Evening journal., 1899-07-05
Back to Light and Love
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sleeping men. The brigade had adj
vanced by forced marches, and now lay
within two miles of the dervish camp.
To-morrow's dawn would see the as
sault. Two officers stood together,
talking in low whispers, for it was of
the utmost Importance that the enemy
should be taken by surprise, and the
orders as to silence were strict.
'sBuck up, old chap; you'll come
through all right. And If not, what does
it amount TO? You've got no women
folk to bother about"
"No, thank heaven. 1t is in times like
this that one is glad never TO have
married-lilxe poor old Harcourt."
"Why poor?"
"I was thinking of his wife.
woman myself"
That's all rot, Hamilton" retorted
the other. 81 don't believe it matters
row of pins, so long, of course, as she
isn't repulsive or underbred."
think so?"
"Yes. The most unlikely women
sometimes attract most"
"Well, old chap, I'm precious thank
full I've no thoughts of woman to both
er me tonight. shall try for a lead
tomorrow, even if have got the route;
we've a good chance of being first into
the zareba."
1--WE will give you race for it, any
how But we'd better try and get
sleep, for this awful heat takes it out
of fellow"
The two went TO their separate posts.
And as he lay, sleepless, the thought
came to Hamilton that it was somewhat
lonesome to think that no woman's eyes
would fill at the news of his death; and
he looked upward at the stars above
him, wondering where his soul would
be tomorrow.
The shadow of death lay upon him,
as at times it does upon the bravest
soldier; he would fight none the worse
for il in the morning.
The sun had risen.
In the previous short half-hour Of
dawn the assault had been delivered,
the dervish forces had been driven
from their intrenchments, and now the
black, grinning "Gippys" were frater-
nizing and triumphing with their
laughing and chatting white comrades.
Backward, across the half-mile Of
plain, the surgeons were busy. Away
to the southwark could be heard the
sounds of pursuit as the British lancers
chased the flying Baggara.
A field hospital at the front is not
a pleasant place, neither can it be
described in cold black and white. War
correspondents, as readers of the
dailies have no doubt noticed, judi
ciously avoid more than the merest
mention of such places.
There were some CHASTITY cases, and
both surgeons and assistants had been
worked hard. But the pressure was
over, and at last there was time to at
tend TO the wounds which were not
deadly.
"Now Hamilton, let's see" said Sur
geon Maj. Murphy, approaching an Off
Ger who lay motionless on stretcher
who had so lain half an hour at least.
The doctor looked his patient over,
gave a low whistle, and beckoned to
one Of the orderlies, who at that mo-
ment turned his head.
Look, see, Dawkins, here's a bad
easel He must go back to the hospital"
"Bad as that, doctor?" asked the mo-
tionless man family.
"'Tis sol Now you keep quiet"
Lieut.. Hamilton had been totally
blinded by the explosion of shell in
an earthwork as, well in front, he was
leading his company. He was sent to
the rear-to hospital-and Sister May
was given charge of him.
He had not much pain, only he was
blind. Treatment appeared to have no
effect on this; it seemed likely to be
long business. The days began to hang
heavily. Then came the old story: "Love
In Idleness."
II.
Hospital sisters do not cease to be
women when they take up their work.
Sister May was just as susceptible to
love us though she had been a silly
young thing of is. though. in fact, she
was ten years older. And he? Pity
being akin to love, the recipient of pity
runs double risk. Her voice was soft
and musical, her touch was soothing,
her care of him seemed first motherly,
then sisterly, and then
So it was that by easy stages they
arifted into that strange attraction
which the world calls "love."
And her one fear was that some day
ne might see again. The surgeon said
i was just possible. and was advising
consultation with the world-famed
Prof. Augenwirte, of Graefrath. She
prayed against that possibility, for in
her own eyes she was plain-nay. ugly.
past redemption. Yet. though she could
not realize il, her too large mouth and
prominent teeth. her irregular zose.