The Red Cross Girls in Belgium

ia started out alone on her unexplained errand. She left her recen

ndeed, the three American girls had sometimes wondered over her unfriendliness toward them a

Then, after she felt sure the other three Red Cross girls had departed on the road toward Brussels, she set out. Inside th

t down her suitcase, so that she coul

at she was only off on an ordinary errand which co

s unusually nervous, but this it would have b

t even been touched. In these places people were evidently making an effort to lead an ordinary, everyday existence. But they were all listless

one great circle that should[Pg 37] extend all over

side the woods and with her bag of nursing supplies in her hand crept along on foot up a narrow path. Every once and a while she would stop and glance cautiously about her. But no one was in sight to be interested in her proceedings. Moreover, where could she be going? She seemed to have some end in view, and y

en or fifteen years before, and ever afterwa

he house was too far from the village, and was in too bad a state of repair to be a desirable resid

why in the world should it be of so great interest to Eugenia that she was making this lo

ont and the vines had so grown over them that they were half covered. There wa

a second, his round eyes bulging and his body rigid with suspicion. Then he hopped behind h

the rickety steps. How absurd it would have been anyhow to have bat

tely around the house and kn

his door was opened by

appy, but her face brightene

ldn't get here," she said. "I supp

her usual matter

up to the room. You must make up your mind to get more air into this house. I don't think

She was leading the way up a pair of back

e at the front with the Belgian army. I was about to be arrested and tried by a military court

had touched a door knob which she was gently turning. The next she and Euge

On the bed, with a single scanty cover over[Pg 41] them, two pe

nce, but paid little attention to the man at first. For she sud

golden hair and gray eyes with darker lashes. There was the same high-bred, delica

ties expelled her by force. This for some reason they had appeared unwilling to do. However, a short time after the German[Pg 42] occupancy of Brussels, reports accusing Madame Carton of treason and rebellion began to be circulated. It was said that she was sending secret information to her husband, who

ere once more at the foot of the stairs. They had opened

I can to help nurse your little boy and the other patient, but I can come to you very seldom without being discovered. You s

es and fair hair of her son. But the last year of witnessing the desolation of

Years ago when I was a child I used to come here to play with friends who then owned this place. I suppose that is why I thought of our hiding here when the crisis came," Madame Carton explained quietly. "Now if I re

g

of Eugenia's hands and c

and you a complete stranger! Yet you look so strong and fine,"

erhaps with your advice I might manag

shook

e truth. "He insists that, although he is an American, he is suspected of feeling too much sympathy for the Belgians. After warning you to escape he was questioned and believes he is still being watch

g

face of so great a calamity. Yet t

render her judgment and her p

t is not worth while for me to say that I care little what becomes of

. When she spoke again she offered

she asked. "In case you are not discovered before then I may have a plan to

ld horse was in waiting. She then drove unmolested to the tiny

g

erself a phrase she had learned years

aid C?sar nearly twenty centuries ago. "T

did. "Because they are nearest to the Germans, who dwell across t