Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THE DISABLED SOLDIER,
hand with both of hers, said, in a firm and resolute voice,
wishing by this means to delay his departure for a few moments
" : You will write you will write "
every day !
" No, my dear, not really every day," the soldier replied in an
affectionate tone.
"And why not " ? she asked hastily, in a reproachful voice.
" But if we are marching every day " ?
" Yes !
"
replied the girl in a low tone, dropping her head.
"But at least," she went on, suddenly taking courage,
" at least
every day when there is a battle you will write and tell me you
are well " ?
He, who at
any other time would have smiled at the charming
ingenuousness of that question, felt his heart sink with a
compassionate tenderness, which was so strong and sudden,
that he was overcome by it,
and knew that it was necessary
to go off at that moment and without another word. He
put his arms around her, kissed her, and away he ran. " Oh !
listen," the poor creature shouted in a supplicating tone,
running a few steps after him with her arms outstretched ;
" one word more." He did not turn ;
she stopped, covered
her face with her hands, stood motionless in the middle of
road for a moment, then turned back, and fell on her knees
before the shrine, weeping and sobbing bitterly, as children do.
The soldier went hurriedly on his way without turning back.
When he reached a certain
stopped.
the
point where the road divided, he
After a moment's hesitation he turned, looked at the
shrine, saw her
;
she raised her head at that moment, glanced
toward him, seemed to see him, rose to her feet ;
he disappeared.
He had struck that branch of the road which, descending
rapidly, led to the city.