The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-02-08

her broken heart together but like
Humpty Lumpty it was useless.
Her hurt was too deep. Too recent
She felt resentment against him
Wasn't he the cause of these sleep
less nights? So when he tenderly
proposed to her she playfully dis
missed him with a toss of her head
and gay words.
"Oh, come Johnny. You are not
in love with me. It's just a way OF
men with nurses. Just a habit with
them, like sailors and such"
John spoke gravely, IF its a
habit, Mary, it will remain with me
until death"
What memories these rough I'M
kempt men brought back.
AS Mary strolled here and there
rubbing elbows with these war
veterans she was convinced they
were not beaten yet Then, as if
in dream, she heard a deep rich
voice saying,
Il am not a selfish veteran. II
the failure of our bonus bill Will
bring about the passage of the pro-
sperity bill l am willing to accept
it, for their are plenty of men, not
former soldiers, who are in need.
, Our bill does not include them"
Mary stopped. One night in
France she had heard that grave
voice say,
You are habit l will never be
able to break, Mary"
She must find the owner of that
voice. 1t made some of those mem
cries real. If he would just speak
again, she thought Men were talk
ing and singing.
1t seemed impossible to locate a
voice when fading day light had
joined forces against one Thou
sands of men. What disappoint-
ment.
She waited and listened, praying
he would speak again. Her soft
gray eyes were darling here and
there. She stumbled through the
crowd. Then some one spoke quiet
ly.
Il beg your pardon"
Mary looked up in to the face Of
John Smith. Neither of them could
speak. Just stood holding hands
and gazing into each Others eyes.
Questions rushed pell NELL to their
lips but their hearts were too full
for utterance.
He looked down at Mary like a
thirsty man on a pool of clear
fresh water. She was still the
same darling Mary. How he had
dreamed and imagined this hour.
She still carried the same power
to move him. She reigned supreme
in his heart.
Mary was too happy to speak.
Still the old dependable John, she
thought He carried the air of a
soldier even in his seedy clothes.
A true comrade. Just to see him
home soon satisfied her spirit. Her
heat was racing and she felt an in
visible bond drawing her closer to
John Smith. mething told her he
felt as she did.
His memory rushed back to the
day when Mary had held the cup
of life to his lips, telling him to
drink it all. That she wanted him
to get well. He interest seemed
persona ten.
"reminiscences came again and
sauntered with them on the White
House lawn.
Mary please tell me about
yourself. So much must have
happened in these last fourteen
! years"
Il would rather you confess
first" and she laughed gayly.
1t didn't seem strange to meet
after all these years. 1t seemed
just natural sequence. Standing
together for the first time on Am
erican soil. Two lonely jetsams
of war.
There is really nothing to tell
l am still playing tag with old man
bacteria and all his imps. | was
superintendent of nurses for sew
eral years but became dissatisfied
and went back to the old grind.
Some times l am happy and con-
tented. Sometimes lonely and
blue. No relatives. Just me-"
John caught his breath.
Not married."
"Of course not, John. How sill
ly. | am president of the old
maids club. And what about