The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-10
A Transfer
In Love
1t Worked Well For All
Concerned.
BY ALAN HINSDALE.

which a pair Of lovers gave each other
the mitten and the story ended hap
PLY? If such an homogeneous tale has
ever been written. certain 1t is that
few authors have ever broken what
may be called the romantic laws. In
made by lovers backing out from their
pledges, and much misery would have
been avoided had certain other cou
pies followed their example
The British had shelled the Ger
man works in Flanders, and now the
order was given to advance. There
was a desperate conflict, at the end
Of which the ground was strewn with
the dead.
Two British officers, Captain Arthur
Fitz-Herbert and Lieutenant Howard
Margrave, both wounded, lay side by
side. It was night, and neither could
see the other. Fitz-Herbert groaned.
"Are you badly hit. comrade?' asked
Margrave.
"Hit to DEATH" replied the other.
"Can / do anything for you? I've
got some life left in me-"
"If you live, yes; if you die. no."
"What is it?"
"A year before | left home l mar
ried a girl who | supposed loved me-
Later l learned that she loved anoth-
er and had married me because | had
befriended her and her family when
thAU to- n
came for troops for this war | was
largely Influenced by this discovery
to enroll. II were killed 1t would
end a life embittered by a great dis.
appointment and she would be free to
marry the man she loved. II you live
to get back to England tell her what
have said to you and 1t is my wish
that she 1--we happy wife with him."
Singular" replied the ether, half to
himself and half to his comrade. "The
main reason for my being here is that
the girl love married my rival"
"You will find her to whom you are
to deliver the message-her-the mes
sage-in the town.
Hes dead" said Margrave, land be-
fore he could tell me that without
which l can't serve him."
At this moment the field was again
alive with the contending armies. The
Germans countered, but were driven
back by the British. Men went stun
bling over Margrave. and German
fell across him, preventing what life
there was left in him from being
trampled out. With frightful din in
his ears he lost consciousness
The next thing Margrave knew he
was In field hospital, looking up into
a pair Of eyes belonging to woman,
regarding him with feminine sympa.
thy. She was young and comely. In.
deed, to the sufferer, used to scenes of
frightfulness, she seemed an angel
But naturally his first thought was
whether he was done for or would
live.
(which is it." he asked. life OF
death?"
"In all probability life." was the re-
ply, with an encouraging smile.
Good! And yet" he added, speak
ing rather to himself than to his nurse
land yet came to-
Looking into the face above him, be
checked his words. A new interest in
life was born in him.
When Lieutenant Margrave left the
hospital he left the army, too, for he
was no longer in that perfect health
required for soldier He was moi
only sorry to leave the army. but tC
leave the hospital, for his departure
broke in upon a companionship thai
had given him a desire to live. His
nurse was Gladys Erskine. the daugh
ter of an English country gentleman
She had volunteered among the many
noble women not only of England, but
Of America, who resigned comfortable
as we'll as luxurious homes to minister
to sick and wounded soldiers. WheI
Margrave parted with her he asked
her to return to England to assume tn,
position of head Of his household. Thu
temptation was great, for he had late
" come into large estate, but Mis-
Erskine preferred, so long as she wa
able, to work in the cause of humanity
Margrave had been home a montl
when he met the lady whose decision
between him and another man ha'
sent him into field where he Nigh
find relief from his disappointment. Il
excitement If not in death. She wor
widows weeds. Her husband ha,
also responded to his country's cal
and had not returned. being reporte'
among the missing. which usuall
means those who have died. but hav
not been accounted for.
Now, had not Margrave found ney
love in a hospital in Flanders ther
might have been a romantic end t
the circumstances that sent him to, tn
front Since the lady was wido,
there was no impeachment to their mai
riage But even if Margrave's hear
had not been transferred TO anothe
there were evidences besides widow
weeds TO indicate that she reall
mourned her husband
What a singular transition. whe
the two had parted shortly before he
marriage there was a heartrendin
eraua Tho man daolora1 that biS lff