured:
"She will not arrive too late?"
The nurse had written:
"Your husband is gravely wounded; come quick, but hope for the best."
What a painful journey she would have to endure!
During these days she learned a little more of the life of this man.
Every minute she went to see if the wife had not come. She returned
close to him.
"Be assured, _mon brave_, you will get better. She will come. One
travels with difficulty these days----"
She exaggerated the slowness of travel and he accepted what she told
him; but he whispered:
"Urge her, madame, to come more quickly!"
Then she became impatient--Why did she not come? Some instants after
she pitied her: surely she must have had great obstacles--some grim
sentinel must have stood in her way--and she might have fallen angry
herself thinking of these things.
She often interrogated the doctor and told him very softly:
"I wish she would come right away!"
She knew that the wife of her _poilu_ had three babies to care
for--What a catastrophe in this poor laborer's home if he never
returned.
Soon she knew there was no longer any hope. "At least," she said to the
doctor, "you can keep him alive--she will come----"
The agony was long, very long and the wife did not come. She sent for
her again. What could be the matter?
* * * * *
On seeing her dear dead, an ineffable sadness engrossed her and big,
silent tears fell from her eyes----