Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-13
Light and Love.


The silent stars looked down through
a clear, still night upon a host of
sleeping men. The brigade had ad-
vanced by forced marches, and now
lay within two miles of the dervish
camp. Tomorrow's dawn would see
the assault. Two officers stood to-
gether, 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 chip; 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-like poor old Har-
court
Why poor?"
Il was thinking of his wife. l
shouldn't care to be tied to an ugly
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 woman
sometimes attract most
well, old chap, I'm precious thank
full I've no thoughts of woman to
bother me tonight. I shall try for a
lead tomorrow, even if I have got the
route; we've 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 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 it was some
what lonesome to think that no wo-
mans eyes would MI 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 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 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 Ian
GERS chased the ying Baggara.
|
A field hospital at the front is not
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 attend to the wounds which were
not deadly.
Now, Hamilton let's see," said
Surgeon Maj. Murphy, approaching an
officer who lay motionless on a
stretcher-who had so lain half an
hour at least The doctor looked his
patient over, gave low whistle, and
beckoned to one of the orderlies, who
at that moment turned his head.
Look, see, Dawkins, here's a bad
case! He must go back to the hospi-
tai"
bad as that, doctor?" asked the
mOtiOnless man family.
"'Tis so. Now you keep quiet"
Lieut. Hamilton had been totally
blinded by the explosion of a 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
bin. Treatment appeared to have no
effect on this; it seemed likely 20 be a
long business. The days began to hang
heavily. Then came the old story: Love
in Idleness."
II.
Hospitals sisters do not cease to be
women when they take up their work.
Sister May was just as susceptible to
love as 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 a double risk. Her voice was soft
and musical, her touch was soothing,
her care of him seemed first motherly,