Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-12-22
THE BEAUTY oFLovn

miles of the Dervish camp. Two of.
hcers stood together, talking In low
whispers, for 1t 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 IL not, what
does 1t amount to? You've got no
women folk to bother about"
NO, thank heavenI It Is in times
ike this that one is glad never to
have marrled-llke poor old Harcourt"
why poor~
II was thinking of his wife. 1
shouldn't care to be tied to an ugly
woman myself"
Ihats all rot, Hamilton" retorted
the other. Il don't believe 1t mat
tiers row of pins, so long, Of course,
as she isn't repulsive or underlined"
"Think SOP"
Yes. The most unlikely women
sometimes attract most"
Now, Hamilton, let's see," said Sur
geon- Major Murphy, approaching an
officer who 10y motionless on a stretch.
er-who had so lain half nm hour at
least The doctor looked his patient
over, gave low whistle and beokoned
to one Of the orderlies, who ut that
moment turned his head
Look, see, Dawkins, here's q bad
easel He must go back to the hos
pital."
Lieut.. Hamilton had been totally
blinded by the explosion of 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
blind. Treatment appeared to have no
erect on this; 1t seemed likely to be
a long business. The days began to
hang heavily. Then came the old
story, Love in idlcness."
IL.
So it was that 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
She prayed against that possibility,
FOR In her own eyes she was plain
nay, ugly past redemption.
A week later Hamilton left the hos.
pital for Graefrath, full OF hope The
night previous to lbs departure they
came to an indefinite understanding.
and though she would not give an I'M
qualified answer to his pleadings she
had not the courage to stop him alto
gether: In reclSlcssneSs she allowed
herself TO drink in the sweets of his
passionate words; they would at any
rate he lifelong remembrance, even
though on his return he should cast her
Off.
The operation was successful beyond
his hopes, and in Il few weeks he was
rushing back to his love-eyes shaded,
il is true, but with the certainty that
in a short time his sight would he full
ly restored
81 want to see Miss Johnstone." he
said TO the orderly Mt the hospital en-
trance.
Miss tombstone, sirP which?"
"Why. the nurse"
"Yes, sir; but there's two OF them"
"Wcll--er-shc's very good-looking.
I did not know there were two"
ooh, yes, sir, there's two. But
know the one you mean, now"
And he was shown into the waiting.
room.
gentleman wants me? Who can
Then the door opened. He started
forward.
"ATy lover he whispered. 81 knew
you were beautiful. 1 have come back
to claim YOU"
senses. you must be Hamilton?"
"Yes," he answered, amazed, releas-
ing her.
This frivolous little voice was not
that of his love. This overfrizzled hair,
these shallow eyes were not beautiful
ut the second glance. What had he
done?
Are you not Miss JohnstoneY'
Eyes. Kate tombstone"
"Kate? And is your sister,
cousin"
'Is she not here?"
Eyes" said Kate with smile. "Stay
here. will fetch her."