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

252 MILITARY LIFE.
The mother's idea had been an excellent one.
At that moment they heard the noise of hastening steps and
the confused murmur of many voices
coming
a young fellow, pale, breathless, and quite voiceless appeared in
sight and
; hardly had he seen the soldier when, with one spring,
he was in his arms. They had been warm friends for many
years.
The new-comer was decidedly younger, and belonged
to the second division of the class of 1845, called that day
to arms. And that very evening the young man, having
taken leave, not without tears, of his dear ones, was going
toward the city, when, in passing the house of his friend, of
whose return he was quite ignorant, he had been called by the
family, informed of Carlo's misfortune, and driven fairly into
his arms.
All the family followed him, and the mother, as soon
as she had set foot in the neighboring room, and given a
from the courtyard.
The young girl sprang to her feet, and moved off several
paces from the soldier. Both turned their eyes in the direction
from which the noise proceeded.
" Where is he ? Where is
he? shouted a voice outside. And almost at the same moment
searching glance at the faces of the betrothed couple, still tearful,
but lighted up by a deep joy, had understood every thing,
been quite comforted, and while her son's head lay in his
friend's arms, had communicated this comfort, more by signs
than words, to the others.
Finally,
the disabled soldier detached himself from that
long embrace, made a sign to his friend to sit down beside
him, and, having passed the back of his hand over his eyes
two or three times, gave him to understand that he had something
to say. All gathered about him ;
the mother and fiancee
nearest to him.