The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-10-05

anu she was quite capable or manQg-
ing the domestic department.
"There you see 1t was the mothers
fault !" exclaimed Grace.
"Yes-but they're all alike, those
English mothers. They were born with
the idea that the boys must have the
best Of everything. and the girls can
take what's left. Oh It's mans
world over there In that little island
all right"
'Did you impart these views to
John?" 'enquired Grace.
"You better believe did. But when
/ touched on the mothers fault, he
fired up like at gatling gun, rallied to
the defense Of his mother, and shot off
such a brOadside ut the American pa
rent that 1 lined up in battle, and we'll
that came near being the worst quar-
rel we ever had.
Grace looked sadly sympathetic. She
could see the fine, sterling qualities in
both Helen and John. She believed
they really loved each other, and here
were these little differences Of nation
ality and training driving them apart,
and making wreck of their happiness.
They were both strong characters as
far as forming standards and standing
by them went. They We're not easily
swerved from that which they believed
right or just. 1t seemed useless to try
to counsel Helen to ignore or let pass
the biased or unpalatable ideas of John
hn 10 nf hn In
ties he possessed. And as for John,
she felt he would resent all interfer-
ence of hers. So the pair were left
to drift on to the final break. 1t came
some six months afterward. Helen
took the initiative, and John Birch
went to England ostensbly on bust
ness, but really to make the separation
cause no gossip, until they could at
least settle on the question of d.
vOrce.
After he sailed Helen heard no fur
Their news of him. A certain allow
ance was paid her every month by the
attorney, and she asked no questions.
Then came the awful news that Au-
gust day when the air was rent by shot
and shell, and peaceful land met the
horrors Of an invading host. Helen.
lonely, restless, and unhappy seized
anything that offered the opportunity
of change, and the prospect of doing
something Of account. She went into
training for nurse, and when fitted
for the position sailed for the service.
An extract from letter of hers to
her friend Grace gave some inkling of
the change going on in her mind. "HOw
this war has changed everything" she
wrote. Little barriers Of prejudice are
broken down. Every one is more toll
Grant of the other fellows views. Ev-
cry one is kinder to the stranger. Per-
haps because the common cause in
which they are working makes broth
ers Of them all. The woman too Is
coming into her own. The men have
had to realize her tremendous import
ance in this struggle. These English
women are splendid. And,I must add
the English men too. Such a quiet,
cheerful facing of the inevitable Is
thing too big for words. am going to
France tomorrow"
What followed is perhaps more
quickly told cleaned from the facts
afterwards confided to Grace Mead.
Some badly wounded men had been
brought In during the night, Helen
found when she went to her post at
the hospital in the morning. She
paused to settle more comfortably the
head of a man whose face was almost
entirely hidden with bandages. They
feared he might lose his eyesight, and
she was warned to be especially care
full to keep the dressing In place about
the eyes. The poor fellow was lying
very quietly just then under the in
fiuence Of an opiate. But after time
he began to murmur brokenly that he
wanted to write a letter. Helen told
him she was there to do It for him.
"You see," he said "she doesn't
know where I am. But want her to
know. II wish could tell her-tell
her-I know better now. Maybe we
could get on together now. I've been
MISUNDERSTANDING we might. Maybe
I'll never see her again. Maybe she'll |
never KNOW wish she could"
The voice trailed off into an indis- |
tinct murmur. Helen wanted to ask |
him who this was to 60 to, but he lay |
as one dead. Suppose he should die |
before she could find out, and this |
woman would never know! She ran |
for a stimulant to rouse him. AS she |
bent over him with the glass he moved.
His hand came out from under the bed
clothes.
Then the woman knew. She caught |
at the hand, and covered 1t with kisses.
But she feared to reveal herself to him
In his weak state, lest the excitement |
would be too much for the shattered
nerves. Some Of the nurses wondered |
a bit at her devotion to this particular
patient, but she only left him to snatch
a few minutes sleep day after day. In
hours Of dellrium he babbled the old
days when he didn't know" and called
on Helen" telling her he wanted her.
Her heart gave great throb when
one day the surgeon told her he was
on the mend. They believed too he
would not lose his sight, and were 60
Ing that day to take Off the bandages
For q trial. Just before this was to be