The Washington herald., 1915-02-10
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A HANDSOME MAN.
by JOHN DARLING.
,Cor,riEht l9l5l


I Light gradually dawned upon the dark
ness of the wounded soldiers mind. With
a vague consciousness he looked about
and his eyes fell upon the last person
in the world whom he expected to sec -
| Marian Hamilton. 4 feeting smile
! crossed his lips and lit Up his eyes for a
moment and then sleep enveloped him
! once more.
! Hours afterward when he awoke again
! he looked in vain for the face of the
/ girl. He was very weak from the long
! illness since he had been carried from
the battlefield. and the constant watch
( ing of the door for n sight OF Marian
/ fretted him and retarded his recovery.
Where Is She" he asked at last of
/ one of the nurses who came to minister
to him.
"The-the nurse who stood by my bed
/ side when I first came to life-Marian
! Hamilton" 1t was a long speech for
I him and he was visibly weakened
You knew her? She was called home
; to America suddenly" the nurse told
! him.
! The soldier sighed. Then it's all over
after ALL" he whispered. "Something-
| her face perhaps. had given mo hope"
"Of course it had" replied the nurse
chcerily. You're getting better-you
have cause to hope"
The patient made n feeble gesture "Ah
i know I'm getting better. It wasn't
that hope-it--" But he could get no
further. The nurse bade him try to
sleep.
Marian Hamilton had met John Broad
foot in Washington while that Young
man had been attached to tho British
Embassy. He had been noticeable even
in Washington society because of his
handsome face and splendid carriage. His
oh bn
much sought after guest at social
functions.
From the moment that he beheld Mar
ion he had loved her. And he was not
long in telling her of his feeling. Mar
ian had been very kind but very sorry
she could not marry him. She had al
ways said she could not be happy with
really handsome man and she had al
ways said she hoped she would not fall
in love with one. She recognized her
own weakness-a tendency to jealousy.
And it was not until John Broadfoot
was called back to his own country to
serve his colors that the girl realized
that. In spite OF herself, she loved him.
She had bade him hasty good-by and
there had been no time for further eX-
PLANTATION.
Following his departure she evadcd So
ciety; she was not happy. And when an
opportunity came to enlist herself for
service in the Red Cross ranks she cheer
fully took up She preliminary work in
Washington. Later. when a girl chum
decided to go on to the scenes OF battle
in Euorpe she begged leave OF her pa
rents to accompany her.
Therefore. II was not strange that
she should one day find her old lover.
John Broadfoot, among the wounded SOL
diers under her care. His wounds had
been so severe that there had been little |
hope of his recovery, and she had lin |
gered day and night at the side OF his |
cot so that she might be near him when |
he regained consciousness. And she had |
the nurse. Marian told you to tell me |
that?" he asked, unbelievingly.
"She told me that as she left to |
catch the steamer back to America"
Mary Sprague repeated.
John Broadfoot was silent for a few |
minutes. The other nurse had disap- |
peared
Could you-would you let me write a !
cable message for her and-wouId YOU /
send 1t for me?" he asked, with almost |
childish appeal in his voice.
Mary got him pencil and paper. Then |
she left him while he composed his /
message.
When the cable letter was finished,
1t said to Marian Hamilton: ''will you
have me now? / am no longer the hand
some man you refused. My nose is fat
tened and turned up like that of Soc
rates; I've lost a finger. Is that enough?
The battle did ii, but n II gives me
you I'm happy.
II was an extrayagant message, but Il
meant much to the wounded man. and
when he received a reply to IL that made
him happier than he had ever been in
his life, he took a wonderful turn to-
ward health and surprised the nurses
and doctors who were attending him
When he left the hospital II was with
the promise to Mary Spragus that he