The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-12
By RUTH GRAHAM

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
other. 1t is spiritual rather than
q passionate love. At least it was so
between these two. To Oliver, Gladys
was something to be reverenced, pro-
tected, a 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
younger daughter Of a 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 a man and Gladys was a wo-
man.
What had been q sweet companion
ship now burst forth into a passion.
The two were 1nseparable, and in time
their engagement was announced. 1t
was to have been expected that
Oliver, being heir to an earldom,
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 country baronet- But 80
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 VEL
coined.
The nuptials and divers coming of
age were celebrated at the same time.
If ever a couple seemed destined to a
happy life this one certainly did. They
had rank, wealth, health. everything
that was calculated toemake life en-
joyablc. The young lord was respected
and bis lady was beloved.
4. Nevertheless, to the eastward dark
cloud was rising that was destined to
overshadow the world. Suddenly grim
war sounded her trumpet on the CONT
nent. It was heard across the channel,
and there was hurrying to and fro
among British soldiers. Then Oliver
left his bride to whom he had been
married but a few weeks to join his
command.
The parting to her came as q great
shock. In such cases the man Is
buoyed up by the excitement Of the
hour; it 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 a
title and estate went down like the
plainest soldier in the ranks. Among
those reported killed was the man on
whom Gladys happiness was depend
ent.
For some time the news was kept
from her, since there was dread that
she would not be 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
deal. 1t was finally committed to the
family physician.
The shock brought singular effect
When the bride heard that she was q
widow she was stunned, and at the
passing away Of the first effect she
was left with the hauucinat1on that
her husband was with her. Whether
she saw him in the flesh or in the spirit
was not understood by those about her
When she walked out she appeared to
be communing with some one walking
beside her. While sitting by herself
at home either reading or doing fancy
work she would occasionally make q
remark to one sitting beside her.
No one intruded upon her to learn
the exact nature of her hallucination
It was something too sacred to be pro
famed. One feature tended to render
those near and dear to her content
with it. 1t seemed to replace the
mourning under which she would have
suffered but for it's existence.
For this reason physicians advised
that no attempt be made to convince
her of her hallucination. for in case
she realized that her husband was deac
a worse condition was feared. AS II
was, she did not seem to be unhappy.
Such is war. It is no respecter OF
persons From time immemorial 1t mas
been the profession Of the high born
who have been leaders of the humble
Together they have been sacrificed tt
the grim monster. Will the day eVel
come when man will rise so far above
his brute nature that he will settle hi!
differences by peaceful methods?