The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-09-25
FOR LOVE OF A TCMBOY.
-p@.u-p.
A Love Story. By JOHN FORD.

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 n weary smile of resignation. ac-
knowledginC. reluctantly enough, that
things are not what they seemed-oD
the voyage home?
As | 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. II not in actual
conflict with the enemy. nevertheless
while obeying the call Of duty.
i
to write, no other event having any
bearing on my story.
1t was n Saturday, the 10Th of Sep.
| tember, and We We're 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 enc
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 Dervish camp.
! We We're unopposed.
The reason was soon forthcoming.
Wad Bishara had taken his men to
Hatir 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 o'clock
| before We opened fire on the Der
wishes, but it was not till later in the
| day, till the lead came splashing ut
regular intervals into the water TO our
| right, rafting like hail against the
| gunboats, and bullets came fying
through the air, that / chanced TO
come upon the "Inseparables" | saw
them standing side by side. their faces
turned to the enemy. Suddenly. as /
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.
1 sins rolled over mortally wounded al
our feet,
Quick as lighting I 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 was before him.
l take a sort of grim satisfaction IN
chronlcling the event in those few
words. Had | stayed moment long
er nothing could have prevented me
from cutting the dead body of Cous
ins' murderer to n thousand pieces.
With Blount's help I got the young
fellow to the rear. and, once in safety
stopped to see what could be done foI
him. The Captain knelt with his face
buried in both his hands. down whlcl
the blood was rickllng. He had re
ceived wound as We lifted the boy
10 carry him away | did not reallz,
how bad and serious a one it was.
Cousins opened his eyes and his lip
moved.
"You are hurt" he said. looking n
his chum. II wanted-to save-you
life. Have-I-failed?
His voice was terribly weak.
Blount was sobbing in a heart-bro
ken fashion.
: steady yourself, old man. I whis
pered, "and speak TO him"
"It-was Maudie" Cousins continued
IL fancied Monica was-much tn,
best-and-yOu-would love her-likl
dld-and trled--to help you by-ob
you know-but you wouldn't take
the best = always left the best-fo
me-"
| "Oh. Reggie. Reggie, don'tw
Cousins eyes fixed themselves OF
| me
| ITS all up" he said "Tell--Mau
Observation-Disclosures"
With great sob OF unutterable mis-
t cry Blount fell across the body of hi
friend.
I
Z Every spare moment had | spen
by Blount's bedside after that. Bu
: lie was despaired Of for him, an,
D -he did not care 10 stay. Reggie
dying words seemed TO haunt us 20
3 nights after, for we knew Maurlc
r was obeying his chum's last request.
/. But from the lips OF the captain
/. very little while before the end
a | learned tha answar 10 4ho .,aa, a. .