adventures and letters-第76章

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he　earth；　like　falling　on　the　ball；　and　I　always　seemed　to　fall　where　the　cinder　path　crossed　the　parade　ground。　　We　got　back　in　time　to　clean　ourselves　for　dinner　at　noon。　　And　then　practised　firing　at　targets。　　At　two　we　were　drilled　as　cavalry　in　extended　order。　　We　galloped　to　a　point；　advanced　on　foot；　were　driven　back　by　an　imaginary　enemy；　and　remounted。　　We　galloped　as　a　squadron；　and　the　sight　was　really　remarkable　when　you　think　the　men　had　been　together　only　four　days。　　But　the　horses　had　been　doing　it　for　years。　　All　I　had　to　do　to　mine　was　to　keep　on。　　He　knew　what　was　wanted　as　well　as　did　the　Captain。　　After　that　we　put　on　our　packs　and　paraded　at　retreat　to　the　band。　　Then　had　supper　and　listened　to　a　lecture。　　I　ache　in　every　bone；　muscle；　and　joint。　　But　the　riding　has　not　bothered　me。　　It　is　only　hurling　the　damned　rifle　at　myself。　　At　nine　I　am　sound　asleep。　　It　certainly　is　a　great　experience；　and；　all　the　men　are　helping　each　other　and　the　spirit　is　splendid。　　The　most　curious　meetings　come　off　and　all　kinds　of　men　are　at　it　from　college　kids　to　several　who　are　great　grand　fathers。　　Russell　Colt　turned　up　and　was　very　funny　over　his　experiences。　　He　said　he　saluted　everybody　and　one　man　he　thought　was　a　general　and　stood　at　attention　to　salute　was　a　Pullman　car　conductor。　　The　food　is　all　you　want；　and　very　good。　　I've　had　nothing　to　drink；　but　sarsaparilla；　but　with　the　thirst　we　get　it　is　the　best　drink　I　know。　　I　have　asked　to　have　no　letters　forwarded　and　if　I　don't　write　I　hope　you　will　understand　as　during　the　day　there　is　not　a　minute　you　are　your　own　boss　and　at　night　I　am　too　stiff　and　sleepy　to　write。

All　love　to　you。

DICK。



DEAREST：

It　is　now　seven…thirty；　and　I　have　had　twelve　busy　hours。　　They　made　me　pass　an　examination　as　though　for　Sing　Sing；　then　a　man　gave　me　a　gun　that　at　first　weighed　eight　pounds　and　then　twenty。　　He　made　me　do　all　sorts　of　things　with　it；　such　as　sentries　used　to　do　to　me。　　Then　I　was　given　the　gun　to　keep；　and　packs；　beds；　blankets；　and　I　made　myself　at　home　in　a　tent；　then　I　was　moved　to　another　tent　with　five　other　men。　　Then　I　got　a　horse　and　they　galloped　us　up　and　down　a　field　for　two　hours。　　I　lost　ten　pounds。　　Then　we　were　marched　around　to　a　band。　　I　had　a　sergeant　on　either　side　of　me；　so　I　did　not　go　wrong；　OFTEN。　　Then；　aching　in　every　bone　and　with　my　head　filled　with　orders　and　commands；　I　got　into　the　lake　and　escaped。　　You　can　believe　I　enjoyed　that　bath。　　It　certainly　is　a　fine　thing；　and　I　am　glad　I　enrolled　（for　every　one　has　been　as　nice　as　could　be）；　but　I　miss　you　and　Hope　terribly。　　It　seems　years　since　I　saw　you。　　I　am　going　to　my　cot　quick。　　It　is　now　eight　o'clock；　and　I　feel　like　I　had　been　beaten　in　a　stone　crusher。　　Kiss　Hope's　foot　for　me。

Your　loving　husband；

DICK。


Monday。　DEAREST　ONE：

I　got　such　a　beautiful　letter　from　　you！　　With　　pictures　of　Hope　playing　with　the　Bunny。　　It　is　the　best　picture　yet。　　I　carry　it　next　to　my　heart　because　you　made　it；　because　it　is　of　her。　　And　she　sits　up　now？　　Well；　I　will　miss　the　big　clothes…basket。　　I　loved　to　see　her　in　it。　　Years　ago；　when　I　left　home；　she　was　trying　to　crawl　out　of　it。　　What　you　tell　me　of　herknowing　what　you　mean　when　you　say　〃Kitty〃　and　〃Bunny〃is　wonderful。　　How　good　it　will　be！　　You　must　come　close　under　my　arm；　and　tell　me　every　little　thing。　　I　feel　so　much　better　now　that　we　have　broken　into　the　last　week；　and　are　on　the　home　stretch。　　We　have　broken　the　backbone　of　the　long　absence；　and；　the　first　thing　you　know；　I'll　be　telephoning　to　have　you　meet　me　at　White　Plains。

This　is　me　sewing　up　a　hole　in　my　breeches。　　The　socks　are　drying　on　the　line；　my　rubber　bath　is　on　the　right。　　I　am　now　going　to　Canada。　　But　I'll　be　back　in　half　an　hour；　it's　only　200　yards　distant。　　All　the　folks　here　are　French；　and　the　signs　are　in　French。　　Last　place　we　halted　I　bought　lumberman's　socks　to　wear　at　night。　　I　sleep　very　well；　for　I　buy　my　raincoat　full　of　hay　from　the　nearest　farmer；　and　sleep　on　that。　　Today　we　had　another　〃battle。〃　　It　began　at　7。30　　and　ended　at　one　o'clock。　　We　were　kept　going　all　that　time；　taking　〃cover〃　behind　railroad　embankments　and　stone　walls　and　in　plowed　fields；　finally　ending　with　a　bayonet　charge。　　I　killed　so　many　I　stopped　counting。

Don't　let　Hope　forget　her　father。　　Better　put　on　a　wrist…watch　and　my　horn　spectacles；　and　hold　her　the　wrong　way；　so　she　will　be　reminded　of　her　Dad。

Good…night；　my　dearest　one。　　You　will　never　know　how　terribly　I　miss　you　and　love　you；　and　want　you　in　my　arms；　and　you　holding　Hope　so　that　I　can　have　all　my　happiness　in　one　big　armful　of　all　that　is　good。

YOUR　LOVING　HUSBAND。



Wednesday。　DEAREST　ONE：

The　Vitagraph　people　came　today。　　They　have　a　great　film　to　stir　people　to　preparedness　called　〃The　Battle　Cry　of　Peace。〃　　It　shows　New　York　destroyed　by　Germans。　　They　took　pictures　of　several　of　the　better…known　men　showing　〃them〃　preparing。　　I　was　taken　cleaning　my　rifle；　and；　as　the　captain　was　passing；　I　asked　him　to　get　in　the　picture　with　me　and　be　shown　instructing　me。　　He　was　delighted；　but　right　in　the　middle　of　the　picture　he　〃inspected〃　my　barrel。　　I　had　not　cleaned　it；　and　he　forgot　the　camera；　and　gave　me　the　devil。　　You　can　imagine　how　the　crowd　roared；　and　the　camera　director　man　was　delighted。　　I　wanted　it　retaken　showing　the　captain　patting　me　on　the　back。

Roosevelt　turned　up　today；　and　was　very　nice。　　Martin　Egan　came　with　him　and　the　British　Naval　Attache；　and　they　have　asked　me　to　dine　at　a　real　table　at　Hotel　Champlain　with　two　other　men。　　It　will　be　fine　to　eat　off　china。　　The　〃hike〃　begins　Friday；　and　we　sleep　each　night　on　the　ground；　but　the　country　we　march　through　is　beautiful。　　All　that　counts　is　getting　the　days　behind　me　and　getting　you　in　my　arms。　　Doing　one's　〃bit〃　for　one's　country　is　right；　but　as　the　man　said；　〃God　knows　I　love　my　country　and　want　to　fight　for　her；　but　I　hope　to　God　I　never　love　another　country。〃　　Good…night；　dear；　dear　one！　　How　wonderful　it　will　be　to　see　and　hear　you　again。　　Kiss　Hope　for　her　Dad。

RICHARD。


Saturday。　DEAREST：

This　is　writing　with　all　the　love；　but　with　difficulties。　　I　am　sitting　on　a　log　and　the　light　is　a　candle。　　Today　we　had　our　first　fight。　　It　happened　the　squad　of　eight　men　I　am　in　was　sent　in　advance；　and　I　was　100　yards　in　front；　so　I　was　the　first　to　come　in　touch　with　the　scouts　of　the　Red　Army；　and　I　killed　a　lot。　　My　squad　was　so　brave　that　we　all　got　killed　THREE　TIMES。　　But　as　soon　as　the　umpire　rode　away　we　would　come　to　life；　and　go　on　fighting。　　Finally；　he　took　us　prisoners；　and　made　us　sit　down　and　look　on　at　the　battle。　　As　we　had　been　running　around　and　each　carrying　a　forty…pound　pack；　we　were　glad　to　remain　dead。　　But　we　have　declared　that　nothing　can　kill　us　tomorrow　but　asphyxiating　gas。　　I　have　terrible　nightmares　for　fear　something　has　happened　to　one　of　you；　and　then　I　trust　in　the　good　Lord；　and　pray　him　to　make　the　time　pass　swiftly。

Good…night；　and　all　the　love　and　kisses　for　you　both。

RICHARD。


On　October　19；　1915；　Richard　sailed　on　the　Chicago　for　France　and　his　second　visit　to　the　Great　War。　　He　arrived　at　Paris　on　October　30；　and　shortly　afterward　visited　the　Western　front　at　Amiens　and　Artois。　　He　also　interviewed　Poincare；　and　through　him　the　French　President　sent　a　message　to　the　American　people。　　At　this　time　my　brother　had　received　permission　from　the　authorities　to　visit　all　of　the　twelve　sectors　of　the　French　front　under　particularly　advantageous　conditions；　and　was　naturally　most　anxious　to　do　so。　　However；　through　a　misunderstanding　between　the　syndicate　he　represented　and　certain　of　the　newspapers　using　its　service；　he　found　it　advisable；　even　although　against　his　own　judgment；　to　go　to　Greece；　and　to　postpone　his　visit　to　the　sectors　of　the　French　front　he　had　not　already　seen。　　On　November　13　he　left　Paris　bound　for　Salonica。


On　Way　to　France；　Oct。　18；　1915。　DEAREST　ONE：

You　are　much　more　brave　than　I　am。　　Anyway；　you　are　much　better　behaved。　　For　all　the　time　you　were　talking　I　was　crying；　not　with　my　eyes　only；　but　with　ALL　of　me。　　I　am　so　sad。　　I　love　you　so；　and　I　will　miss　you　so。　　I　want　you　to　keep　saying　to　yourself　all　the　time；