The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-08-11
AHAPPY
OUTCOME
b. ANDREW C EWING
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association

observation In the case Of one Of my
subordinates IN the army. It began
during an engagement.
In the heat Of the fight. q stretcher
was carried past me and I saw the
face OF one Of my lieutenants. Tom
Ashley, pale and with closed eyes.
He opened them and gave me the most
melancholy look I ever received from
any one. A blanket was laid across
his body, leaving his legs bare. 1t
was but q momentafy passage. after
which became as Intent on directing
the work. Of slaughter a before. We
won victory and pushed on after the
enemy. leaving our dead to be put in
the ground by a burial squad and our
wounded to be taken care Of by the
surgeons. They cut OF a 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. I
knew that he was engaged to be mar
ried to a very lovely girl Besides be-
ing lovely, she had q fortune in her
own right, and I 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
q happy life to follow. In one short
fight that lasted barely ten minutes
he had been made q cripple and his
life was baighted.
A few days later, being near the hos
pital where Lieutenant Ashley was
lvfnap Z -ouf <0 aoo him T Po,,rS hin
- expected. In q melancholy state
ef mind. His distress all seemed COD
centrated on the fact that he must
give up the. girl he loved. I endeavos-
ed to comfort him by suggesting that
she might make q sacrifice for him,
but he assured me that on no account
would he permit her to do 30. Indeed.
he told me that he had been waiting
Tor some one nearly connected with
him to write her. announcing his mu-
tilation and that he released her.
1t was a /sad duty. and when It was
performedd ventured again to express
q doubt a. to whether the girl would
accept Of her release. but Ashley de-
clared that no man with q soul In his
body would permit GIRL to tie herself
up for HE with q man minus q leg and
an arm. Besides, she was the idol of
her parents, who would not permit her
to make any such sacrifice. They were
% 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 - q very femi-
nine person, who had been brought up
to follow their slightest wish. Consid-
ering this feature Of the ease. mailed
the letter, believing that Lieutenant
Ashley and Miss Barnes would mutu-
ally agree to give up their prospective
union.
Two days were required for the mis-
sive to reach itS destination. and a re-
ply could not be received In less than
two days more. Meanwhile I visited
Ashley twice. He evidently felt easier
since he had dispatched his letter. con-
sidering the matter OF his engagement
closed On the fifth day after had
sent his misstve went to the hospital
and there found the reply.
It was Miss~Barnes herself.
The meeting had taken place-for the
girl had arrived several hours before
and with It had passed that first shock
at the coming together Of two people
who had suffered and must continue to
suffer such IN overwhelming misfor-
tune. Miss Barnes had more nearly
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 with
her certain articles for the purpose. es-
pecially underclothing. which he great
~ needed. and with the help Of SOL
der muse was putting it on him with
no more conjunction than If she had
been his wife.
Miss Barnes remained with Ashley
until he was sufficiently recovered to
travel. when she took him home with
her. A few months later, the war be-
ing over, I followed. Ashley had
given In to the girl whom he loved and
who loved him. and they were only
waiting for me to be present at the
wedding. Miss Barnes had astonished
every one by having her own way in
the matter, having conquered her par
ents as well as her lover
The wedding was not one Of those
joyous occasions where the young peo-
pie start out In a career that heaven
seems to smile on. The witnesses felt
q t1nge Of sadness, and the groom was
inexpressibty overcome. Only the bride
seemed to be herself She told me
after the ceremony that she believed
she was happier than If her husband
had been physically perfect. The rea-
son she gave for this was that the man
she loved SO dearly was and would be
dependent upon her for his lifelong
comfort. In ministering to that com
fort she had not only an object. but
an object that filed her whole heart.
visited the Ashleys some years
later. Tom had accepted a professu r
ship to teach military branches b a
college. thus having his time pleas ant
~ occupied. Two children had come
to the couple. both Of whom .ppre-
ciated beyond their years their fs theirs
physical loss. But this physical depri-
walton was his only loss. and b ; 1t he
had gained the undivided affee ton OF
q family. He had become aceS stoned
to the situation and was happy