The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-08
GAVIN CAME BACK
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

new to him, was taken with an iin
pulse of swift tenderness by a CIR
sitting in the chair near him. Gavir
nodded silent thanks.
The girl returned to her seat, hel
eyes lowering over the soldier with Q
soft glow of which he was quite un
conscious.
Gavin had come back from the wal
crippled, sorely unnerved and deplor'
ing the fate that had sent him back
Mt all. He desired more than anything
else to be lying out there under the
eiderdown Of blood-stained earth that
covered Stanley, Drake and Malone.
Gaven had left leg with his pals.
So remote was Gavin in sense from
his surroundings that he did not hear
the girl who had approached. She
dropped into the chair opposite.
Gavin was shy to the extent of
Ibrusqueness with women.
"Please forgive me-" she apologized.
Ia softened American accent drifted
aIong with her words. "Is there a
lchance, Just a vague hope, that you
could have known my dear, dear
brother. / see you are Of the Royal
Sussex regiment, and he" she closed
her eyes for a second-'9le fell with
them"
A quick, wonderful light leapt into
Gavin's eyes. His face was trans.
formed.
"Jimmy, Jimmy" he called softly
and with both hands outstretched Ire
grasped those of the girl. That haunt
ing likeness to his pal quite unnerved
him. He was not conscious of the
warmth Of his clasp.
He forgot his shyness with women;
forgot everything that was past and
ugly while he was in the presence of
Polly Malone. His nature, sensitized
by acute suffering, felt the soothing
charm of Jimmy Malone drifting
Through the person Of Polly.
Il was sitting here deploring the I'M
kind fate that allowed me to live" he
said frankly, "snd now, because you
have spoken to me, no longer want to
die. Strange" he added thoughtfully,
"how a few simple words with the
glance from sincere eyes can illumine
the world"
Polly Malone said nothing. She was
touched to the heart by the quick re-
Spouse in Gavin's nature.
Had you not worn your uniform
she said shyly, 81 should not have
known"
~ hate taking 1t off and getting into
imufti," he replied quickly: II seem
nearer the chaps out Herewith
khaki on"
i Polly swallowed hard. She must be
a soldier, for she was facing one.
He told her of heroic deeds, beauti-
full stories of self-sacrifice for God and |
the good of men. The terrific havoc I
of warfare was made to seem but the
glorious fight for eternal good the
for supreme civilization and
honor. The triumph and grandeur OF
words. Polly sat quietly and listened,
"And, Jimmy" he added softly,
''brave old Jimmy saved our entire
battalion that night. He went on
accommodating tour alone, and lone.
handed bombed the enemy trench. But
they got him, the fends by hoIsting
the flag of truce-and Jimmy-fell. /
took compand then, and we fought
ike devils gone mad. When the Skin
mish was over I found Jimmy and
held him in my arms while he smiled
through the pain--that brave, brave
smile Of the borderland. {
captain Gavin" Polly faltered ]
you have lighted great big
torch for me. You have brought jim !
ny back to me In a way that makes
ne ashamed Of my weakness. His
body is lost to me, but"
His soul is shining right in your
yes" Gavin said softly, "the soul of I
soldier. I think between us-little /
lister of Jimmy Malone-we are GO q
ng to patch up quite a remarkable
o
SIT IS not going to require great !
lumber of patches" Polly commented II
hyly; at is charmingly whole even v
low. And when you come to see me e
very day and ride and drive and chat u u
With me and try to make you forget =
he nerve-tearing part of war-per =
APPS you will not find any holes in our I
that need patching" II
The searching smile deepened In f
lawns eyes. Being of an expressive
AZURE, Polly gave voice to her
noUhts.
"You know" she said wistfully, ~ 4
hall always feel very, very small and \
umble beside you. You have suffered u
lentally, physically and given your I,
lood and bones and muscles in this k
reat fight for humanity, while L" a
"Don't say anything against Jimmy Il
[alone's sister" Gavin requested
nickly, "she will some day command Il
sturdy little army of her own, and fe
here will a poor. batle-scarred sol In
er be then?" He looked with dis Ii
Irbing warmth deep into Polly's eyes, CT
'Not too far away-I hope she b.
anaged to say before the onslaught fe
emotion held them both in silent
Copyright. 1917 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndicateD