The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-20
RED CROSS AND KHAKI
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

London after her SIX weeks among |
the wounded in Belgium.
Lieut.. Cyril Baker, too, was glad
to see London after being in the thick
Of the fighting for two long months.
Neither Marina Wilson nor Lieut..
Baker knew that the other existed.
It was an amusing surprise then for
| the young officer to see his own and
Miss Wilson's pictures boldly printed
| In the middle section of the Mirror.
The heading connecting the two pho
tograph was Military Wedding"
Baker was half annoyed and half
amused at the mistake made in
the newspaper office. In the same
page there appeared the photograph
of Lieutenant Cameron. at home in
Kent recovering from wounds.
There was photograph also !
of Miss Jane Cartright, Red Cross !
nurse. Baker saw Immediately that |
the four pictures had been confused.
Mice face-Miss Wilson'S" was the !
officers decision after long cOntempla-
ton of the face beside his own in the
paper. Il fancy she won't mind the
mistake any more than do"
When congratulations began to pour
in on him by letter and telegraph, to-
gether with much good-natured chan,
his anger decreased while his amuse-
ment grew. The situation served as a
pain forgotten and oblivion temper
arily to the scenes of the battlefield.
The little Red Cross nurse was
completely at loss to know why tele-
grams and letters reached her congrat-
ulating her on her forthcoming mar
r rage. She had not seen the photo
t graphs in the daily paper nor had she
: heard the name of Cyril Baker
: It was not until she received the
letter from Captain Gordon of the
Queen Victoria Rifles, young officer
whom she had nursed back to health
r in Belgium, that the mystery was par
d TALLY solved.
t Cyril is fine chap Captain Cor
e don had written Il have been at
II his diggings, Dunkirk, in Nottingham.
e Kent, often. Long life and great hap
l. piness to you both
Marina realized that it had cost
d Captain Gordon much to write those
70 words. The captains love had been
n hard to refuse. She smiled, however,
n for his letter gave her the cue she
d wanted. She would write now to Lieu
ID tenant Baker and ask him to solve
le the riddle for her.
Being a delightfully."- sunny day and
Is not long trip into Kent, Marina
Il. dressed herself with unusual taste
and took the train for Nottingham
le There was no reason why she should
not go. Her life among the wound
ID ed soldiers had taught her that pru
TX derry is thing unknown to the Red
th Cross nurse.
Her trip through the meadows o.
at Kent was delightful When sht
,d reached nottingham she stepped into
ut the little lane leading from the sta
On ton and inquired her way to Tun
se kirk. II the walk was not too lOni
81 she preferred to take it, for the sum
in. mer was in full and fragrant bloom
he a tonic for ragged nerves.
Dunkirk was a rambling old hOus
al that lay in tangle of rose arbors.
he Lieutenant Baker, lying in hts In
valid's chair, glanced UP from his read
ca. ing at the sound of light foOtstep
mt approaching.
He drew a surprised and wonder
a fully exhilarating breath when he sa'
y" the slim figure making its wa
through an arbor Of roses in his dire'
he ton. For Just second his glanc
YER was puzzled.
He would have risen save tha
xer Marnas quickened step and raise
,ck hand prevented him.
ew Il will not come II you attempt
uc. stand" she admonished with daint
command Il know an invalid whe
rcd l see one" Her smile 30 radiated he
face that Baker felt slightly jealot
est of all the invalids she must haS
ere smiled upon. Her picture. ne told mir
vou self, in no way flattered her.
NV Marina seemed surprised that theI
o.. was recognition IN his eyes tor
ory her the young, bandageenclosed OF
Ger IN the chair was a conplet
mr. stranger.
Il suppose you have come down
~. talk about the wedding?" he que
toned laughingly, when she had sea
:, ed herself beside him. Then becke
- ing to a maid in the window, he O
dered tea brought into the garden
mas But, you see. am in the dark
hey haven't the slightest idea what hi
,en- prompted all my friends to make tn
an ab-this mistake"
iuy Il thank you for leaving out Il
ties word absurd" Lieutenant Blazer sal
rid and Marina blushed with charmir
me promptness. Haven't you seen this
live he asked handing her a sheet fro
ian. the daily paper.
Ina. mo-" she said softly, and continue
ing to blush when she saw her own al
,pIe the young officers photographs al
g the headline above. Il haven't locke
.on. at the papers much. this is rath'
hey amusing she faltered, at whit
ac. Baker laughed heartily.
heir I'm very glad you're not angr
,e,r Captain Gordon's letter to me mat
nm. me more than anxious to meet you
,na. he explained. These papers make
Inc lot of blunders, but this is a hapI
one for me. ] want you to meet n
mother and sisters We will all ha'
cup of tea"
nth. And that was the odd beginning
an acquaintance which in time ripen,
nm. into something far more interestin
moo Both the lieutenant and the little r,
Crocu srrroa I'D m tho 6Qhtft