University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

Page 16 text:

10 THE REDWOOD the dim past he recalled the inquisi- tiveness with which he had pestered his father to learn more about his mother, why was she not with them, where did she live, why could he not write to the brother he yearned to see. But ever that arrogant parent dispelled these questions from his mind. Jack, he returned, brother of mine, you ' ve awakened me to my sense of duty. And he raised the supine form in his arms, kissed those parched lips and stroked gently the unconscious brow, with a feeling and tenderness that were heartfelt. IV The base hospital was filled. Every- where scurried those little immaculate- ly habited heroines, the red cross nurses caring for, resuscitating their heroes who had returned from the glor- ious fight, bleeding and torn and wounded. Madamoiselle, said one of the attending doctors gravely, prepare this man for operation. His condition is serious. And he pointed to a wounded man whose face was wrapped in a maze of bandages. The wounded groaned and muttered as if in a delirium. Tenderly the lit- tle nurse stroked the fevered brow, staring intently upon the partly un- covered face. She started, then drew closer for a confirmation. Yes, it is he, she whispererd. Jack, Jack, speak to me. And she shook him gently. The unconscious form moved. Slow- ly he opened his eyes, and passed a bruised hand across his forehead, for there was pain there, excruciating pain. Jack, she pleaded, don ' t you know me? Don ' t you remember? He stared into the little face. A smile of recognition flitted over his emaciated features. Miss Tevis, he whispered. And he relapsed again into insensibility. Several days passed and with their passing Jack came out of a successful operation. Miss Tevis, he said one bright sun- ny morning, tell me how I came into this paradise, and — with such a bright little angel to hasten along my recov- ery. She smiled. It might excite you too much, she answered, and, be- sides the Doctor says you are to remain perfectly quiet at least another day. There was a slight trace of feminine in- tuition in this reply. Ah, please, Miss Tevis, he pleaded, I ' ll promise not — No, Jack, she interrupted, call me Alice, it sounds more friendly, more like our trip across. ' ' 0. K. with me, Alice. I am your humble servant. She drew a chair close to his side. Jack was impressed by her charm and grace. How did I get away alive from No Man ' s Land? Did the attack prove successful?

Page 15 text:

THE REDWOOD strike at each Hitting shadow, knowing not whether it were friend or foe. Jack was blinded to all else, save the Boche he had encountered. He grew aware of the fact that the fierce on- slaught of his companions was carry- ing the Germans back. To Jack it was all thrilling, incomparable, and he eag- erly pushed on flushed with his first taste of victory. But suddenly a thund- erous crash halted him. A weird ring- ing sounded in his ears, his knees grew weak, his eyes were dimmed even to the white mantle of snow about, he falter- ed, stumbled forward and then plunged headlong into a shell hole, unconscious. Day dawned crisp and clear. All was quiet amid the hovering phantoms of death and the unspeakable. In the shell crater a young German, indescrib- ably jumbled moved ever so slightly. He groaned as he straightened and sat up, gazing about bewildered. Beside him lay a body straight and supple ; the features clear-cut and clean, a mere youth like himself. A boy ' s face with frank and fearless brow looked at him. There was no malice there, only shocked surprise. The German was deeply im- pressed. This is not one of the brutes we ' re fighting against ! ' ' His thoughts were uttered in perfect English. Where are the heartless, cruel terrors, he continued, we had to kill for our self- preservation. He gazed around in search of them. That unmalicious, kind- ly face disproved all his superiors had drummed into him. Has it come to this? he groaned, has all my education in Europe ' s best schools, but taught me how to kill, to maim and to wound? There were tears in his eyes and he shook with resentment. From an inner pocket of his blouse he drew a picture, the only thing that could console him. It was a woman with kindly eyes. Scrawled beneath the portrait was the word, Mother . He kissed it and fondled it like a mother would a babe, and he wept in his anguish. For who in time of trou- ble or doubt or grief will not seek his mother for advice or soothing words ? Ah, father, why in your love of militarism have you deprived me of a mother ' s companionship; her tender rearing and her loving care? It ' s made me a merciless murderer. For the moment he hesitated; a burning rage filled him. I never believed your side aright, but you forced me into it. There was wailing in his tone. But the body beside him appeared to move. Instinctively he felt for life. There was a faint thumping of the heart, hardly perceptible, but there was life. His fingers met a piece of cardboard. He pulled it from the coat pocket. It Avas a picture — a picture of a woman. To Jack from Mother , was inscribed beneath. Well, that ' s strange! he exclaimed in surprise, comparing it with his own. The similarity was unmistakable. Why — why, they ' re the same! In a daze he began to ponder. From

Page 17 text:

THE REDWOOD 11 No, Jack, she answered, you and ten others were given up as lost. But late the next day in the early twi- light, a German, saying he knew you, carried you to your friends, under a se- vere and dangerous shell fire. A German! reiterated Jack. And he knew me? Yes, an old friend, he said whom he hadn ' t seen for years. And Jack he is now fighting with the Allies, fighting for your freedom and my freedom. Wasn ' t that heroic? Did he give his name? Yes, Alice continued, his name is Philip Miller.