The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-06
AWar Blight
By RUTH GRAHAM

This story illustrates the fact that.
no matter how high one may be in the
social scale, there is no escape from
the trials and disappointments that be-
set humanity.
The estates Of the Earl of Burlington
and Sir Andrew Martindale, representa-
tives Of the old aristocracy Of England,
adjolned. The earl's only son, Oliver
Tisdale, from the time he was two
years old, was permitted to play with
Gladys Martindale, girl Of seven.
Then Oliver went to Eton and returned
a handsome manly youth Of seventeen.
Gladys was at this time fifteen.
There Is something delightful in the
love Of two persons Of opposite sex at
this tender age They drift together
unconscious Of the slowly weaving
thongs that are binding them to each
a passionate love. At least it was so
between these two. To Oliver, Gladys
was something to be reverenced, pro-
teeted, thing Of beauty both bodily
and spiritually not to be prOfaned. To
Gladys, Oliver was the embodiment of
manly strength and beauty He was
heir to an earldom, and this cast upon
him glamour, for she was merely u
younger daughter of baronet.
No word of love was spoken between
them at this period, for neither was
conscious of love Oliver went to Cam
bridge university, where he was gradu-
ated with credit, and choosing the army
for his profession entered one Of the
regiments most frequented by noble
men, When he came home as soldier
he was n man and Gladys was wo-
man.
What had been a sweet companion
ship now burst forth into passion.
The two were inseparable, and In time
their engagement was announced. 1t
was to have been expected that
Oliver being heir to an earld0m,
would have mated with one of equal
rank with himself and who would
bring him an estate to match his own
instead of uniting with portionless
daughter of a country baronet. But so
charming was his fiancee that his fam
lily made no objection to receiving her
as the future mistress of Burlington
castle Indeed, she was warmly well
coined.
The nuptials and divers coming of
age were celebrated at the same time.
If ever Il couple seemed destined to II
happy life this one certainly did. They
had rank. wealth, health, everything
that was calculated to make life en-
joyable. The yonng lord was respected
and his lady was beloved.
Nevertheless. to the eastward dark
cloud was rising that was destined to
overshadow the world. Suddenly grin
war sounded her trumpet on the cont
nent. 1t was heard across the channel
and there was hurrying to and frC
among British soldiers. Then Oliver
left his bride to whom he had been
married but n few weeks to join his
command.
The parting to her came as great
shock. In such cases the man is
buoyed up by the excitement of the
hour; 1t Is the woman who suffers
His mind Is taken up with that upon
which he is forced to think; her mind
is free to dwell upon the break and
upon gloomy forebodings.
And poor Gladys forebodings In this
case became realities While that hand
full Of British soldiers who formed the
left wing Of the united forces Of Eng
land, France and Belgium were driven
southwark upon Paris news cOntinu
ally came across the strait OF Dover OF
many an Englishman who would never
return to his home. Many an heir to q
title and estate went down like the
plainest soldier in the ranks. Among
those reported killed was the man Oh
whom Gladys happiness was depend
ent.
For some time the news was Kept
from her. since there was dread that
she would not he able to bear it. But
finally, fearing that she would hear OF
her loss through some unauthorized
channel, her friends advised that she
should be Informed Then arose the
question who should inform her and
how the announcement should be made
, Both her parents shrank from the or