The Meeker herald., 1917-02-17

husband True. that husband bad
been eliminated. but his elimination
did not replace the status between his
widow and Margrave where It was be-
fore her marriage.
The widow had no knowledge Of the
change that had taken place In her
former lover. Had he not given his
him he might have looked for some
flashing out Of her former feeling for
him. Possibly he seemed much cooler
toward her. But she did not appear
to be at hll panied at the change
Margrave took his cue from her and
treated her as 1t was evident she pre-
ferred to be treated.
The way she preferred to be treated
seemed to be that they should be
friends. Despite slight tinge Of jeal-
ousy. Margrave was quite content-in-
deed. relieved-at this. His second
love was not with him, and a friend
ship with his first was quite q com
fort to him. He was with the widow
so much that those who knew Of their
sad separation In times past naturally
supposed that they were undergoing
secondary courtship preparatory to a
union. Margrave was not absolutely
sure whether the widow so regarded
their intimacy or not.
Naturally she was much interested
in hearing from participant what
was going on at the front and listened
eagerly to his descriptions Of active
service. One evening when they were
together Margrave told her the story
of the man who had charged him with
message to his wife and had died
before lie could give the lady's name
and address.
What was Margrave's establishment
to hear a moan coming from his COM
panion. He turned and looked Mt her
inquiringly. Instead of meeting his
gaze she covered her face with her
hands. then without word Of expla-
nation arose and left the room.
Margrave did not call upon his friend
again till he had received a note from
her asking him to excuse her strange
conduct when he was last with her.
but Offering no explanation. She es-
pecially requested that he should not
let the matter interfere with their
friendship. Margrave called upon her.
thinking that she might account for
her emotion verbally, but she did not
refer to 1t again. His recall puzzled
him. Was her former feeling for him
returning?
A complication for Margrave arose
with the return to England Of bis new
love. who had at last been broken
down by overwork. Upon her arrival
his visits to the widow became fewer
and more constrained even than be-
fore. He felt that q confession that
his wild words Of consistency. delivered
when he had departed to the front for
the avowed purpose Of getting himself
killed. had proved nothing SO surely as
that he was a turncoat in love could
not be long delayed and 1t would COW
err him with shame and confusion. To
make matters worse. he was less sure
than ever that his first love might not
be counting on consoling herself with
him.
One morning when Margrnve was
with Miss Erskine he received a tele-
gram from the widow:
Where have you been this long times
There has been . great change with me.
and am eager to tell you of 1t. Do
come and SEQ me.
Margrave was taken fat aback.
What could the message mean but
that the widow had discovered that
oh ofiIl 1nvnH him xhnk oh
panied at his absence? He was mt the
time with his fiancee making the ar
rangements for their wedding.
What an embarrassing situation.
Margrave handed the telegram to
Erskine. told her the story Of his for
mer love. assured her that his whole
heart was now hers and asked her
what he should do In the matter. 1t
required much time to convince her
that there was not in him lingering
feeling for his former love. but when
he succeeded Miss Erskine suggested
that the proper way for him to treat
the matter was to announce his en-
gagement.
Margrave accepted the suggestion
and wrote the widow accordingly. For
reply he received an Invitation to visit
her. bringing with him his tiancee. The
was loath to go, but Margrave
declared that he would not face the
enemy single handed. and she finally
Margrave and his second love were
not received by his first alone. A
pale and very much emaciated man
arose. whom the widow introduced as
my husband. Captain Fitz-Herbert."
There was q tableau which could
not be given except by living persons.
followed by an explanation that IL
hardly necessary here. Captain Fitz-
had. been picked up on the
by the Germans. resusci-
tated and made q prisoner of war. He
had escaped and returned to England.
where he was recovering under the
rare Of his wife.