The suburban citizen., 1902-09-27
FOR LOVE OF A TOMBOY.
sd--p. o .d==-p.
A Love Story. By JOHN FORD.

SlNSu Oh tue NOyuge out, anu Dy COLI
trast his very excitement appeared to
make the captains manner more stald.
reserved and unobtrusive They were
not, however, quite so much together
as they had been formerly, and it nat
urally became the subject of comment.
"Blount is jealous, l believe" said
one.
More likely Cousins has been bitten
by the green-eyed monster. If they
are both in love with Maudie Finlay
| should say that the captain would
stand the greater chance of winning
her, and Cousins knows it," said an
other.
Already we spoke of the love affair
Of the "Inseparables" with an "if."
Cousins, like every subaltern leav-
ing home and England for the first
time, had his ambitions, dreamed his
dreams - in all of which Heroes"
Medals" Victoria Crosses and pro-
motion figured largely in a delightful
tumble, and all in connection with
himself. And who has not dreamed
those dreams on the voyage out? Who
has not looked back on those dreams
with a weary smile of resignation, ac-
knOwledging, reluctantly enough, that
things are not what they seemed-oD
the voyage home?
AS l had expected the campaign
was not of very long duration, neither
was it of deadly peril or full of the
trials and sufferings so many expedi-
tions are entirely made up of. There
was the usual amount of trouble. work
and endurance to put up with, the ia
tiguing marches being the most active
part Of it, and l felt almost sorry for
our juniors who had expected so much
most sorry, not knowing what was to
come, for young Cousins.
Our wounded were few, our dead
fewer; the most terrible part being
that many fell victims to a dread dis
ease. losing their lives. if not in actual
conflict with the enemy. nevertheless
while obeying the call of duty.
However, it is Of one battle I wish
to write, no other event having any
bearing on my story.
1t was Saturday, the 10Th of Sep.
tember and We were reused from
sleep at 3 a. m. We had lain down on
the sand and among the halfa grass,
too tired and worn out to think of ene-
mics other than human, of vipers,
scorpions and such like. Four o'clock
found us creeping along in the dark,
uncertain Of what we might come
upon, but when the rays of the early
sun came to our aid disappointment
was in store for us. We discerned
X to our right, but not all the noise
Of the cavalry, nor the rumbling of
horse batteries awoke the apparently
sleeping Deryish camp.
We were unopposed.
The reason was soon forthcoming
Wad Bishara had taken his men to
Hafr in the dead Of night.
No rest was given us, no break in
the long march; our orders were to ad
vance two miles further, and then we
faced Hafir. 1t was nearly Z o'clock
wishes, but it was not till later in the
day, till the lead came splashing at
regular intervals into the water to our
right, rattling like hail against the
gunboats, and bullets came flying
through the air, that l CHANGED TO
come upon the "Inseparables." saw
them standing side by side. their faces
turned to the enemy. Suddenly, as l
looked, young Cousins sprang forward
and threw his senior on the ground
with the force which he hurled him
self upon him, and then-the most
tragic event Of the day-Reggie Cou-
sins rolled over mortally wounded at
our feet!
Quick as lighting l turned. Just in
the nick of time.
The Dervish soldier who had crept
unaware upon us, half hidden in the
long grass, had turned his weapon
upon me.
But l was before him.
take a sort of grim satisfaction In
chronicling the event in those few
words. Had l stayed a moment long
er nothing could have prevented me
from cutting the dead body Of Cous-
ms murderer to a thousand pieces.
With Blount's help got the young
fellow to the rear, and, once in safety.
stopped to see what could be done for
him. The Captain knelt with his face
buried in both his hands, down which
the blood was trickling. He had re-
ceived n wound as we lifted tie boy
10 carry him 8way. / did not realize
how bad and serious a one it was.
Cousins opeAed his eyes and his lips
moved.
you are hurt" he said, looking at
his chum. IL wanted-to save-your
life. Have-I-failedP
His voice was terribly weak.
Blount was sobbIng in a heart,bro.
ken fashion.