Courier Democrat., 1917-12-20
GAVIN CAME BACk
BY DoRoTHM DOUGLAS.

Capt. John Gavin dropped into q
great wicker chair in the tearoom in
Oxford street. His crutch, terribly
new to him, was taken with an i'm
pulse of swift tenderness by a girl
sitting in the chair near him. Gavin
nodded silent thanks.
The girl returned to her seat, her
eyes lowering over the soldier with
soft glow of which he was quite un-
conscious.
Gavin had come back from the war
crippled, sorely unnerved and deplor-
ing the fate that had sent him back
at 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
| brusqueness with women.
"Please forgive me-" she apologixed.
A softened American accent drffted
along with her words. "Is there q
chance. just vague hope, that you
! could have known my dear, dear
brother. see you are OF the Roysl
Sussex regiment, and he" she closed
her eyes for a second-'he fell with
them"
A quick, wonderful light leapt into
Gavin's eyes. His face was trans
formed. Is T
Jimmy, Jimmy" he called softly
and with both hands outstretched he
grasped those Of the girl. That haunt
ing likeness to his pal quite unnerved
him. He was not conscious Of t1a
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, sensitixed
by acute suffering, felt the soothing
charm Of Jimmy Malone drifting
through the person of Polly.
"I was sitting here ,deploring the un-
kind fate that allowed me to live" he
said frankly, "and 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-
sponse in Gavin's nature.
"Had you not worn your uniform"
she said shyly, II should not have
known"
II hate taking it Off and getting into
mufti," he replied quickly; 81 seem
nearer the chaps out there-with
khaki on
soldier, for she was facing one.
He told her of heroic deeds, beautf-
full stories Of self-sacrifice for God and
the good Of men. The terrific havoc
4 Of warfare was made to seem but the
glorious fight for eternal good, the
struggle for supreme civilization and
honor. The triumph and grandeur Of
clarion note sounded through his
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 fiends by hosting
the flag of truce-and Jimmy-fell.
took command then, and we fought
like devils gone mad. When the skir-
mish was over found Jimmy and
! held him in my arms while he smiled
q through the pain-tf1at brave, brave
smile of the berderlaud.
+ Captain Gavin" Polly faltered
eagerly, syou have lighted a great big
torch for me. You have brought Tim
:. my back to me In way that makes
= me. ashamed Of my weakness. His
body is lost to me, but"
"His soul is shining right in your
eyes," Gavin said softly, 'the soul of
soldier. I think between us-little
sister Of Jimmy Malone-we are go
ing to patch up quite a remarkable
friendship"
! ''It is not going to. require great
! number of patches" Polly commented
shyly; SIT is charmingly whole even
now. And when You come to see ms
every day and ride and drive and chat
with me and try to make you forget
J the nerve-tearing part Of war-pef
haps you will not find any holes In QUE
4 friendship that need patching.n
The searching smile deepened In
Gavin's eyes. Being Of an expressive
nature, Polly gave voice to her
thoughts. M
''You know" she said wistfuIly. II
shall always feel very, very small and
humble beside you. You have suffered
mentally, physically and given your
blood and bones and muscles In this
great fight for humanity, while t.
! 'Don't say anything against Jimny
Malone,s sister" Gavin requested
quickly, "she win some day command
! a sturdy little army of her own, and
where will a poor, battle-scarred sol
der be then?' he looked with dis
t1lrhin y wa rnnth S7cnn 3tsSf, pollx,c Is.a.