The Meeker herald., 1917-02-17
A Transfer
In Love
Il Worked Well For All
Concerned.
., ALAN ulNsDALE.

MISREPRESENTATION fftNNkktH
Who has ever read u romnnce IN
which pair Of lovers gave e;,ch other
the mitten and the story ended hnp.
PLY? II such an homogeneous tale has
ever been written. certain 1t IL that
few authors have ever broken what
may he called the romantic laws. In
real life numberess escapes have been
made by lovers backing out from their
pledges. and much misery would have
been avoided had certain other con
pies followed their example.
The British had shelled the Ger
man works III 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
F'itz-IIerbert 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 bit. comradey asked
Margrave.
Hit to DEATH" replied the other.
Can do anything for you? I've
got some life left III me-"
"If you live. yes; II you die. no.
what is it,"
"a year before | left home I mar
Red girl who l supposed loved me.
Later ] learned that she loved anotl-
err and had married me because ! had
befriended her and her family when
they were In trouble. When the call
came for troops for this war was
largely Influenced by this discovery
to enroll. lf were killed 1t would
end a life embittered by a great dis.
appointment and she would lie 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 live happy wife with him."
singular" replied the other. 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 4 frightfui din In
his ears he lost consciousness.
The next thing Margrave knew he
was In field hospital. looking up into
pair of eyes belonging to a 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." be asked. life or
death?''
In all probability life" was the re-
ply, with an encouraging smile.
Good! And yet" be added. speak
Ing rather to himself than TO his nurse
land yet came to-
LoOAiuS ihto tue lace HUOSe nlIu, he
checked his words. new interest In
fife 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 a soldier He was not
only sorry to leave the army. but to
leave the hospital. for his departure
broke In upon a companionship that
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 well as luxurious homes to minister
to sick and wounded soldiers. When
Margrave parted with her he asked
her to return to England to assume the
position OF head Of his household. The
temptation was great. for he had late
ly come into a large estate. but Miss
Erskine preferred. SO long as she was
able. to work In the cause Of humanity.
Margrave had been home a month
when he met the lady whose decision
between him and another man had
sent him into field where he might
find relief from his disappointment. in
excitement II not In DEATH She wore
widows weeds. Her husband had
also responded to his country's call
and had not, returned. being reported
among the missing. which usually
means those who have died. but have
not been accounted for.
Now. had not Margrave found new
love In a hospital In Flanders there
might have been romantic end to
| the circumstances that sent him to the
front. Since the lady was a widow
there was no impeachment to their mar
Rage. But even II Margrave's heart
had not been transferred to another
there were evidences hesides widow.