The Red Cross Girls in Belgium

her hair was completely hidden, and her dark glasses concealed her eyes. Still, I could see very plainly the woman you call 'Louise' is not an everyday servant. She sp

he most primitive kind. There[Pg 70] were about eighteen army cots in the bedrooms, some light coverings, and a few wooden chairs. In the big front room downstairs long planks had been laid across wooden

een the lower floor of the house, where Barbara had been introduced to Eugenia's cook, who was a plain Flemish woman

iend earnestly for a few moments

ght you and I had agreed long ago

of her cot bed, Barbara was on a high wooden

ely because she was thinking, not because sh

kled into a painfully heavy frown for so miniature a person. Unconsciously Barbara pull

d to considering Barbara as responsible a person as the rest of the Red Cross girls

began talking again, jus

ing questions of each other. We came abroad as strangers, except that Mildred and I knew each other slightly, but since then we have become friends. At least, we care a great deal about each other's interest

you ought to be careful, Gene. You came to Europe to act as a Red Cross nurse, not to interfere with questions of government. If you do, you may be put into prison, or something else dreadful. Do you know I thought all along it was funny your[Pg 73] deciding so suddenly to give

e let her own dark eyes rest

will not mention your suspicion to any one-not to Nona, or Mildred, or Dick Thornton. I am trying in a fashion to help some one who is in deep trouble. As you have guessed, she is a woman, and

g

companion was not deceived. Eugenia simply meant that if disaster fol

r hands on the older girl's shoulders, Ba

ing to stand aside and let you run deliberately into danger. It was all very well your taking care of Captain Castaigne. He was desperately ill. Your finding him wounded on the battlefield was so romantic. But this is quite a

g

t stir, but this tim

must. Come now, let us go downstairs and have tea. You and Dick were angels to have come on such a long journey and you must be nearly famished. I have managed to get a f

Barbara's shoulder as th

ed. "Unless you are, it is perfectly mad for you to have undertaken the expenses of this househo

g

wealthy, although I find it hard to rea

s ever since you told us you were rich)-why did you wear such o

ow she and Nona and Mildred had suffe

other girls' attitude toward her appearance when they first knew

he explained. "Besides, I have always been so plain it never occurr

oney on clothes. Nona and I have [Pg 77]decided that we could make you look quite stunning if we had the money to spend. Then I should insist that you pay a

so hot that she could actually feel

, don't tell me you don't mind what I say. That is not the point. The trouble is I can't learn wh

ss out of her trunk. But in order to make it more attractive for her little guests, she wor

deny being an old maid," she returned. "Only I am sorry

nk you should feel that way toward her since you and Captain Castaigne have grown to be good friends

ia's bedroom and were now wa

companion, Barbara moved away. She at once placed her hand on t

ugenia? May I go insid

room, awaiting the other girl's reply. She was interested merely because t

y angry. Yet she had kept her temper perfec

ply, quite in the manner and temper of the former Eugenia. "If I had

mp that had risen in her throat. "I suppose this room is Bluebeard's chamber,

ngland conscience at the moment of making this statement. For Barbara had distinctly heard some one moving ab

g

ivy growing on one side of the old house. Therefore, each girl and boy had been decorated with

end that she enjoyed hers, but it was extremely difficult. Not that she was angry with E

or woman could be, Barbara could not even hazard a guess. Yet it must be some one whose s

81]desired to spend her money in caring for the destitute Belgian children. No outsider had yet visited her "Hotel des Enfants." But, of course, once the

sion that it was because of the change in her once friendly attitude toward him. He was sorry, because he

se herself in the effo

roudly, Dick?" she inquired carelessly. "I was amused a

y about, but the tram

he German commandant ordered that no Belgian should wear his national colors. Indeed, they were not to be displayed a

from his coat and hand

e asked. "It means attachment, faith

k green leaf into her hand and looked at

tory to Mildred and Nona. And give the ivy to Nona; I am sure she would love to hav