THE COUNTERBALANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE COUNTERBALANCE.

BY PAUL TRENT.

CHAPTER XXXIII.'— (Continued.) It was a quarter of an hour later that Ruth started the work that she will remember to the day of her death. A train could be heard in the distance, and seizing her packets she hastened with the others to meet it. " Miss Wynne, you take the first portion," the chief called to her. An R.A.M.C. orderly stood at the door, looking at her. " May I come lip ?" she asked eagerly. He glanced at the cigarettes, and smiled — a. splendid lot of men are the orderlies of the hospital trii-is. * You'll be very welcome, miss," he answered, and helped her up. "May I go through?" she asked, and her voice was not quite steady. She passed along, and drew in a deep breath. On each side of her were tiers o\ stretchers, each with its wounded, straight from the trenches. "Anyone like cigarettes?" Many eyes look»d at her. * " I could do with a fag, misc." said one man, and stretched out a hand. But Ruth was remembering the necessity for haste, so she began to distribute cigarettes and postcards just as quickly as possible. The postcards were even in more demand than the cigarette*. But there were very few pencils, and she made a nolo of it. It was a very hot day. and soon beads of trspiration formed on hwr forehead. But all the time she was wondering at trie fortitude of these poor wounded lads. J?miles greeted her whenever a smile was possible. She talked to them as lightly ai possible, although her heart was heavy. The next was an officers' ward, where '.bo postcards were in great demand. Also matches, of which it seemed there y;as a shortage at the front. To her relief, in the next carriage were liking cases, consisting of the slightly wounded. Here she received an ovation, and her heart thrilled. Yet she was ashamed that these men should thank «hcr {or these paltry gift*. "Good old Y.M.C.A.,** shouted one man as he noticed her brassard. " What the biases we should do without you I don't Vnow !" In the next carriage were cot cases, and bur heart sank that so much suffering slxxild be possible. Many of theib were so young, and therr -wounds so terrible, a..d yet they all struggled valiantly to >* cheerful. When she reached the end she looked back. Already many cigarettes were alight, and there was talk where therm had been sileace. No wonder they were cheered. The sight of Ruth with her beauty was the first sight of an English worrtfen for months. It served to show them that they were on the way to Blighty. The strain on her nerves had been very great, and it wjis with a sigh of relief she met the clergym<vi in the middle of the train. " We had better get out of this, and 50 "long to the station. Collect, as many of the cards as have been written. But don't get in the way," he added warnin gly. "Aren't they wonderful! Not a word of complaint.," she said. And as each day passed that impression was never removed intensified. Along to tie platform with the clergy-m.->,n, where many stretcher-bearers were waiting. The front part of the train cars© slowly alone and stopped. In an instant, the wide doors T?ere thrown rT>en. Walking cases streamed out to have their tickets stamped /or Blighty, and then to go on board the hospi*al ship. Soon thsre were long rows of stretchers on the platform. It takes time to move the badly wounded to the ship, and delay cannot be e-reided. Roth approached a stretcher, and bant down. j " Can I write a message home for* I yon ? " she aiiked, for she had noticed the bandages on hi:s right arm. " Yesplease/' was the grateful answer. It was to his wife. He wished to say that he was going on very well indeed, and she was not to worry. And ye£ he looked ghastly. " Going on very well," she thought, but she wrote as he wished. " Shall I put in a few kisses? " she whispered. " Yes, please. I didn't like ito ask yon. J generally do put some crosses, and one for the baby I've never seen. Well, he'll never see my right hand. That's gone," he wound up with a sigh. She passed along from stretcher to stretcher, always stopping to say a word, and where required to write a card. Again their thanks brought a lump to h.-r throat. And she sait down by a boy who was covered with bandages. " How do you do, Miss. Have you left the valley ? " A week ago he had been at her counter, buying cigarettes and now he was here. " Would you like to see a souvenir, miss ? " With the one hand that was not disabled, ho fumbled at the bag which the woune'ed are given. She opened it, and he took out a piece cf shell. , " They took that out of my side," he said proudly. " Can I write fo» you. Your mother ? " " I've got no one at all. Not ;ven a best girl," he answered cheerfully. " But I've got a pal up the line. Write and teil him I'm going on fine." And the card was written. A litrt.lt* further on the recognised a »'■ %e- ---" Have the Blankshires been in ac lion ? " she anked. ' I should think we have. And we {.■ .1 it in the neck." Captain Blair?" she asked in a whisper. " He was all right when I copped my bit of shrapnel. He > s a fine officer—Cap tain Blair. A friend of yours, miss? " " Yes, and Captain Statham ? " ''' He was going strong when I saw him last. I was in the same platoon with h->t of 'em, before they were made officers." She v/,is tempted to stay and talk to him. but there were many others waiting. And as she worked, her pride in the men increased. No words C'lld describe their wonderful courage. .fust as the la.slt stretcher was being ■taken on board, another train appeared it the end of the quay, and they all hasympd back to the stall to obtain fresh Supplies of cigarettes and postcards. It ■was impossible to feel weary and tired while doing such work. With ex r.eriencp, she fill more sure of herself, and better able to talk to the men. Now and again she attempted a joke, which met with appreciation. This was no time for long faces, however sad her heart might be. As she entered the officers' ward of the tram, it occurred to her for the first tirnn that she might meet Geoffrey — King on a stretcher and sorely wounded. Bit she drove away .'he thought, and ('i tinned her w-rk with renewed energy. At 1.-st they were summoned back to the stall. Their relief had arrived, and then for the first t me Ruth realised that ► ho i'.'i.i very tired Every bone .seemed t" ache, and she sank back into the car with a sigh of relief. " We are very fortunate." the clergy run said Quietly. " I feel like crying," Ruth answered v.ith an effort. '■ Would you give up this work?" " No no," she cried vehemently. " But 1 feel years older. I wonder if 1 thill ever forget ? " " I shall always want to remember. "I .ere. are *orno things one should never forget. 1 hear we thall be busier to foil o W. " '" Busier? " she cried. " Yea, one can only win victories at. ft pri-.e—- I feel proud to be an English man," Although a clergyman, he had joined an U.T.CLa only it,o be turned away as

CHAPTER XXXIV. It was a few weeks later, and the rush of wounded from ithe Somme had ceased, but there was still a steady stream that kept them busy at the small hut, which had replaced the coffee stall. When there was no hospital train in, there was plenty to do, for many Red Cross ambulance drivers and men of the R.A.M.C. were only too glad to take advantage of the comforts offered to them. Dinner hour was particularly busv, for a labour battalion of the Army Service Corps was working near by, and they thronged around, forming a long queue. Then, too, there were the R.A.M.C. and ithe crews of the hospital ships, who became regular visitors. The staff prided themselves on the excellence of their tea. Moreover, fresh fruit was brought down every day by car. " Ruth preferred to work from four o'clock .in the afternoon till midnight— each week their hours were changed —and at night the quay looked strangely beautiful with the lights of the hospital ships. One night they were quite idle, and she was sitting behind the counter, glancing at that wonderful paper Blighty, a copy of which was given to every wounded man. Suddenly an officer stopped, and she looked up. " May I have some cigarettes? Good heavens! Aren't you Miss Wynne?" he demanded. Dr. Granton ! I'm so glad to see you. Come round, and I will make you a cup of tea. What are you doing here?" " They've transferred me to this hospital. A trifle too old for the front." They talked over old days, and the doctor, or captain as he should be called, asked news of Geoffrey. " I was amazed when I heard he had given all his father's wealth to the Government. I often wonder if that letter had anything to do with it."' Just then the chief and the clergyman strolled up. " Will you come for a walk along the jetty? It's a lovely night," Granton suggested. Ruth introduced him to the others, and then asked if she could be spared. " A breath of fresh air will do you a heap of good," was the cheerv answer. "What did you mean?" Ruth demanded peremptorily, when they had gone a few yards. '• Before he died, Sir James regretted having written that letter. If he had lived another few seconds ho would have held it back." " Please tell me exactly what happened," she cried eagerly. As clearly a* possible he toJd her everything, but she interrupted him. " Did Geoffrey know all this? Tell me at once." " Yes." "Oh! why didn't he tell me? It would hare made all the difference," she said piteously. Granton was frankly curious, but asked no questions, and Ruth did not explain. During the walk she was very silent, and it was not until they were at the mouth of the harbour that she spoke again. You must see Geoffrey as soon as possible, and convince him of what you have told me. Would you mind writing it out for me?"' " With pleasure. I have often wondered why you two separated." "And I wonder' she said in a low voice. Again she became silent an 4 her thoughts were very bitter. Now she could make every excuse for the man she loved, and his sin had become trivial. She could look into his eyes and tell him that she trusted him implicitly. And he was on the Sorame, engaged in one of the bloodiest fights in the world's history. As they approached the hospital, Granton uttered an exclamation. "The train's in sooner than it was expected. I wonder if there are many cases for the hospital." "I must hurry back," declared Ruth. " It won't, make any difference to you,, These are Boches," explained Granton. It was not the first trainload of wounded Germans that Ruth had seen. At first she felt very Sorry for them, and wished to help them, but the stories she had heard had banished all sympathy. Moreover, it was hardly fitting that cigarettes, which had been bought for our men by the subscriptions of the people at home should be used for giving comforts to the enemy. But she felt proud of our chivalsy, when she noticed that the latest hospital train had been used to bring them down from the front. They received exactly the same treatment as our men. She passed along the platform, and went on to the hut", and her thought« were again of Geoffrey. There were a few regular visitors at the counter, but there was not much to do, so she sat do*n. A little later a couple of padres and \>ne of the surgeons came from the hospital and accepted the invitation to have a cup of tea. It was the one little relaxation of the day and thoroughly enjoyable. The chaplains were CnUrch of England and Wesieyan. Ruth's clergy-man-companion in the stall was a Presbyterian, and they held good humoured discussions. One "good thing can be placed to the credit of this war, and that is the breaking down to a great degree of the barriers which separate the different denominations. As they were talking, a tall, elderly lady with white hair came up to the counter. Her face was very pale and there were dark circles round her eyes. " May I have some tea?' she asked, and placed a teapot on the counter. " Won't you come in and sit down?" invited Ruth. " No, thank you. I must get back at once." , For nearly a week she had lived in a tent on the quay facing the sea, watching her son mak'ng a valiant struggle for life. "How is he to-night?" Ruth whispered. ' His temperature is up." She spoke steadily, only her eves told of her suffering. Ruth made the tea, and came out with it, walking back with the mother. It wa3 the most heartrending of her duties to try to comfort the relatives of the wounded, who had been summoned to the hospital. It was so difficult to say anything at all, and in most cases a sympathetic silence was the best. A few weeks ago there had been mother and daughter over. The old lady never lost courage even when hope was" almost abandoned. But the boy won through. And Ruth will alwavs remember the joy ot her face when she knew that her son was not to be taken from her. | It chanced that the staff then had only ; one teaspoon f .r four cups, and Ruth had joked about r A week after their departure for hoi, . .a little package arrived, and in it v\ • — tour teaspoons, not new, J but evidently a family possession and ■ with them was a simple letter, breathing ■ gratitude, But they were all .so grateful, no matter how small the services. One evening when a train came in, one of the first faces Ruth saw in the. officers' ward was Gerald's, who was lying down. He greeted her with a grin. " It's all right. Only a ' Blighty.' but it'll keep me at home for a couple of months. A bullet through mv leg. and one of the bone? is splintered!' Matches! Hurrah. Give me a couple of boxes." "Poor Jerry I Are von sure it's not dangerous ?'' ' "I may walk a little stiffly, that's all. I'll take a card, too, and drop a line to Ethel." " I'll wire and tell her I've seen you." " Good girl." " And Geoffrey ?" " He's simply splendid !• Doing good ' work. He hears a charmed life, but I wish he wouldn't bike so m.inv risk'-. Have yon heard about the kid? I'm lookI ing forward to a sight of him." " I must hurry along. T'll see, von later." Ruth said hurriedly, and hastened I to satisfy the demand for matches. But all tb« time she was thinking of what. Gerald had said about Geoffrey. " I wish l.e wouldn't take so' many risks." she repeated to herself. Winn the stretchers were on the plat form. Gerald was taken at once on hoard the hospital ship, but she succeeded in seeing him there a little later on. Like most of the other?, hp was in the highest spirits, and his f>nlv anxiety seemed to be a= to when the ship would sail. Perhaps T shall see mi to morrow afternoon," she remarked mischievously. " T hope to heaven you won't '." he an swered fiercely. However, when she arrived on the quay the following day, the ship had gone,. Donbtles* he was now with Ethel, and she conld imagine their meeting. (To be continued on Saturday next,)