South Bend news-times., 1917-10-22
The Element of Surprise
BY \. MARIA CRAWFORD.

4 had suffered her first great disil-
lusionment. and the knowledge hurt
with a keen pain sne had never felt
before in all her happy, sheltered
/ life. She had believed, with simple
| childish faith, in everybody, and now
the bottom had dropped out of her
world
Doctor Mcmillan laid his broad
hand on her shoulder. Somebody
has told yOu-about Don! am
sorry. / gave express orders"
"Don't-don't blame anybody but
he" came a muffed voice Il heard
what the inferno told you, and sent
my nurse To find out all about il. I
thought that l might write a little
tale about a rich young fellow and
a silly chorus girl, and l wanted the
news for copy. OF course I didn't
| didn't know the man was Don"
/ jeanette sat up and blinked her eyes.
| please don't think I am crying
about Don" she defended. II am
| just crying because l have been
fooled about people-about life
about everything My mind is teem-
ing with beautiful dreams and ideals.
and out of such materials 7 have
expected 10 write stories, real stories
that could happen Why. when you
strip life of the glamour that young
girls know il, il is just sOrdid and
commonplace. Goodness appears to
| he merely negative when one learns
the truth about people"
Reality had struck its first blow at
her young idealism Outside in the
clean. bare corridors came the soft
sound Of rubber soles as the nurses
padded around, making their pa
tients comfortab bic for the night. The
high, sanitary cart carrying empty
, supper trays back 10 the kitchen.
went creaking by.
Doctor Mcmillan. standing by the
Wheel cnair. looked down at the red
! brown hair of his little patient. There
was an infinite tenderness in his wide
blue eyes. If he could only shield her
from other hurts that must newt
ably come 10 her, He laid his hand
on her soft hair and she reached up
and caught it with both her slender
ones.
"I still believe in you" she said
unsteadily II want you TO know
that 7 still believe in YOU"
For a long time he stood there,
locking through the window at the
nvriad bright stars that twinkled in
the summer sky. A mans reach
should exceed his grasp. he thought.
He was no better than other men.
brit her faith in him could make him
what she willed him 10 be.
fTe sat down on a chair beside her.
his face on a level with hers. "If
were not so old" he told her quietly.
So quietly that she had 10 lean for
ward 10 hear him. II would ask you
10 marry me because I love you.
With your beautiful ideals you have
brought back my youth, my faith in
fairies and in dreams come true.
When YOU get over this first bitter
grief OF disillusionmenJ, YOU will
realize that life itself from It's Won
da-ful inception 20 its close is a
beautiful experience. So keep right
on writing about ideals and dreams,
You will take happiness into other
lives as YOU have brought il into
nine"
Jeanette dropped toward him until
ner head rested on his shoulder. II
love YOU" she said. You must have
broken my heart that day when YOU
set the bones in my foot" Then she
straightened up suddenly and eagerly
reached for her tablet and pencil on
the table Turn on the big light.
| she commanded. Il can put the ele-
meut of surprise into my love story
now"