George Vanbrugh’s Mistake V1 (1880)

The focus of this real-to-life love story is the eternal love of Lila Taylor and Alex Baxter. Settings include the picturesque Towson, Maryland, a pleasant suburb north of Baltimore, Ocean City, Maryland, a resort on the Atlantic Ocean, and the Deep Creek area of Western Maryland. In this tender story of eternal love, they meet, fall irreconcilably in love, marry, and enjoy a storybook happiness with each other. Seemingly, they were specifically meant to find each other in life; although, their happiness and great love suffers misfortune after misfortune as they travel through their lives together. Lila’s Aunt Ida, a feisty, opinionated, but lovable aged spinster, assumes the role of foster mother to rear Lila and her sister Marie to womanhood when Lila’s natural mother dies of a serious health problem, the dreaded silent killer of women. Because of her stubborn streak, she refuses to follow a cardiologists orders, and this proves to be a mistake. Lila, who dearly loves her, becomes morose until Alex, who is motivated by his massive love for her, pulls her out of despair with patience and gentleness. Throughout the story, elements of humor, sadness, love, wisdom and sorrow are intertwined with deeply embedded Maryland customs. It is written in a manner that will appeal to readers young, old, male and female.