Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-06-18
GAVIN CAME BACK
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

sitting In the chair near him. Gavin
nodded silent thanks.
The girl returned to her seat, her
eyes lowering over the soldier with a
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
covereu 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 apologized.
A softened American accent drlfted
along with her words. as there
chance, just 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 second-"he 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 he
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.
81 was sitting here deploring the I'M
kind fate that allowed me to live" he
said frankly, land 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"
81 hate taking 1t off and getting into
mufti," he replied quickly; 81 seem
+ nearer the chaps out herewith
, khaki on"
Polly swallowed hard. She must be
soldier, for she was facing one.
He told her Of heroic deeds, beauti-
full stories Of self-sacriflce for God and
the good of men. The terrific havoc
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
e "And, Jimmy" he added softly,
! "brave old Jimmy saved our entire
battalion that night. He went on a
accommodating tour alone, and lone
handed bombed the enemy trench. But
they got him, the fiends by hoisting
the flag Of truce-and Jimmy-fell.
9 took command then, and we fought
e like devils gone mad. When the Skin
3 mish was over found Jimmy and
= held him in my arms while he smiled
e through the pain-that brave, brave
smile of the borderland.
: Captain Gavin" Polly falteret
! eagerly, "you have lighted a great bis
: torch for me. You have brought Jim
: my back to me in a way that makes
r me ashamed of my weakness. Hi:
|. body is lost to me, but"
:. His soul is shining right in you
eyes," Gavin said softly, "the soul o.
soldier. I think between us-itttl'
sister of Jimmy Malone-we are go
ing to patch up quite a remarkable
J friendship"
at is not going to require grea
number of patches" Polly commented
shyly; at is charmingly whole ever
now. And when you come to see ms
every day and ride and drive and cha
with me and I try to make you forge
the nerve-tearing part of war-per
haps you will not find any holes in ou
friendship that peed patching"
The searching smile deepened II
Gavin's eyes. Being of an expressive
nature, Polly gave voice to he
| thoughts.
"You know" she said wistfully, SC
| shall always feel very, very small ant
humble beside you. You have suffered
| mentally. physically and given you
blood and bones and muscles in thi
great fight for humanity, while I"
"Don't say anything against Jimm,
Malone's sister," Gavin requested
quickly, "she will some day command
] sturdy little army of her own, ant
\ where will a poor battle-scarred sol
| der be then?" He looked with dis
turbing warmth deep into Polly's eyes
mot too far away-I hope" sh
managed to say before the onslaught
Of emotion held them both in silen
understanding.
(Copurf0h+ 1Q17 IN, he hoC1,,ra Naucno