Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-05-10


on the line, why, didn't want to stay
the boys. Wouldn't you?"
. "Of course" Watson answered.
well" Bennett continued, 81 was
relieved there to go out and help in
the scrapping. | stood it pretty well
for a while, but they marched so far,
and everything was so bad,-the ra-
tions and the water, you know,-that
three days ago | had to fall out.
cOunldn't keep up"
You hain't very big" said watson;
its tough work, too. ! know; | was
knocked out myself"
"Oh, I'm nineteen, most twenty,
Bennett insisted. land | could stand
it if | was used to it. But crossing
a rice field-you know how the sun
comes down on you--I tainted | lay
there in the sun about an hour |
guess When | came to there wasn't
anybody to look after me- so | crawled
into the shade and went to sleep. |
thought | could go on after | rested
awhile. Well. when | woke up it was
raining and dark as pitch. | tried
to move, and it nearly killed me. |
was stiff and sore, and my head was
buzzing and ringing and pounding like
it would split. | remembered an old
shack back along the road, and | got
there somehow, slipping and STUN
bling in the mud and tearing myself
on the bamboo horns. | found pile
of straw, and stayed there that night
and all the next day, almost burning
up with the fever Finally | heard
some one going along the road. |
hollered. and they heard me- 1t was
a m rnit
glers like me. They loaded me into
the wagon. and since then I've been
humping around in it,"
He stopped, and Watson cooled the
bandage in the pan of water and re
placed it over his eyes. Your eyes
seem right bad" he said.
Yes Bennett answered; the heat
did that, the steward tolu me. He
had some long name or it. He says
they'll be better when | get in. dark
room. Now | can't see a thing, even
when | hold them wide open"
wall, now, that's funny" Watson
drawled. Now, you get some sleep,
an in the mo'nin' the doc II fix you up
as good as evan. Good night"
Good night, Tennessee said Ben
nett. and in a few minutes he was
asleep.
Several times before morning when
the bandage lost its GOODNESS Watson
freshened it and laid it tenderly over
the swollen eyes.
Might as we'll do somethin' fer
the little fellow" he told himself.
"cause | can't sleep nOhOw. have to
think bout goin' home"
DR.. Long shook his head gravely
when he examined Benefits eyes that
morning
Well my boy" he said, this white
| tent over you won't do. Wen have
to put you in a dark room for a
| while"
Watson. in honor of his last day
in the ward. had insisted on being
| helped to the Office that afternoon.
| He was sitting in a large chair, chat
! ting with Miss Howard, when the doc
tor came in.
Say, here's pretty fix" the latter
| began: mot a dark room in the whole
hospital Not a place to make one
every corner has a sick man crowd
ed into it, Now. what are we going
to do with this ophthalmia case?"
Cant we fix up place outside the
hospital?' Miss Howard suggested.
mo; I've hunted everywhere" the
doctor answered. Cant find a place
| that will do at all
He looked down the ward Half
way down the row of white beds he
could see Bennett lying on his back,
| his eyes covered by that wet bandage.
The doctor turned quickly. I'VE
| must have a dark room he said
fiercely. THAT boy will be stone
blind in three days if he lies under
this white tent"
Watson started. Say. doc. you
don't mean that. do you? He hain't
that bad, is he? q.
I'm afraid So" the doctor answered
Watson sat quite still, looking fixed
| ly out at the hot, dusty yard before
the tent. Il was-jest thinkin'.' he
said slowly. Il reckon could wait
| s'pose they've got dark rooms on the
| hOsp ital-ship. You'd better put that
little fellow on in my place. Hain't
no danger bout mel kin stand il
a spell longer,-an' if he stays, why
his lamps II go out-he'll go blind,
mean he explained, with a faint
| smile.
Watson" said the doctor.
Nov, Watson. you can't" Miss
Howard began.
He stopped them both with his hand
"Pshaw it's nothin'. l kin wait. An
when you take him. doc, jest tell him
he's a-gOin' to the dark room, cause
he knows | was a-goin' home today
an he might ketch on. l reckon he
wouldn't go eff he knew
The ambulance came half an hour
later Number One and Number
Forty were helped in, and then Ben.
nett, his eyes covered by white
bandage, came down the aisle grasp.
ing DR.. Longs arm.
Where's Watson, doctor?" he asked
Here l am" said Watson, taking his
hand.
"Oh! Well, good-by. I'm going
over to the dark room. I suppose
you'll be going to the boat in a few
minutes. Don't get seasick."
No, l won't" Watson answered
4 well, so-long."
The doctor helped him into the am
bulance and they drove away. Wat
son sat watching them until they
turned the corner and were out O.
sight
Poor little fellow" he said to Miss
Howard. She was busy at the table
and did not turn her head.
An hour later Watson was still sit
ting in the doorway The ambulance
with DR.. Long beside the driver, came
up the street in a cloud of dust; the
ponies were on the gallOp. They
swung in before the ward, and the doc
tor was down before they stopped.
NTnkr. 60, - 4,