The Red Cross Girls in Belgium

pired to offer their services to the French soldiers. An autumn and a winter they spent togeth

so happy that for a little time they a

aine, where the American girls were now stationed. So they had [Pg 8]opportunity for enjoying

ng a friendship develops between the old Countess and three out of the four American girls. And here in the dignified old Louis XIV drawing r

evertheless, when the Germans finally surprise the French by an unexpected attack during the French retreat, it is Eugenia who alone rescued and cared for the wounded young officer.

m back to health. Naturally at the end of this time a change in their relations has taken place. Captain Cas

s girls again to change their field of labor. So at the close of the story of "The

rbara Meade declared. She was wearing her nurse's uniform and h

four American Red Cross gi

king out toward a brilliant sunset. Before them the land lay blea

e. On the single apple tree that had been left standing in a once comfortable orchard, a few apples

h Eugenia Peabody now shook he

tly. "I have something more important to do. Tell th

ned house. There she stood with her hands clasped before her. The place was utterly still[Pg 11] and deserted. Yet it was difficult to tell

ls. This was only a temporary arrangement, as they had not yet rec

eflectively into the soft earth, in t

started off on our expedition to Europe together, I thought I understood her c

rowned me

ornton, when we believed her as poor as a church mouse! But how could any hum

g

aughed. Since arriving in tragic little Belgium they had not been able t

iew. The next moment she turned from one to the ot

fidence sooner, weren't we?" she remarked, not so much in

ght on her face from the sunset Nona wo

o deceive us. She grew up very poor and when an old bachelor uncle left her a fortune

ith us. She really shocks Eugenia every five minutes in the day, but I suppose Gene is trying to turn the child into a Puritan. Really, she had no reason in the world for being interested in Nicolete e

origin. She would never have been allowed to come into Belgium if her nationality had been known. And Eugenia is d

hushed tones all the time

oup of German soldiers might pass by on the way to their barracks. A well-trav

r a walk before dinner and were now resting on the

s got up and stood facin

, for you see we have all grown so intimate that we are almost like sisters. I-I too have a confession to make. I tried to tell you when we were

d. Mildred's lips were parted and her breath co

g

a few facts concerning her history. She had been brought up by her father, an old southern soldier, in the

ed at her, wrinkling up her small nose in the ab

believe it. To tell you the honest truth, it would not surprise me half so much as E

the humor to be diverted

d it won't be of interest to you. Perhaps I am foolish to speak o

g

and straightforward, although

ever talk of her nor answer any of my questions. I do know, however, that she was a great deal younger than he, and I think she was French and came from New Orleans. There must have been something strange about my mother or her family; I never cou

elling of her story, and yet neither of her

g

nton murmured, "How very odd; perhaps you are mistaken, No

"I always insisted that you were one of the most aristocratic persons I ever knew, both in your appearance and manner,

ot to be turned asid

oblem of mine cannot mean a great deal to you. But it has puzzled me all my life. You see, I don't even know whether my mother is li

g

ed a hand to eac

, I mean to tell Eugenia, for it was because we were hurt by her

n as if the entire subj

ns of questions at the tips of their

girl had at last been disturbed from her reverie. Indeed, she had risen and was walking toward the road. For a noise with wh

sound accompanying it whic

he same time jumped up[Pg 19] from their seats. They

n people before them like so many sheep. There were two ol

d, Barbara slipped her

he queried, her eyes sud

s. They may have refused to obey the rules imposed by the German military command

eir possible offences, Barb

ch her so deeply. Yet in the last ten days she had been stirred in a different way. The soldiers were fighting for the[Pg 20] cause nearest their hearts and enjoyed the e

r. She had not even noticed that Eugenia had made her no answer. Now she was startle

ia deliberately plant herself in fro

rbara could only guess what Eugenia was saying. But whatever it was, the German sergeant had stopped and

rning toward them. Because in her arms she was carrying a tiny, black-eyed baby, while a small boy an

er knees to take the boy's small, cold hand in her own warm one.

ke the men and women into Brussels. They are suspected of something or other and are to be put into prison. He said

a painful situation, Eugenia dear, but what can you

house with the children tonight. I looked it over the other day. There isn't any furniture, but we must manage for the n

ted, dimly conscious that Eugenia was becoming more of a puzzle than ever. Do old maids now and then represent

ork to do, Bab. Only one of us can be spared. What poss

discovered that Eugenia and the children had already