The Washington herald., 1915-02-11
DAILY SHORT STORY.
LEFT IN CHARGE.
By HARMONY WELLER.

| When Capt Cyril Blake was order
ed. with his regiment. TO the froRt
his chief regret was the fact that
he must leave his birds and flowers
in the care of strangers. The young
officer had a hobby for rare songsters
and still more rare flowers and had
nurtured them most devOtedly in his
small but lovely domiCile in the Lon
don 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 ana appealing
and brought a quick response in the
person of Marina Vance. She having
bade her sweetheart good-by when
his regiment had gone forth to battle
felt that she must do something to
occupy her mind and rid II of the
horror OF visualizing the scenes on
the battle ground.
Capt. Blake's advertisement asking
for some one to watch over his birds
and flowers while he went TO fight
for bis country sent a thrill of joy
over Marina. Devoted TO animals and
growing things since her earliest
childhood. she felt that her great love
for them would render her capable OF
giving them proper care. She made
application at once and went quickly
to Capt. Blake's address.
The tiny cottage from which echoed
the song of many feather choris-
ers struck a note of happiness into
too late to secure the coveted posi-
tion.
Capt. Blake know the moment he
saw Marna's face light up 1T sight
of his birds and flowers that they
would be in perfect care during his
absence.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips.
He had scarcely realized how deeply
rooted were his sentiments regard
ing his pets and his home until his
fears dropped from him and he knew
they were to be safe in Marna's
hands.
He went OFF TO the front with a
light heart. Marina took possession
of his home and his old housekeeper
rejOiced in the presence of n mistress.
An unCOmmuniCative male person
was It times trying as master
And Marina. after a week or two. found
herself at home among the birds and
flowers which she tended with loving
hands. She heard only meager news
from her sweetheart for he was in the
trenches with the Bucks Light Infantry
and continually under fire from the enc
my. She prayer nightly for his. safety
and Capt. Blake. who was with the Lon
don Scottish and in the midst of the
fight. She heard occasionally from the
latter and answered his letters. giving
him much detail regarding his home and
his birds and blossoms.
Weeks wore away and on the battle
field 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 had fallen.
Young though shot through the shoulder
himself. carried Capt. Blake back to
safety. They were both almost across the
great border. but awakened to recove,
in the base hospital in Paris. Capl.
Blake. realizing that he owed his life to
Private Young, offered him all that he
had TO offer for the time. and that was
lasting friendship. Young also received
the Victoria Cross a short time later; but
that fact was for the moment lost sigh:
of In the vital interests that swept both
Capt Blake and Private Young into a
human tide of emotions.
When they could be moved from the
hospital Blake insisted that Young go
with him to the suburban cottage to re-
cuperate. Each man knew that he couM
not return to the battle line again; in
juries such as they had sustained flung
them out of the fighting class. 1t would
take months of care to adjust the bal
ance OF life allotted to each man. Sub
urban England would give them back
their living strength In any case, and
Young was persuaded to accompany
Blake to his home.
The little English nurse who was min
istering angel to some twenty wounded
men and who had administered to them
during eight weeks without a full nights
rest. took charge OF them even TO the
when they were put on the hos
pital ship.
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
Young had never spoken of his
hancee to Blake. Capt. Blake was.
In consequence. entirely ignorant of
the fact that Marna. the girl he had |
left in charge of his pets, and Pri- |
vate Young were bethrothed lovers. |
Had he known he would not have |
his plans, for the situation |
as he saw il seemed entirely void OF
the elements of emotion. Blake hard |
ly realized that Young was drifting |
Into a love affair with the brave little |
nurse who had saved his life by her |
gentle care
When Marina received a telegram
from london telling her to expect