The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-06
A Bit of
Seaweed
A Story Of the War
For Cuba.
By ETHEL HOLMES

especially pretty, she had a way with
her that first attracted peoples atten-
ton, then won them. Some said she
was very deep, others that she was
simple child Of nature. She was GER
tainly reckless. She would flirt with
several men at time without needing
the consequences and when cOrncred
would, If possible, dodge them all by
fight, leaving them to settle the mat
ter among themselves.
And so it was that some blamed
her. others defended her, but all were
amused by her. 1t was very interest
ing to see MILDLY come upon the
edge of the vortex. get drawn in, DROP
out, giving place perhaps to fellow
MILDLY, perhaps to an officer. Whether
the girl realized the wrong she was Of
ten doing, whether she was uncon-
scious of it or whether she had no ap-
probation of the tenderness of mems
hearts, certain 1t is that she never seem
ed either ashamed of her conquests or
proud of them. Indeed, she gave every
evidence that she regretted them.
A fine field for such girls is either the
West Point or Annapolis academy,
where young men are trained for the
army or navy. Kate LangdOn the year
Of the breaking out Of the Spanish
American war visited the Naval acad-
emy as the guest of her aunt, Mrs.
Lyall, the wife Of one of the professors
She hadn't been there a week before
she had half dozen middies "by the
ears"
In the class to be graduated the fol-
lowing spring were two young men,
Hector Peckham and Leslie Holt Both
met Kate Langdon, and both fell vio-
lently in love with her. In the govern
ment academies the standard of hon
or is very high. Neither Of the cadets
would take the slightest advantage of
the other, but neither could find out
which was really the favored one. Nor
were they ever sure but that one Of
several other middies might not after
all carry of the prize.
Peckham finally won. Kate gave
him her heart and, to the surprise of
every one, gave him the whole of it.
There were a number Of disappoint-
ments in consequence of this victory,
the most serious of which was Leslie
Holt Kate had given him a great deal
Of encouragement and for some time
after she came to a decision hadn't
the heart to break with him. When 1t
finally came out that Peckham had
won, Holt went to see her to ask II
the news were true. She confessed,
and he told her that she had wrecked
his life.
Young men have said this before to
young women, to marry some other
and live happily. Some have remained
single, cherishing their idol in their
hearts, to meet that idol when past
middle age and find 1t demolished
Holt SO long as he lived-he did not
live long-never recovered from his in.
fatuation. The words he used at his
last meeting with Kate Langdon made
the first change in her BY them her
light, gladstone nature received its frs,
SOLDERING.
Meanwhile the Cuban war was com
ing on, and ships and munitions were
being hurriedly put in condition fol
war. And the middies, too. were being
hurried on in their academic course
to be graduated as soon as hostilities
commenced.
The following spring Peckham ant
Holt were graduated and assigned tt
a war vessel sailing for Cuba. Peck
ham and Kate were married before h,
sailed. The wedding was notable from
the number of disappointed young mer
In attendance. But every man of then
swore by the bride and considered tn,
groom the luckiest man that had eve
wooed woman.
Kate, having joined the navy matrl
monially, felt at home at naval sta
ton. and her aunt. who adored her, In
vited her TO remain with her indefinite
ly. So Kate stayed where she woul,
be in touch with her husband far NOR,
than at home That was an excitin:
summer First came news of the figh
In Manila bay. then the entrance o
the Spanish Admiral Cervera's flee
into Cuban waters, its attempt to es
cape and its destruction.
Peckham and Holt went through thi
last fight, and when 1t was over tn
latter officer was ordered to the com
mand of small supply boat and di
rected to sail for the Brooklyn nav.
yard.
"Can do anything for you at home ?
he asked of Peckham.
Nothing, unless you viii take LEI
ter for my WIFE, You will mail Ii a
soon as you get to Brooklyn"
with pleasure" replied Holt.
Peckham wrote a short note to hi
wife and gave it to Holt.
THE trap I'm to command is nc
very seaworthy," said the latter. II
meet a big blow I may not &c
through. But l promise you, Hector
that your wife shall have the letter"
Peckham hoped that his frien