The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-19
THAT HANDSOME MAN
BY JOHN DARLING.

tioeable even in Washington society
because of his handsome face and
splendid carriage. His manners, too,
were charming and he was much
sought after guest at social func7
TONS
From the moment that he beheld
Marian he had loved her. And he was
not long in telling her of his feeling |
Marian had been very kind but very |
sorry-she could not marry him. She |
had always said she could not be hap |
Ply with a really handsome man, and |
she had always said she hoped she |
would not fall in love with one. She |
recognized her own Weakness tend
ency to jealousy.
And it was not until John Broad
foot was called back to his own coun-
try to serve his colors that the girl
realized that, in spite of herself, she
loved him. She had hidden him hasty
good-by and there had been no time
for further explanation.
Following his departure she evaded
society; she was not happy. And when
an opportunity came to enlist herself
for service in the Red Cross ranks she
cheerfully took up the preliminary
| work in Washington. Later, when a
| girl chum decided to go on to the
scenes of battle in Europe she begged
leave of her parents to accompany her.
Therefore, it was not so strange
| that she should one day find her old
| lover, John Broadfoot, among the
wounded soldiers under her care. His
1 wounds hod hpnr cn
| had been little hope of his recovery
and she had fingered day and night
at the side of his cot so that she
might be near him when he regained
consciousness. And she had been
there only to receive the fleeing rec
ognition and then to have him sink
back again into the darkness.
Strangest of all, followed the cable
calling her to Washington She had
only time to leave a message with the
girl with whom she had come across
the ocean
That message conveyed to John
Broadfoot the hope that if he still
cared TO tell her a story she would
listen. But the wounded soldier had
not yet received the message and he
looked forward to the time when he
could rejoin his regiment and fight at
the front
I've found Miss Hamilton's friend
Mary Sprague, who says she has a
word to whisper in your ear" his
nurse said to him one morning when
he seemed brighter and stronger. Twill
| you see her?'
"WiH a thirsty man drink" he
asked her. smilingly
And almost as he said the words
Mary Sprague appeared at the side Of
his cot John Broadfoot-you know
f me now" she said, taking his thin
white hand
"Now-and always, hope" he sale
with touch of his old-time chivalry
But it's a long way-from Wash
ington, Y. S. A. isn't it?"
Broadfoot nodded against his pillow
Then he seemed to wait for the mes
sage.
marian was with me-" Mar,
Sprague began.
Yes, / remember seeing he
standing here" the patient said
"She and joined the Red Cross tc
, gether and-she was suddenly calle,
home. Her mother was ill., She
she left hasty message for you. Sh
told me to tell you that" Mar
Sprague hesitated-''tilat there wa
, some story you wanted to tell her tina
that she would be interested in
now"
e The wounded man searched the fac
0 of the nurse. Marian told you to tie
a me that?" he asked, unbelievingly
t She told me that as she left t
catch the steamer back to America
/. Mary Sprague repeated.
\ John Broadfoot was silent for a fe-
{ minutes. The other nurse had disal
I peared
: Gould you-would you let me writ
q cable message for her and-woul
you send it for me?" he asked, wit
Y; almost childish appeal in his voice
~ Mary got him pencil and pape
- Then she left him while he compose
= his message.
~ When the cable letter was finishe
ne it said to l.arian Hamilton: "Will yo
have mo now? / am no longer Il
!. handsom ) man you refused. My no.
" is flattcned and turned up like that
i Socrates: I've lost a finger. Is TIL
~ enough? The battle did it, but if
IL gives me you I'm happy"
k 1t was an extravagant message, b
n it rteant much to the wounded ma
and when he received a reply to it tn
made him happier than he had ev
s been in his life he took wonderf
u turn toward health and surprised Il
nurses and doctors who were atten
!, ing him.
81 When he left the hospital 1t w
. with the promise to Mary Sprag
that he would bring his bride back
D. help with the splendid work that S
rs had been pursuing and that he won
Id help in every capacity in which
m | would be permitted to helm.