The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-15
THAT old, SWEET SONG
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

~s'sss'ssssssses~sssos@sss~ sSsssss'sss'sss's-ssN
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
paper Syn.aicate.)
Enid smiled softly to herself while
she labored over the task of selecting
q number of songs preparatory to
journeying across the ocean. She was
going over to do her mite in the great
war crisis by singing at numerous ben.
efits and concerts and In the hospitals
for wounded soldiers and sailors.
1t was not until she had reached the
lowest shelf OF her music cabinet that
Enid found the old, old song that
Capt. Cyril Baker had given her. The
irresponsible, fascinating young scape.
grace of the British army had been
in New York just long enough to cap
ture~ a few f0olishly feminine hearts.
to borrow money from everyone who
was unwise enough to give 1t to him,
and to disappear into a future no less
vague than the past from which he
MY mother used to sing this to
me-" he had said softly. will you
too sing it to me? want to hear you
now" The effect of the dainty HON.
age on Enid came wildly back to her
as she sat three years later look
ing over the song A flush crept into
other day, and Enid wondered If she
would ever see the flattering young
ne'er-do-well again.
Enid put the beautiful little song
called RUBY" into her overburdened
folio with hope that its donor would
find that salvation held out to SO many
men in times of war. Perhaps among
the thousands of khaki-clad figures she
would see Captain Baker. She was
curiously, and without much reason, in
terested in the career Of the hand
some, irresponsible officer.
The men had been brought into the
big sun parlor OF the hospital, some
carried in on stretchers, others in
chairs and some of them could limp
in on the arms of their nurses. Enid
had never expected, in the whole Of
her musical career. to sing before so
completely wrecked an assembly Of
living men.
She was standing quietly after q
storm of applause when one of the
nurses approached the platform.
Have you, by any chance, song
called Ruby?" the nurse asked Enid.
"One of my patients is longing for 1t. /"
Enid smiled and glanced swiftly
over the mass of upturned faces.
1T is not very cheerful song," she
said. But will be glad to sing It. .
Her hurried glance had failed to find
q familiar golden head that somehow
she had expected with the request for
the song. Her accomrarist left the
platform and Enid sat down at the
piano and played the dainty. ripping
| melody.
In SO far as she could watch her
audience Enid watched for one sol.
der among them who was more than
interested in the song. She was curl
Gus to see who it was that was ia
| miliar with tho old-time favorite. Ia
the far corner a man. sol wound with
bandages as to be unacceptable, was
leaning forward.
But when she had finished the Of
ficer who had been leaning forward
had been wheeled away. Enid
searched for the nurse who had spok
en- with her, but she, too, had disap
peared.
Out In the corridor Enid was
stopped BY one Of The surgeons.
Il am going TO hold you responsible
for the sudden desire on the part Of
one OF my patients to live"
'I!" Enid laughed back at the sur
geon. What have | done?"
You have sung life back into the
whom we had all given up. He hat
come back from the battlefield wound
ed. hero who has won the Victoris
Cross. and has stepped into title ant
huge estates, but il took your song t.
make him fight for his own life. Ht
you and your song have saved hi.n
Desira Is a great factor as st, nu
liant along with our medicines. YCl
have given Dung Baker that desir,
and ! want to shake hands with you.
When enid stood beside the youn.
officer who was lying with his fac,
to the wall, she did not speak unit
the door had closed upon the sur
geon.
why did you not make yourself
Snown to me?" she asked softly, ant
Baker turned swiftly.
Il am ashamed of my past" he said
and did not offer his unbandaget
hand, but his eyes devoured the beauty
of her face and told Enid that a new
man had arisen from the experience,
of the past. The gentle flattery wa,
still there and Enid, suddenly knew
that It would always be there for her
She put her hand softly over his.
You have done much to be un
ashamed of and your future is before
you"
The blue of Bakers eyes deepened
He looked steadily into Ends sud
denly blushing face. She scarcely
realized that during three long years
her heart had chung TO the hope thai
one day she would stand face to lace
with the scapegrace captain Of the
British army and that honor and love
! would meet her glance.
Il have been an undeniable fan
ure," Baker said. with all that,
have kept you in my heart, Enid
though | have not been half worthy
The future
/ lis a path Of sunshine" En- ID