Evening journal., 1899-09-02
Back to Light and Love

vanced by tOrccO marches, ana 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 stHct.
Buck 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. Itis in times like
this that one is glad never to have
married-lille poor old Harcourt."
"Why poor?"
"I was thinking Of his wife.
shouldn't care to be tied TO an ugly
woman myself"
That's all rot, Hamilton" retorted
the other. II don't believe it matters
row of pins, so long, Of course, as she
isn't reptnsive OF underbred."
Think SOP"
"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. 1 shall try for lead
tomorrow, even If I have got the routei
we've a good chance of being first into
the zareba."
"We will give you a race for it, any
how. But we'd better try and get a
sleep, for this awful heat takes it out
of a fellow"
The two went to their separate posts.
And as he lay, sleepless, the thought
came to Hamilton that il 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 1t 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 1t be
described in cold black and white. War
correspondents, as readers Of the
dailies have no doubt noticed, judi
ciously avoid more than the meresi
mention of such places.
There were some ghastly cases, and
both surgeons and assistants had beer
r worked hard. But the pressure was
, over, and at last there was time 10 at
tend TO the wounds which were not
I deadly.
"Now, Hamilton, let's see" said Sur
e geon Maj. Murphy, approaching an OH
- Ger who lay motionless on n stretchei
Z who had so lain half an hour at least
- The doctor looked his patient over
S gave a low whistle, and beckoned t'
D one Of the orderlies, who at that mo
+ ment turned his head.
h Look, see, Dawkins, here's baC
+ easel He must go back to the hospital.
"Bad as that, doctor?" asked the mo
= tionless man family.
4 "'Tis sol Now you keep quiet"
@ Lieut.. Hamilton had been total,
e blinded by the explosion of shell il
an earthworlS as, well in front, he wa
c leading his company. He was sent f
- the rear-to hospital-and Sister Ma.
Il was given charge Of him.
Z He had not much pain, only he wal
o blind. Treatment appeared to have M
effect on this; it seemed likely TO be
C long business. The days began to hanl
z, heavily. Then came the old story: "Lov
e In Idleness."
Hospital sisters do not cease 70 b
women when they take up their work
Sister May was just as susceptible I
II love as though she had been a sill
j. young thing of IS, though, in fact, sh
h was ten years older And he? Pit
rs being akin to love, the recipient of pit.
le runs double risk. Her voice was sof
"a and musical, her touch was soothing
ID her care of him seemed first motherly
y then sisterly, and then
ie So it was that by easy stages the.
re drifted into that strange attraction
T. which the world calls 'love."
III And her one fear was that some da
g ne might see again. The surgeon sal
r. It was just possible, and was advisin
81 4 consultation with the world-fame
Prof Augenwirte, of Graefrath. Sh
prayed against that possibility, for i
, her own eyes she was plain-nay, ugly
ts past redemption. Yet. though she coul
m iot realize il, her too large mouth an
prominent teeth, her irregular zos'
no A cheap substitute for a standa