The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-07-01
MARS AND CUPID MIX
BY HARMONY WHEELER.


chief regret was the fact that he must
leave his birds and flowers in the care
OF strangers. The young officer had
hobby for rare songsters and still more
rare flowers and had nurtured them
most devotedly In his small but lovely
domicile in the London suburb. His
concern over their welfare was deep
He felt that only one who loved birds
and flowers could understand and care
for them according to their sensitive
demands.
The advertisement he inserted in
the papers was human and appealing
and brought a quick response in the
person of Marna Vance, She having
bidden her sweetheart good.by when
his regiment had gone forth to, battle
felt that she must do something to oc.
cupy her mind and rid Il of the horror
of visualizing the scenes of the battle
ground.
Captain Blake knew the moment he
saw Marna's face light up at sight of
his birds and flowers that they would
be In perfect care during his absence.
He went off to the front with light
heart. Marina took possession of his
home and his old housekeeper re-
ioiced in the presence of a mistress.
An uncommunicative male person was
at times trying ag a master.
Weeks wore away and ON the bat
tlefleld only one of the many deeds
of valor was the going out under fire
Of Private Young of the Bucks Light
infantry to save a wounded officer who
mad fallen. Young, though shot through
the shoulder himself, carried Captain
Blake back to safety. They were both
almost across the great border, but
awakened to recover In the base. hos
pital in Paris Captain Blake, realizing
that he owed his life to Private Young,
offered him all that he had to offer for
the time, and that was n lasting friend
ship. Young also received the Victoria
Cross a short time later.
When they could be moved from the
hospital Blake insisted that Young go
with him to the suburban cottage to
recuperate.
The little English nurse who was
ministering angel to some twenty
wounded men and who had admins
tered to them during eight weeks with
out full nights rest, took charge of
them even to the moment when they
were put on the hospital ship and
transferred to England She too, was
in need of rest.
A great wave OF guilty JOY swept
over Private Young when he knew that
Blake had asked the little nurse to
continue her good work and stay with
them until the last bandage was re-
moved.
Marna stilled a cry when she caught
sight of the two once stalwart men be-
ing tenderly helped from the big
limousine in front of the cottage. She
saw quickly that other hands than
those of the little nurse were required
to get both into the house and she
went swiftly forward.
"Marna!"
"Daviel"
Those were the only words Captain
Blake and the little nurse heard, but
they told their tale. A pang shot
through the heart of the nurse, and
she turned her eyes quickly away from
the sight of Private Young and the
girl he had left behind him.
Captain Blake smothered an excla-
nation, whether of pure amazement
or newborn jealousy he did not know.
Blake, because he was on quicker
road to recovery than Young, found
himself constantly thrown into Mar
mas society.
And Young feeling more of cad
than Blake, knew himself to be in
love with the little nurse who gave
him such tender care
Things reached climax on the day
that Marna slipped from the perch
upon which she was standing in order
to feed one of the birds. Fortunately
Blake was standing close beside her,
and save for his swift movement
Marina would have had bad fall. He
caught her in his arms and Marna,
looking swiftly into his face, saw him
turn pale. Her own eyes hid them
selves with sudden shyness, and when
she erected herself and tried to thank
him her voice refused to act without a
telltale tremor in It,
She slipped quickly away, leaving
Captain Blake glowing with the knowl-
edge that Marna loved him.
The girl, with heightened color,
went straight to David Young.
'Davie." she said softly and with
smile in her eyes, I'VE do not love
each other as sweethearts, do we? /
think" she added with dainty banter,
that you are secretly pining for"
"Marna--you're a darlingl" David
said swiftly and put his good arm
about her lie was kissing her on
either blushing cheek when Captain
Blake and the nurse stood in the door
way.
CONSERVATION reigned for a moment
when David and Marna looked smil-
ingly at the two in the door
"Wo are lust breaking our engage