WAR HOSPITAL COMEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 1

WAR HOSPITAL COMEDY.

Wounded heroes form many attachments in English country towns. Some men glido happily into one affair and let. it ripen, but there are others who drift along the pleasant path to convalescence making a fresh conquest every afternoon. The tragic story of a bombardier illustrates the danger of falling in love more than twice- at tlio same time (says the "Daily Mail"). The fire was glowing red in the recreation room of a hospital, and the men turned lightly to romance. Regarding the achievements' of his colleague as mediocre, single-string affairs, the boastful bombardier described no less than live simple maids who carried his photograph round to business. The other men appeared to be greatly impressed. They asked the names and' addresses of the lucky girls, and the bombardier- gave them with intense fervour. Late at night the other men issued five postcards inviting the maids to tea, and signed "Joe," the name of the bombardier. On New Year's Day the bombardier, sitting by the fireside, was pleasantly surprised to receive a visit. "Joe," said' the girl, " how sweet of you to ask me!" Secretly amazed, the bombardier coaxed her to the fire and winked a triumphant message to the other men, who stood about apparently glum with envy. But a horrible thing happened. Another maid, bringing gifts and tenderness;* suddenly appeared. Two hearts the bombardier was fully competent to hold. Conversation became Jerky when a third! girl arrived, and when the fourth skipped in, and. blinding his eyes with her hands, asked him to guess who it- was, the boastful bombardier crawled away to "order tea." He fled to the gardon in a somewhat feverish condition. On the step he stumbled upon the fifth attachment. " Dear old Joe/' she said, "where shall we sit?" "Let's go to the pictures," he answered quickly. It was getting too hot in that war. The sequel is still maturing. When his turn comes the bombardier will not shrink from returning to the front. ■ |