Evening journal., 1910-07-05
AHAPPY
OUTCOME
BY ANDREW c. EWING =
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

There rs no truer saying than |
there is compensation in all things
An example Of this came under my /
observation In the case Of one Of my |
subordinates in the army. IL began
during an engagement.
In the heat OF the fight stretcher |
was carried past me and saw the
face OF one OF my lieutenants. Tom
Ashley. pale and with closed eyes
He opened them aud gave me the most
melancholy look ever received from
any one. A blanket was laid across
his body. leaving his legs bare. u
IVES but a momentary passage, after
which became as intent on directing
the work OF slaughter as before. We
won a victory and pushed on after th,
enemy. leaving our dead 10 be put IN
the ground by burial squad and our
wounded to DO taken care Of by the
surgeons. They cut OF part Of Ash
ley's left leg and all Of his right arm.
felt an especial pang In the case OF
Ashley, for. besides being the most
promising subaltern In my battalion. !
knew that he was engaged to be mar
ried to a very lovely girl. Besides be-
ing lovely. she had a fortune in her
own right. and l knew that Ashley
who had nothing but his pay. was
looking forward TO his marriage with
her as soon as the war was over and
a happy life TO follow. In one short
fight that lasted barely ten minutes
he had beeu made a cripple and his
life was blighted.
A few days later. being near the hos
pital where Lieutenant Ashley was
lying. I went TO see him. | found him.
as l expected. in a melancholy state
OF mind. His distress all seemed con
centrated on the fact that he must
give up the girl he loved. endeavor
ed to comfort him by suggesting that
she might make a sacrifice for him
but he assured me that on no account
would he permit her 10 do 80. Indeed.
he told me that he had been waiting
for some one nearly connected with
him to write her. announcing his mu.
tilatlon and that he released her.
II was a sad duty. and when it was
! performed | ventured again to express
a doubt as 70 whether the girl would
accept of her release. but Ashley de-
clared that no man with a soul IN bis
body would permit a girl to tie herself
up for life with man minus leg aud
an arm. Besides. she was the idol OF
| her parents, who would not permit her
to make any such sacrifice. They were
so ambitious for her that they had only
reluctantly consented TO her engage
ment with Ashley. who was one OF the
most promising officers in the army
He described her to me as a very femi
nine person. who had been brought VI
to follow their slightest wish. Consid
ering this feature Of the case. mailed
the letter. believing that Lieutenan
Ashley and Miss Barnes would mutt
ally agree to give up their prnspectiY
J union.
Two days we're required for the mis-
sive to reach its destination. and a re
ply could not be received in less tina
two days more. Meanwhile | visite
Ashley twice He evidently felt easie
since he had dispatched his letter. con
sidering the matter of his engagement
closed. On the fifth day after ! hal
sent his missive went 10 the hospita
and there found the reply.
II was Miss Barnes herself.
The meeting had taken place-for th
girl had arrived several hours before
and with It had passed that first shocl
at the coming together Of two peopll
who had suffered and must continue e
suffer such an overwhelming misfor
tune Miss Barnes had moro nearl,
recovered from it than Ashley. though
now and again could see tiny wave
let's Of something like happiness pass
ing over his face. Miss Barnes was
busying herself to make him more
comfortable She had brought will
her certain articles for the purpose. es
pecially Undertaking. which he great
~ needed. and with the help OF a sol
der nurse was putting It on him will
no more compunction than il she haC
been his wife.
Miss Barnes remained with Ashle,
until be was sufficiently recovered e
travel. when she took him home Will
her. A few months later. the war be
ing over. followed ASH hat
given in TO the girl whom he 10, ] anC
who loved him. and they were onl,
waiting for me 10 be present at thu
J wedding. Miss Barnes had astonisheI
every one by having her own way II
the matter. having conquered her par
ents as well as her lover.
The wedding was not one Of thosl
joyous occasions where the young PEG
pie start out in a career that HEAVIER
= seems TO smile on. The witnesses fel
} a tinge Of sadness. and the groom wa
inexpressibly overcome. Only the brid
seemed TO be herself. She told M
after the ceremony that she believe'
she was happier than II her HUSBAND
had been physically perfect. The rea
! son she gave for this was that the mai
she loved so dearly was and would b
! dependent upon her for his lifelong
J comfort. In ministering TO that com
e fort she had not only an object. bu
, an object that filled her whole heart.
visited the Ashleys some year
later. Tom had accepted a professor
ship 10 teach military branches in
college. thus having his time pleasant
! ~ occupied Two children had com
90 the couple. both OF whom appre
ciated beyond their years their father
physical loss. But this physical deprl