Evening journal., 1899-08-22
n~e-o~s~~-e~~s>A-e>>e-e-~p~s-~>-~Ss
/ Back 10 Light aud Love !
H'-e-s-s~>-s~e-s~>-s~s-s-s-~-'-o-e-s-e-s-e-

Hs-e-s-s~e-s-e-s->-s~s-s -s,-o-s-e s-e,-s-o~t
THE silentstnrsl looked down through
clear, still night upon host.uf
sleeping men. The brigade had ad-
yanced 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, ana the
orders as TO silence were strict.
"Bucl, up, old clap; you'll come
through an right. And If not, whatdoes
10 amount to? You've got no women
folk to bother about"
'No, thank heaven. tits in times like
this that one is glad never TO have
marricd-lilse poor old Harcourt"
"Why poor?"
81 was thinking Of his wife. /
shouldn't care 10 be tied 60 an ugly
woman myself"
THAT'S all rot, Hamilton" retorted
the other u don't believe it matters
q row OF pins, so long, Of course, as.she
isn't repmsive OF underbred."
"1hink so?"
eyes The most unlikely women
sometimes attract most
"WelA old chap, I'm precious thank
[ fiil I've no thoughts of woman TO both
er me tonight. / shall try for q lead
tomorrow, even IL have got the route;
/ v-afve n 0ood chance OF being first into
the gareba."
I'VE win give you race for it, any
how. But we'd better try and getea
sleep, for tsis awful heat takes it ont
of fellow"
I The two went TO their separate pests.
/ And as he lay, sleepless, the thought
came to Hamilton that it was somewhat
lonesome to think that no womnn's eyes
would fin at the news Of his DEATH and
he looked upward at the stars above
him, wondering where his soul would
be to-morrow.
The shadow of death lay upon him,
as at times Il does upon the bravest
soldiers he would fight none'the "orse
for e in the morning.
Tire 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 chafing white comrades.
Backward, across the half-mile Of
plain, the surgeons were busy. Away
10 the southwark could be heard the
sounds Of Sursuit as the British lnpcers
chased the flying Baggara.
A field hospital az The front is not
q pleasant place, neither can it be
described in cold black and white. War
correspondents. as readers of the
( dailies haze no doubt noticed, judi
ciously avoid moge Than the merest
q mention Of such places.
There were some CHASTITY cases, end
both surgeons and assistants had been
worked hard. But the pressuns was
over, and at last there was time TO at
htend to the wounds which were not
deadly.
"Now Hamilton. let's see" said Sur
geon Maj Murphy, approaching an oiii-
Ger who lay motionless on q streicher
who Rad so lain half an hour at least.
/, The doctor looked his patient over,
gave a low whistle, and baciIoned TO
one Of the orlerlies, who az that mo-
ment turned his head
Look, see, Dawkins, here's a bad
easel lie must go back 70 the hospital"
"Bad rs that doctor?" asked the mo-
: tioniess man family.
"fris sol Vow you keep quiet"
Lieut.. Hamilton had been totally
, blinded by the explosion of a shell in
am earthwork as. wen in front. he was
) leading his company. He was aont to
the rear-to hespital-and Sister May
was given charge Of him.
lie had not much pain, only he was
blind. Treatment appeared TO haze no
effect 0n this; it seemed likely TO be a
long business. The days began 10 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 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
q runs double risk Her voice was soft
and musical, her touch was soothing,
q her care Of him seemed first motherly
r ihcn sisterly, and then
! So Il was that by easy singes they
I lrifted into that strange attraction
7 which the world calls "love."
E And her one fear was that some day
i, ne might see again. The surgeon said
It was just possible, and was advising
consultation with the world-famed
/, Prof Augenwirte. of Graefrath. She
prayed against that possibility, for in
ler. own eyes she was plain-nay, ugly
last redemption. Yet. though she could
e iot realize It. her too large mouth and
prominent teeth, her Irregular zose,
e A cheap substitute for a standar
advertised article may prove to be an.