Anne Barbour by Kateand the Soldier Page A

always plenty of volunteers, because if one does get through the engagement, he is virtually assured of promotion.”
    “And David was a part of this—this Forlorn Hope?” asked Kate in appalled accents.
    “No, as I said, he volunteered, but he was refused. Generally no one above the rank of lieutenant is allowed to participate.”
    “But why would he wish to go? He had already risen to major in a remarkably short time.”
    Again, Lucius hesitated.
    “Yes—yes, that’s true—but—he had his reasons. Not very good ones, to my mind, and not,” he added pointedly, “ones that he would want discussed. At any rate, David had his own company, of which I was a member. We were ascending the slopes of the Mont Rave, just outside Toulouse. It was a long ridge, really, rather than a hill, and the enemy was securely entrenched. Our target was the Sypiere redoubt. Ten of our lads and myself had attracted fire from a single rifleman perched on the heights. He had us pinned down, and was picking us off like hens in a barnyard. There were only three of us left alive when David spotted our predicament. He was a good two hundred yards away, but he simply stood up, grabbed a rifle from a nearby enlisted man, and walked over to us, ignoring the fire that showered down on him. When he got within range of the sniper, he took careful aim, for all the world as though he were at a firing range. The sniper, seeing him, shot first, and that’s when David was wounded. He didn’t fall, though, until he fired his own rifle. The Frenchie went down, and we were safe.”
    “Dear Lord,” breathed Kate. “And the doctors say there is nothing they can do to alleviate the pain? Or to lessen his limp?”
    “I sometimes think the sawbones at the front did more damage than good. They cut out a lot of tissue, but they didn’t want to touch the ball itself. I brought him to my home at once, and my family took him to their hearts. Father made sure that he had the finest treatment available. David underwent four operations, at the end of which, the doctors said they had cleaned up the area as much as possible, and that was all they could do for him. One of them did suggest a program of therapeutic exercise, but David would have none of it. Future surgery, possibly to remove the ball, after the healing process had gone forward was also suggested, but David rejected that, too.”
    “That’s what I don’t understand,” said Kate anxiously. “It isn’t like him to just give up. The David I know would walk on hot coals if there were the slightest possibility ...”
    “I’m afraid the David you knew no longer exists,” Lucius interjected in a sharp voice.
    “I know” was Kate’s miserable reply. “Oh, Mr. Pelham, what happened to him? Was—was it Philip’s death?”
    Lucius seemed to withdraw into himself.
    “I really don’t know, Miss Millbank,” he said slowly. “Certainly it was after Badajoz that he seemed to—change.” He sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t say any more.”
    They had by now adjourned from the dining room to the music room, Lucius declining to sit in solitary state over the port decanter.
    “And you, Mr. Pelham,” she began, “what made you decide to sell out?”
    “Oh, with Boney rompu, there seemed little point in staying. I can’t tell you how tired I was becoming of bread and beans. By the by, do you think we could dispense with Mr. Pelham and Miss Millbank? I find I’m growing a little tired of them, as well. May I call you Kate? I have heard you spoken of by that name for so many years, it seems much more natural.”
    “Indeed, sir,” she dimpled, “if I may call you Lucius.”
    “I’m not sure I approve of all this unchaperoned fraternization of the troops,” said a voice from the doorway.
    “David!” cried Kate, as she and Lucius leaped to their feet. “I’m so glad to see you at last. You must be exhausted!”
    “Well, it’s certainly been an interesting afternoon,” he replied as he