The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-16
RED CROSS and KHAKI
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

the wounded in Belgium. |
Lieut.. Cyril Dlaler. too. was gla1
to see London after being in the thlch ,
of the fighting for two long months
Neither Marina Wilson nor Lieut.. |
Blaker knew that the other existed.
It was an amusing surprise then iol
the young officer to see his own ana
Miss Wilson's pictures boldly printed
in the middle section OF the Mirror.
The heading connecting the two pho
toeraph was Military Wedding.
Baker was half annoyed and half
amused at the mistake made IN
the newspaper ONCE. 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
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
rage. She had not seen the photo
graphs in the daily paper nor had she
heard the name of Cyril Baker.
1t was not until she received the
letter from Captain Gordon OF the
Queen Victoria Rifles, young officer
whom she had nursed back to health
in Belgium, that the mystery was par
TALLY solved.
Cyril is fine chap Captain Cor
don had written. Il have been at
his diggings, Dunkirk, in Nottingham.
Kent, often. Long life and great hap
plneSS TO you Dotn.
Marina realized that it had cost
Captain Gordon much to write those
words. The captains love had been
hard to refuse She smiled, however.
for his letter gave her the cue she
wanted. She would write now to Lieu
tenant Baker and ask him to solve
the riddle for her.
Being delightfully."- sunny day and
rot long trip into Kent, Marina
dressed herself with unusual taste
and took the train for Nottingham
There was no reason why she should
not go. Her life among the wound
ed soldiers had taught her that pru
derry Is a thing unknown to the Red
Cross nurse.
Her trip through the meadows Of
Kent was delightful. When she
reached Nottingham she stepped into
the little lane leading from the sta
ton and inquired her way to run
kirk. II the walk was not too Ions
she preferred to take it, for the sum
mer was in full and fragrant bloom
tonic for ragged nerves.
Dunkirk was a rambling old house
that lay in a tangle Of rose arbors.
Lieutenant Baker. lying in hts in
valid's chair, glanced up from his read
ing at the sound of light footsteps
approaching.
He drew a surprised and wonder
fully exhilarating breath when he saw
the slim figure making its wa!
through an arbor of roses in his dlrec
ton. For Just second his glance
was puzzled.
He would have risen save thai
Marna's quickened step and raised
hand prevented him.
Il will not come if you attempt Il
stand" she admonished with dainty
command. Il know an invalid wher
l see one" Her smile so radiated hel
face that Baker felt slightly Jealous
Of all the invalids she must hav,
r smiled upon. Her picture, he told MIN
self. in no way fiattered her.
Marina seemed surprised that Their,
was recognition in his eyes for I,
her the young, bandage-enclosed on
Ger In the chair was conplet,
= stranger.
Il suppose you have come down {,
S talk about the wedding?' he ques
I toned laughingly, when she had seat
i ed herself beside him. Then beckon
. ing to maid in the window, he OF
dered tea brought into the garden
;. But, you see, l am in the dark.
haven't the slightest idea what ha
a prompted all my friends to make thi
0 ab-this mistake
e Il thank you for leaving out tn
/. word absurd" Lieutenant Baker said
I and Marina blushed with charmin,
n promptness. Haven't you seen this?
g he asked, handing her a sheet from
I the daily paper
Y MOI she said softly, and continue,
n to blush when she saw her own ant
e the young officers photographs ant
# the headline above. Il haven't locke,
o at the papers much. this is rattle
r amusing she faltered, at whicl
Baker laughed heartily.
= I'm very glad you're not angry
; Captain Gordon's letter to me mad,
d me more than anxious to meet you.
u he explained. These papers make ,
lot of blunders, but this is a ham,
one for me. want you to meet m,
mother and sisters. We will all hav,
cup of tea
And that was the odd beginning O
an acquaintance which in time ripenet
u int0 Sonethipg TO- 800,