Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-24
=. i. :. =. !. i. X !. :. !. :.
BACK 70 SIGHT ANDLOVE
How an Officer Proved That
Love Is Blind.

j. i. = = = !. = !. = i. = = = = !. :. :.
The silent stars looked down through
a clear, still night upon host of sleep
ing men. The brigade had advanced
by forced marches and now lay within
two miles of the dervish camp. To-
morrow's dawn would see the assault.
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.
Buck up, old chap, you'll come
through all right. And If not, what
does it amount to? You've got no wo-
men folk to bother about"
mo. thank heaven. 1t is in times
hkethis that one is glad never to have
married-like poor old Harcourt."
'Why poor?"
81 was thinking of his WIFE, l should
not care to be tied to an ugly woman
myself"
That's all rot, Hamilton" retorted
the other. Il don't believe it matters
a row of pins, so long, of course, as
she isn't repulsive or underbred."
''Think soY'
"Yes. The most unlikely women
sometimes attract most"
well, old chap, I'm precious thank
full Eve no thoughts of woman to both
er me tonight. | shall try for lead
tomorrow, even if / have got the
route. We've good chance of being
first into the Zareba.'
I'VE will give you race for it, any,
how. But we'd better try and get a
sleep. for this awful heat takes it out
of fellow"
The two went 10, their separate posts.
And as he lay sleepless the thoughts
came to Hamilton that it was some
What lonesome to think that no wom-
ans eyes would fill at the news of his
death; and he booked upward at the
stars above him, wondering where his
soul would be tomorrow
Inc shadow of death lay upon him.
as at times it does upon the bravest
soldier: he would fight none the worse
Tor it 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
fraternizing 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 Off
GERS chased the flying Baggara.
A field hospital at the front is not a
pleasant place, neither can it be de-
scribed 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 ghastly 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
Surgeon Major Murphy. approaching
an officer 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 moment turned his head
Look. see. Dawkins. here's a bad
easel He must go back to the hos
pital"
bad as that, doctor3" asked the mo-
tionless man family.
otis so. Now you keep quiet"
Lieutenant Hamilton had been to-
tally blinded by the explosion of
shell in an earthwork as, well in front,
he was leading his company. He was