it
hurt me. Under the darkness I reached my one good hand up and took my
own picture from its place. So many of us carried pictures over our
hearts in those days. I pretended then to search once more, telling him
to have courage, and then I said, 'Is this it?' He fumbled for it, and
his hand caught it quickly up under his chin. He was so glad. He thanked
me for finding it, and then he lay still, panting. After a while--we
both wanted water--I crawled away to where I heard a running stream. It
must have been farther than I thought, and I couldn't be quick because
so much of me was numb and had to be dragged. But I reached the water
and filled a canteen I had found on the way. As soon as I could manage
it I went back to him with the water, but I must have been gone a long
time. He wasn't there. But as I crawled near where he had lain, I put my
hand on a little square case such as I had given him. I thought it must
be mine. I lost consciousness again. When I awoke two hospital stewards
carried me on a stretcher, and a field surgeon walked beside us. I still
had the picture, and not for many days did I know that it wasn't my own.
After that I forgot it--but I've already told you of that."

Her eyes had not quitted my face while I spoke, though they were
glistening; her mouth had weakened more than once, and a piteous little
"Oh!" would come from her lips. When I had finished she looked away from
me, dropping her eyes to the floor, leaning forward intently, her hands
shut between her knees. For a long time she remained so, forgetting me.
But at last I could hear her breathe and could see the increasing rise
and fall of it, so that I feared a crisis. But none came. Again she
mastered herself and even managed a smile for me, though it was a poor
thing.

"I've told you all, Miss Kate."

"Yes--I'm unfair, but you have a right to know. I found that
picture--your picture, when they brought him in. His hands were clenched
about it. They said he had pleaded to hold it and made them promise not
to take it from him--ever. I was left alone, and I dared to take it,
just for a moment. Something in the design of the cover puzzled me. I
had meant to put it right back, and after I had looked at it there was
only one thing to do--to put it back."

"They said you found your own picture, or I might have suspected."

"They had reason to say it--I never told."

"Of course you never told, Miss Kate!" I seemed to learn a great deal of
her