Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-16
BACK TO Sight aid LOVE
How an Officer Proved That
Love Is Blind.
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Love Is Blind. =
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The silent stars looked down through
clear, still night upon host OF sleep
ing men. The brigade had advanced
by forced marches and now lay within
two miles Of the dcrvish camp To
morrow's dawn would SEE the assault.
Two officers stood together talking in
low whispers. FOR il was of the utmost
importance that the enemy should be
taken by surprise. and the orders rs to
silence were strict.
Buck up. old chap. you'll come
through all right. And if not what
does 1t amount to? You've got no wo-
men folk 10 bother about
NO. thank heaven. II is i'm times
like this that one is glad never TO have
married-like poor old Harcourt"
"Why poor?"
81 was thinking of his wife. | should
not care TO be tied To AN ugly woman
myself"
That's all rot. Hamilton" retorted
the other. i don't believe il matters
row Of pins. $50 long. OF course. as
she isn't repulsive or underlined"
Think soI'
Yes. The most unlikely women
sometimes attract most"
"Wel. old chap. I'm precious thank
full I've no thoughts of woman to both
er me tonight. shall try for lead
tomorrow. even if / have got the
route. We've a good chance OF being
first into the zarcba."
I'VE will give YOU n race for il. any
how. But we'd better try and get a
sleep. for this awful heat takes il ont
OF a fellow"
The two went 10 their separate posts.
And rs he lay SleeplrsS the thoughts
came TO Hamilton that il was some
what lonesome To think that no wom-
ans eyes would fill at the news OF his
death; and he looked upward M. the
stars above him, wondering where his
soul would be tomorrow.
The shadow of death lay uDon him
rs IT times il does upon the bravest
soldier; lie 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
fraternizing and triumphing with their
laughing and chatting white comrades.
Backward, across the half mile OF
plain. the surgeons were busy. AWAY
10 the southwark could bc heard the
sounds of pursuit as the British ofi-
GERS chased the flying Baggara.
\ field hospital at the front is not n
pleasant place. neither can il 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 We're some CHASTITY cases. and
both surgeons and assistants had been
worked hard. But the pressure was
over and ut last there was time TO at
tend to the wounds which were not
deadly.
Now, Hamilton. lets see" said
Surgeon Major Murphy. approaching
an officer who lay moJionless on II
stretcher-who had 50 lain half an
hour at least. The doctor looked his
patient over. gave II low whistle and
beckoned to one of the orderlieS who
at that moment turned his head.
Look, see, DawkinS, here's bad
case. He must go back TO the hos
pital."
bad as that. DOCTOR" asked the mo
tiOnleSS man family.
"Tis so. Now YOU keep quiet"
Lieutenant Hamilton had been to-
tally blinded 10y the explosion OF n
shell in an carthwOrk as. well in front,
he was leading his company. lie was
sent to the rear-to hoSpital"andS Sis
ter May was given charge of him.
He had not much pain, only he was
blind. Treatment appeared to have no
effect on this. Ii seemed likely To be
a long business. The days began TO
hang heavily. Then came the old
story, Love in idleness."
Hospital sisters do not cease to be
women when they take up their work.
Sister May was just rs susceptible TO
love as though she had been 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 n 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 shat by easy stages they
drifted into that strange attraction
which the world calls love"
And her one fear was that some day
he might see again. The surgeon said
1t was just possible and was advising
consultation with the world famed
Professor Augcnwirtc of Glacfrath.
She prayed against that possibility. for
I'm 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 irreg
ular nose and all the fancicd impcrfcc
Il