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The Ypres Times.
Besides, had she not forgotten him Yet Philipp could not forgetand in the meantime,
his work suffered. No longer could he command the touch that he had used so master
fully at Hautzeele, with his greatest model. He became depressed, even ill. So, as
Christmas approached, he sold his little studio in Paris and returned to England. There
was nothing in prospectthere was no interest in life.
III.
The thread of this story Philipp told Vernon La Sage in a first-class compartment of the
London and Dover boat train. He could not tell him allnor could he tell him the other
side of it. Which was perhaps a pity.
La Sage looked out of the window at the murky lights that foretold the end of the
journeyand at the same time, reflected on his own experiences. There, opposite him,
was a young man spoiling his life over a girl. Yet there had been times in his own life
one time. And then, as if in anticipation, he smiled complacently.
An old story, young fellow," he said, at last. When you get to my years, you will
have realised it. There are three things you must learn. One is that all women are wholly
unreliable the second is, that the one you love, never loves you if she does, then there's
no need to worry at all. The third is that the world is full of women. There are plenty
of them, all sorts. No need to trouble over just one. I know personally hundreds and
hundreds. You must cheer up. I am a fatalist, as far as any religion goes, and I tell
you that everything is ordered in this life it doesn't matter what we men think or do.
You can't beat Fate."
Philipp noddedbut there was a suspicion of cynicism in his faint smile. The next
moment the train entered the station, and the two men collected their luggage.
From beneath an arc light ran a young woman straight into the arms of La Sage.
He turned to Philipp.
My wife," he said proudly.
Yet Philipp did not seem to hear those two words, but only saw standing in front of
him, Cecile, who might have been his wife.
In a corner of a Belgian field is a plot of land that is forever England.'
Across country-side that was once familiar, but is now so terribly changed, comes a
young woman. She stands by a grave.
It is Cecile, who once held the love of two men.
If the grave is that of La Sage, would one be justified in calling this story a
Romance? Or a Tragedy?
But it is neither of these it is a Life story. In that grave rests all that is
mortal of two very gallant Englishmen only Cecile is left.
AWARDS OF TERRITORIAL WAR MEDALS
It is officially stated that approximately 20,000
Territorial War Medals have been issued.
The medal is of bronze, with the effigy of the
King on the obverse, and on the reverse the in
scription "Territorial War Medal." For Volun
tary Service Overseas, 1914-1919." The medal is
awarded to members of the Territorial Force and
Territorial Force Nursing Service who were serv
ing with the Force on 4th August, 1914, or who
had completed not less than four years' service
with the Force before 4th August, and rejoined the
Force on or before 30th September, 1914; provided
they undertook on or before this latter date to
serve outside the United Kingdom, actually so
served during the war, and did not qualify for the
1914 Star or 1915 Star.
The Ypres League will live as
long as we WISH it to live,
as long as our Members WISH to
remember the glorious lesson of the
Salient.
You, no doubt, are a busy person;
yet will you not, during 1923, see
that you are instrumental in
obtaining at least ONE new
Member?
