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diff --git a/old/53730-8.txt b/old/53730-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3e340a0..0000000 --- a/old/53730-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5648 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Red Cross Girls in Belgium, by Margaret Vandercook - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Red Cross Girls in Belgium - -Author: Margaret Vandercook - -Release Date: December 14, 2016 [EBook #53730] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK - - -THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES - -THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE -THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD -THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL -THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE -THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN -THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE - - -THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES - -THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN THE BRITISH TRENCHES -THE RED CROSS GIRLS ON THE FRENCH FIRING LINE -THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM -THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY -THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY -THE RED CROSS GIRLS UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES - - -STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS - -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE DESERT -THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT THE END OF THE TRAIL - - - - -THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM - - -[Illustration: "LIEUTENANT HUME!" (_See page 117._)] - - -The Red Cross Girls in Belgium - -By - -MARGARET VANDERCOOK - -Author of "The Ranch Girls Series," "Stories -about Camp Fire Girls Series," etc. - -Illustrated - - -The John C. Winston Company -Philadelphia - - -Copyright, 1916, by -THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. UNDER OTHER SKIES 7 - - II. A MODERN KNIGHT ERRANT 23 - - III. A SECRET MISSION 35 - - IV. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 47 - - V. ST. GUDULA 58 - - VI. THE LOCKED DOOR 69 - - VII. A TRIANGLE 83 - - VIII. A PRISON AND A PRISONER 97 - - IX. A SECOND ACQUAINTANCE 110 - - X. A DISCUSSION, NOT AN ARGUMENT 121 - - XI. MONSIEUR BEBÉ 131 - - XII. THE GHOST 144 - - XIII. AN ARREST 157 - - XIV. A MONTH LATER 174 - - XV. POWERLESS 185 - - XVI. LOUVAIN 200 - - XVII. "SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN" 215 - -XVIII. DIFFICULTIES 227 - - XIX. EN ROUTE 241 - - XX. NOEL 258 - - - - -THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM - - - - -CHAPTER I - -_Under Other Skies_ - - -After six months of nursing in the British trenches the four American -Red Cross girls were inspired to offer their services to the French -soldiers. An autumn and a winter they spent together in southern France, -keeping house in the little French "Farmhouse with the Blue Front Door." - -Here the girls were so interested and so happy that for a little time -they almost forgot the tragedies near at hand. - -During the first months there had come a lull in the fighting along the -borders of Alsace-Lorraine, where the American girls were now stationed. -So they had opportunity for enjoying the fragrant woods, "the pool of -Melisande" and the romantic atmosphere of the French country. - -Their farmhouse was close upon the borders of an old chateau and -belonged to its owner, the Countess Castaigne. After a slight -misunderstanding a friendship develops between the old Countess and -three out of the four American girls. And here in the dignified old -Louis XIV drawing room they meet for the second time young Captain Henri -Castaigne, whom in Paris they had seen decorated with the Cross of the -Legion of Honor. - -But between Eugenia Peabody, the New England girl who confesses herself -to have been born an "old maid," and the gifted young Frenchman, there -seems to be an immediate antagonism. Nevertheless, 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. The other girls, with the Countess Amélie, join the French army -in their new position. Later, when the French retake their old -trenches, they return to the former neighborhood. - -But for weeks Eugenia has devoted herself to concealing Captain -Castaigne from the Germans and to nursing him back to health. Naturally -at the end of this time a change in their relations has taken place. -Captain Castaigne has developed a deep affection for Eugenia. But it is -difficult to understand her attitude toward him. - -In any case, she makes up her mind that it is wiser for the four -American Red Cross girls again to change their field of labor. So at the -close of the story of "The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line," -they have decided to leave for Belgium. - - -"We simply must get into Brussels some time this afternoon," Barbara -Meade declared. She was wearing her nurse's uniform and her manner and -expression were more than ordinarily professional. - -About ten days before the four American Red Cross girls had arrived in -Belgium. - -They were now seated on piles of loose brick and stone looking out -toward a brilliant sunset. Before them the land lay bleak and desolate, -while a half-burned house formed their background. - -Nevertheless, as it was early summer time, tiny blades of green were -peeping up from the dry stubble. On the single apple tree that had been -left standing in a once comfortable orchard, a few apples at the top -were slowly ripening. Except for this there were few other signs of -summer's fulfilment. - -In response to Barbara's speech Eugenia Peabody now shook her head with -her usual decision. - -"Sorry, but I can't go with you," she answered abruptly. "I have -something more important to do. Tell them at the headquarters I'll try -and come another day." - -Then without glancing at any one, Eugenia rose and stalked away. She -walked toward a small one-room cottage at some distance behind the -ruined house. There she stood with her hands clasped before her. The -place was utterly still and deserted. Yet it was difficult to tell -whether Eugenia was listening for some unusual sound, or whether she was -thinking upon a subject hundreds of miles from the present scene. - -The girls were living in a big house a few miles outside of Brussels. -This was only a temporary arrangement, as they had not yet received -their orders for work from the Belgian Red Cross headquarters. - -Barbara at this moment dug her shoe reflectively into the soft earth, in -the meanwhile staring after her friend. - -"Do you know, girls, Eugenia Peabody has become a mystery to me lately? -When we started off on our expedition to Europe together, I thought I -understood her character better than either of you. Now I simply don't -see through her at all!" - -Barbara frowned meditatively. - -"Here she has been an heiress all this time, much richer even than -Mildred Thornton, when we believed her as poor as a church mouse! But -how could any human being have suspected Eugenia of riches when she wore -such dreadful clothes?" - -So plaintively did Barbara conclude her speech that her two companions -laughed. Since arriving in tragic little Belgium they had not been able -to laugh frequently. But being only girls they welcomed every -opportunity. - -Nona nodded agreement with her friend's point of view. The next moment -she turned from one to the other of them. Her expression had grown more -serious. - -"We were hurt with Eugenia for not taking us into her confidence sooner, -weren't we?" she remarked, not so much in the manner of asking a -question as of making a statement. - -If there had not been a rose-colored light on her face from the sunset -Nona would seem to have flushed at this instant. - -"I was wounded," she went on, "even though Eugenia explained that she -had not meant to deceive us. She grew up very poor and when an old -bachelor uncle left her a fortune she never learned how to spend her -money because of her frugal New England training." - -"Well, she is learning to spend it on other people now," Mildred -Thornton interrupted. "It seems tremendously kind for Eugenia to have -brought the little French girl, Nicolete, over to Belgium with 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 except that she was helpful -when Captain Castaigne was ill. Then I presume Eugenia felt she might -get into trouble with no one to look after her, as she would spend her -time amusing the French soldiers." - -"Mildred!" Barbara Meade whispered, "do be more careful. You know we -promised to say nothing of Nicolete's French origin. She would never -have been allowed to come into Belgium if her nationality had been -known. And Eugenia is dreadfully nervous for fear the child may be -suspected as a spy. No one is too young to escape suspicion these days!" - -Barbara made this speech in hushed tones all the time looking carefully -about her. - -The countryside was for the time being deserted, but at any moment a -group of German soldiers might pass by on the way to their barracks. A -well-traveled road ran along in front of the place where the Red Cross -girls were seated. - -About an hour before they had come out together for a walk before dinner -and were now resting on their journey back to their new Belgian -headquarters. - -At this moment Nona Davis got up and stood facing her other two friends. - -"I have something to tell you," she began, "and I expect I had best not -put it off any longer. I had it in mind when I spoke of Eugenia's -secrecy, 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 crossing on the steamer together. Then it seemed to me I -had no right to think you would be interested, and probably you won't be -interested now." - -Barbara was leaning her rounded chin on her hand. Mildred's lips were -parted and her breath coming a little quicker by reason of her interest. - -For she and Barbara both recalled Nona Davis' previous hesitation when -talking of herself. They only knew a few facts concerning her history. -She had been brought up by her father, an old southern soldier, in the -city of Charleston, South Carolina. She had led a very lonely, secluded -life. These were all their facts. - -But since Nona was still hesitating Barbara smiled at her, wrinkling up -her small nose in the absurd fashion she had when particularly in -earnest. - -"Go on, Nona, tell us at once. Are you a princess in disguise? I am -quite prepared to believe it. To tell you the honest truth, it would not -surprise me half so much as Eugenia's turning into an heiress. Alas, -that I am what I am, a maid without a mystery!" - -However, Nona was not in the humor to be diverted by her friend's -nonsense. - -"I am sorry my story is not in the least like that. So I am afraid it -won't be of interest to you. Perhaps I am foolish to speak of this, -since I have never, never talked of it to any one before." - -Nona's brown eyes were clear and straightforward, although her chin -quivered sensitively. - -"I know nothing about my mother," she went on speaking quickly, now that -she had made up her mind to the confidence. "Of course, I remember her -when I was a very little girl in our old house in Charleston. But after -she went away my father would never 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 could -decide and no one would ever tell me. Even after I grew up and asked -questions of my father's old friends there was always the same silence. -This was one of the reasons why I made up my mind to come away from -Charleston," Nona finished quietly. - -She had not been tragic or dramatic in the telling of her story, and yet -neither of her two girl friends knew exactly what to answer. - -But since the silence must somehow be broken, Mildred Thornton -murmured, "How very odd; perhaps you are mistaken, Nona!" Then she -realized that she had made an absurd speech. - -Barbara was even more visibly embarrassed. "Possibly your mother was a -princess or something!" she ejaculated vaguely. "I always insisted that -you were one of the most aristocratic persons I ever knew, both in your -appearance and manner, Nona," her friend continued, desiring to be -comforting and yet appreciating that her remarks were also rather -ridiculous. - -Nona, however, was not to be turned aside in her confession. - -"I have only spoken of this because I wanted you girls to know the facts -in my life that are important. Of course, I realize this problem 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 living or dead. I have -supposed that she was dead, and my father always talked as if she were; -but I really am not sure of even that." - -Nona then extended a hand to each of her friends. - -"Please let us never speak of this again," she asked. "Of course, I mean -to tell Eugenia, for it was because we were hurt by her lack of -confidence in us that I nerved myself for my confession." - -Nona then sat down again as if the entire subject were closed forever. - -So, although the other girls had dozens of questions at the tips of -their tongues, they remained politely silent. - -In order to conceal her embarrassment Mildred Thornton glanced around to -try to find Eugenia. She discovered that the older girl had at last been -disturbed from her reverie. Indeed, she had risen and was walking toward -the road. For a noise with which they had grown familiar in the past -fifteen months was drawing nearer and nearer. It was the tramping of -soldiers' feet. - -But this time there was a sound accompanying it which was even more -disturbing. - -The other girls heard the same sound and almost at the same time jumped -up from their seats. They went a few paces forward and then stopped and -stared. - -A number of German soldiers were driving a group of Belgian people -before them like so many sheep. There were two old men and two -middle-aged women with several small children. - -Running further forward, Barbara slipped her arm inside Eugenia's. - -"What does this mean?" she queried, her eyes suddenly blurring with -tears. - -Yet she realized that the prisoners had probably been disloyal to their -conquerors. They may have refused to obey the rules imposed by the -German military commander of their district; they may have stolen food, -or been insolent to the soldiers. - -Although she appreciated their possible offences, Barbara felt deeply -sympathetic. - -For the past year and more she had been witnessing the suffering of the -wounded soldiers in the British and French lines. She had thought that -nothing else could ever touch her so deeply. Yet in the last ten days -she had been stirred in a different way. The soldiers were fighting for -the cause nearest their hearts and enjoyed the enthusiasm and the glory -of the soldier's life. But in Belgium so many of the people appeared -both helpless and hopeless; these were the old men, the women and the -children. - -Barbara was thinking of this now as she watched the pitiful little -company before her. She had not even noticed that Eugenia had made her -no answer. Now she was startled because the older girl had broken loose -from her and was stalking out into the road. - -Barbara was next amazed to see Eugenia deliberately plant herself in -front of the German officer in command. - -She spoke excellent German, knowing more of the language than any one of -the four Red Cross girls. Now Barbara could only guess what Eugenia was -saying. But whatever it was, the German sergeant had stopped and was -apparently listening respectfully. There must have been something -impressive in her voice and manner. - -Three minutes afterwards the other three girls were the more surprised -to observe Eugenia returning toward them. Because in her arms she was -carrying a tiny, black-eyed baby, while a small boy and a small girl -clung to either side of her skirt. The boy was about nine or ten years -old and was lame. - -"Why, what does this mean, Eugenia?" Nona demanded, dropping on her -knees to take the boy's small, cold hand in her own warm one. But the -boy seemed to prefer Eugenia, for he crept closer to her. - -"Oh, it was nothing of any importance," Eugenia began explaining -quietly. "The sergeant told me he had orders to take the men and women -into Brussels. They are suspected of something or other and are to be -put into prison. He said he had brought the children along because there -was nothing else to do with them, so I offered to look after them." - -"But, but," Mildred Thornton faltered. "I know it is a painful -situation, Eugenia dear, but what _can_ you do with three babies? Our -house is already so full----" - -Eugenia nodded. "Yes, I understand, but I have already decided what to -do. I'll stay here in the little one-room house with the children -tonight. I looked it over the other day. There isn't any furniture, but -we must manage for the night. You girls bring me over whatever covers -you can spare and ask Nicolete to bring all the food she can get hold -of." - -"But you don't mean to stay here alone with these children in this -perfectly forsaken place," Barbara expostulated, dimly conscious that -Eugenia was becoming more of a puzzle than ever. Do old maids now and -then represent the real mother spirit? "I'll stay with you, Eugenia," -she added faintly, not altogether enjoying the prospect. - -But the older girl shook her head. "You have your own work to do, Bab. -Only one of us can be spared. What possible danger could come to these -little kiddies and me?" - -Looking backward a few moments later, the three girls discovered that -Eugenia and the children had already disappeared inside the little -house. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -_A Modern Knight Errant_ - - -"I can't understand why you and Nona are behaving so strangely, Mildred. -You have been whispering together all day. I am sure you are acting more -like foolish school-girls than grown women," Barbara commented in an -annoyed tone. - -She was walking alongside her two taller friends with her head held as -high as possible to make up for her lack of dignity in stature. Two -spots of angry color decorated her cheeks. - -For neither Mildred nor Nona had condescended to pay any attention to -her remark. Moreover, their whispering continued. - -The three girls were walking abreast along one of the suburban roads -that lead into the city of Brussels. It was a long walk, yet horses and -motor cars were only used by the powerful in these days, except in -cases of especial urgency. So as the three Red Cross girls were merely -going into town to report at the Red Cross headquarters, there was no -real reason why they should ride instead of walk. - -They had not objected to the walk; indeed, had been glad of the -opportunity. But as Barbara had found herself entirely left out of the -conversation along the way, naturally she was beginning to find the road -a tiresome one. - -Brussels has always been thought to be a miniature Paris. Indeed, the -Belgian capital has been modeled on the larger city. But beside its art, -nature has given it the same gayety of spirit and a portion of the same -natural beauty. So it does not seem unreasonable that the two cities -shed their tears together during the great war. Yet the American girls -had witnessed no such gloom in Paris as they found in Brussels. - -In Paris one was at least able to talk freely against the enemy, to -gesticulate with the abandon characteristic of the Latin peoples. Here -in the Belgian city one must be dumb, as well as hungry and sick at -heart. To speak one's mind was to offend against His Majesty, the -Kaiser, since everywhere in Belgium the Germans were now in command. - -Therefore, as the girls reached the city they too became affected by the -subdued atmosphere. Of course, the people engaged in certain necessary -occupations were about, but trading was very slight. In some of the -cafés there were a few German soldiers. But not many of them were -quartered in Brussels, only a sufficient number to preserve peace and to -enforce a surface loyalty to their conquerors. - -Barbara and Nona were in deep sympathy with the Belgians. Barbara -because she was always enlisted on the side of the weak against the -strong. Nona, possibly because as a South Carolina girl, she belonged to -a country that had once been overrun by greater numbers. But Mildred -Thornton and Eugenia insisted that they intended to preserve neutral -attitudes. They were Red Cross nurses, not soldiers, and there is always -another side to every story. - -As Nona's attention was so engaged by Mildred, even after the three -girls arrived in Brussels, Barbara had little to do except make -observations. This was not their first trip to the Red Cross -headquarters, but they did not yet know the city sufficiently well not -to enter it as strangers. - -Only in one place could Barbara discover a crowd and that was wherever a -church stood. Women and children and an occasional elderly man were -always entering and leaving the Catholic churches. - -Suddenly Barbara thought of Eugenia. Why had she not come with them this -afternoon? They had been told to report to the Red Cross headquarters in -order to be assigned to their work. Usually it was Eugenia who rigidly -insisted upon obedience to orders. What could she have in mind this -afternoon of greater importance? - -Barbara had paid a visit to Eugenia and the three children earlier in -the day. She had found them contentedly playing at housekeeping in the -one-room shack, which must once have been a small storehouse. By one of -the many miracles of war this little place had escaped destruction when -the larger house was burned. - -Eugenia, who was by nature a commander-in-chief, had set the children -various tasks. Bibo, the lame boy, was gathering chips from the charred, -half-burned apple trees as cheerfully as a small grasshopper transformed -into a thrifty ant. The girl, Louise, was assisting Nicolete to spread -their scanty covering upon a freshly washed floor, sedate as a model -chambermaid. Barbara had watched them in some amusement before -attempting to join Eugenia. - -It seemed difficult to remember the scarlet poppy of a girl whom she had -first seen dancing for the French soldiers, in the present Nicolete. For -one thing, Eugenia had demanded that the French girl wear sober and -conventional clothes. So gone was her scarlet skirt and cap! Nicolete -now wore an ordinary shirtwaist and skirt and a blue gingham apron. The -clothes had once belonged to Mildred Thornton and Nona had kindly -altered them to fit. Because the three girls had absolutely refused to -allow Eugenia to put her little French protégé into any of her ancient -New England toilets. There were limits to the things an artistic nature -could endure, Barbara had protested. - -But why, after all, had Nicolete decided to come away with them from her -own beloved land? It was equally as mysterious to the three other girls -as Eugenia's adoption of the child. - -Neither of them had discussed their reasons. As Captain Castaigne soon -after his recovery had been ordered north with his regiment, he was not -able to offer an explanation. The three American Red Cross girls were -simply told that Nicolete had no people of her own and did not wish to -go back to the family who had formerly cared for her. - -But after Barbara's survey of the cottage she had returned to the yard -for a talk with Eugenia. - -She had found her with the little Belgian baby in her arms walking about -the ruined house. - -Even here in the streets of Brussels, with so many other objects to -absorb her attention, Barbara again found herself wondering at the -change in Eugenia. She did not seem to care to be in their society as -she had in the earlier part of their acquaintance. Nevertheless, she was -no longer so stern and dictatorial. Today she had asked Barbara's advice -quite humbly about a number of things. Yet she had refused point-blank -to tell what she intended doing on this same afternoon. - -But Barbara's reflections were suddenly ended by their arrival in front -of a handsome house in Brussels. It was a private mansion that had been -given over to the relief work by General von Bissing, the German -military governor of Belgium. - -They found the place crowded. In the hall there was a long line of -Belgians waiting assistance. Yet the girls felt almost at home, there -were so many of their own country people about. - -However, they were invited to wait in a small reception room until the -Superintendent could find time for them. - -The buildings in Brussels have so far remained uninjured by the war. -For although fighting had taken place all around the city, the surrender -came before its destruction. - -The girls were ushered into what had once been an attractive sitting -room. At one side there was a small sofa and here Nona and Mildred -straightway seated themselves without regarding their friend. - -So once more Barbara felt hurt and left out of things. By chance there -was no chair near the sofa, but by this time she was far too much -wounded to try to force herself into the conversation. - -However, Barbara at least felt privileged to use her eyes. For some -mysterious reason both Mildred and Nona were looking unusually cheerful. -This was certainly odd in view of the fact that everything they had seen -since coming into Belgium was more than depressing. Yet Barbara decided -that Nona was uncommonly gay and excited. Her eyes were a darker brown -than usual and her cheeks had more color. There could be little doubt -that she was exceptionally pretty most of the time and even prettier -than usual today. Moreover, Mildred had lost her serious expression. Her -fine white teeth flashed every moment into a smile. Animation was what -Mildred most needed and she had her full share today. - -"Shall we tell Barbara now?" Distinctly Barbara overheard Mildred -Thornton whisper these few words. Yet in return Nona shook her head so -decisively that Mildred evidently changed her mind. - -When the door to their sitting room opened Barbara had again fallen into -a reverie. She heard some one enter the room, but supposing the man a -messenger did not glance up. - -Barbara's exclamation of surprise was due to the surprising behavior of -her two companions. - -For Mildred and Nona at once jumped to their feet, and actually Mildred -ran forward a few steps with her arms outstretched. - -In amazement Barbara at this moment turned her gaze upon the newcomer. -Immediately her face flushed and the tears started to her eyes, yet she -would rather have perished than let either effect be discovered. - -However, she had only seen a young American fellow of about twenty-two -or three years of age, dressed in a dark-blue serge suit. He looked -extremely well and handsome, except for the fact that his left arm was -apparently paralyzed. - -By this time Mildred had thrown her arms about his neck and they were -kissing each other with devoted affection. - -"I can't say how happy I am to see you, Dick. It is the most beautiful -thing that ever happened to have you here in Belgium with us! I have -scarcely been able to wait until today, and then I was so afraid you -would not arrive in time." - -All this from the usually quiet Mildred! - -However, Dick Thornton had finally ceased greeting his sister and turned -to Nona Davis. Nona seemed as glad to see him as Mildred. She held his -hand for some time and kept insisting upon her pleasure in meeting him -again. - -Nevertheless, after Nona's greeting had occupied as long a time as -possible, Barbara Meade made not the slightest effort to step forward -and welcome her former friend. - -Certainly his arrival explained Mildred's and Nona's mysterious -behavior. Yet what reason could there have been for not telling her they -expected Richard Thornton's appearance in Brussels on this particular -afternoon? She had not offended against any one of the three of them, -that she should have been so ignored! - -It was a very stiff Barbara whom Dick finally walked across the room to -greet: Eugenia at her best could never have appeared more uncomprising. -With his hand extended Dick involuntarily paused, while a curious -expression showed on his face. - -"Aren't you pleased to see me, Barbara--Miss Meade?" he corrected -himself. "I have not recovered, but I've found out that I can be of some -little use with the relief work here in Brussels with one arm. But -besides wishing to be useful, I have four attractions to bring me to -Belgium." - -Dick spoke in his old light-hearted fashion, although Barbara could see -that a part of it was pretense. - -"Of course, I am glad to see you," she returned slowly. "But since I -have been left out of the secret of your coming, you must understand -that I am more surprised than anything else at present." - -"Oh, certainly," Dick answered, letting his arm drop to his side. For -Barbara had apparently not seen his extended hand. - -"Dick was uncertain whether he could be of service and so asked us not -to speak of his coming until he was positive," Mildred apologized. "I -wanted to tell you, Barbara, but Nona felt it best not to. She had the -last letter with instructions from Dick." - -Barbara glanced toward Nona and then at Dick. Assuredly there was an -understanding between them. Well, she must learn not to mind the feeling -of being ignored since it would probably continue for some time to come. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -_A Secret Mission_ - - -On the same afternoon of Dick Thornton's coming into Belgium Eugenia -started out alone on her unexplained errand. She left her recently -acquired family in charge of the little French girl, Nicolete. - -Nicolete seemed happier with the children than she had been since her -removal from France. Indeed, the three American girls had sometimes -wondered over her unfriendliness toward them and her unusual quiet. At -their first meeting she had appeared such a gay, gypsy-like person. - -But Eugenia did not walk to her engagement. By making a tremendous -effort she had managed to hire an old horse and buggy. Then, after she -felt sure the other three Red Cross girls had departed on the road -toward Brussels, she set out. Inside the wagon she carefully hid out of -sight her bag of Red Cross supplies, although she did not wear her -nurse's uniform. - -Earlier in the day Barbara had brought down her suitcase, so that she -could appear in an ordinary street dress. - -Driving along the road Eugenia hoped to suggest that she was only off on -an ordinary errand which could not interest any one who chanced to -observe her. - -She was looking rather plain and tired and was unusually nervous, but -this it would have been difficult to guess from her quiet manner. - -The country through which she passed was one of queer contrasts. There -were many houses that had been destroyed by fire, but others that had -not even been touched. In these places people were evidently making an -effort to lead an ordinary, everyday existence. But they were all -listless and discouraged. Eugenia thought that the children must have -forgotten how to play in this last year, when their land had suffered -such sorrow. - -She wished that she might gather them all together in one great circle -that should extend all over Belgium and set them to laughing and -playing once more. - -However, Eugenia soon left the populated part of the neighborhood. She -and her old horse wound their way along a stream and then came to a -gate. There was no house in sight from the gate, but just as if she had -been there before, Eugenia got down and opened it. Then she tied her -horse behind a clump of trees inside 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 yet there -was no place or person in the vicinity. Any one familiar with the -neighborhood could have explained that Eugenia must be bent upon an -utterly ridiculous errand. There was an old house about half a mile -farther along, but it had been deserted long before the Germans had ever -set foot on conquered Belgium. - -A tragedy had occurred in the house ten or fifteen years before, and -ever afterwards the place had been supposed to be haunted. - -No one believed such nonsense, of course, since intelligent persons do -not believe in ghosts. But the house was too far from the village, and -was in too bad a state of repair to be a desirable residence. Indeed, -there were dozens of reasons why, after its owners moved, no one else -cared to rent it. - -Moreover, the house had also escaped the interest of the German invaders -of the land. So why in the world should it be of so great interest to -Eugenia that she was making this lonely pilgrimage, without taking any -one of the three Red Cross girls into her confidence? - -The house was of brick and a large one. Every outside shutter was closed -in front and the vines had so grown over them that they were half -covered. There was a porch also in front, but the boards of the steps -had long since rotted away. - -At first only a large toad appeared to greet Eugenia. He eyed her -distrustfully for a second, his round eyes bulging and his body rigid -with suspicion. Then he hopped behind his stone fortress, which chanced -to be a large stone at the end of the path before the house. - -However, Eugenia did not see him. Neither did she attempt to go up the -rickety steps. How absurd it would have been anyhow to have battered at -the door of a mansion that had been uninhabited for years! - -Instead she marched deliberately around the house and knocked at a door -at the side. - -A few seconds after, this door was opened by a woman of middle age. - -She looked very worn and unhappy, but her face brightened at the sight -of her guest. - -"I was so afraid you wouldn't, couldn't get here," she said. "I suppose -you know you are taking a risk." - -Eugenia nodded in her usual matter of fact fashion. - -"I promised your friend I would do my best," she returned. "Will you -please take me up to the room. You must make up your mind to get more -air into this house. I don't think you need fear you will be suspected, -if you managed to arrive here without being detected." - -"I _am_ afraid," the older woman answered. She was leading the way up a -pair of back stairs that were in almost total darkness. - -"You see, I know I have been accused of sending information to my -husband who is supposed to be at the front with the Belgian army. I was -about to be arrested and tried by a military court. I should have been -sent to prison and I could not be separated from my family at such a -time!" - -The last few words were whispered. Because at this moment the woman's -hand had touched a door knob which she was gently turning. The next she -and Eugenia were entering a large room at the back of the apparently -deserted house. - -A window had been opened and an attempt made to clean this room. On the -bed, with a single scanty cover over them, two persons were lying. One -of them was a young boy and the other a man. - -Both of them were extremely ill. Eugenia realized this at a glance, but -paid little attention to the man at first. For she suddenly had a -complete understanding of Madame Carton's last words. - -The boy was such an exquisite little fellow of about ten years old. He -had straight golden hair and gray eyes with darker lashes. There was the -same high-bred, delicate look that one remembers in the picture of "The -Two Little Princes in the Tower." - -Through a peculiar source Eugenia had already learned a portion of -Madame Carton's story. She was a Belgian woman whose home was one of the -handsomest in the city of Brussels. But after the city had been forced -to surrender to the Germans, Madame Carton had refused to give up her -home unless the authorities expelled her by force. This for some reason -they had appeared unwilling to do. However, a short time after the -German 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 was a colonel in the Belgian army -and on the personal staff of King Albert. Finally Madame Carton learned -that her arrest was only a matter of a few hours. Then it was that she -had managed to escape to this deserted house with her family. So far it -looked as if her whereabouts had remained undiscovered. - -One hour after Eugenia's arrival she and Madame Carton were once more at -the foot of the stairs. They had opened the side door to let in a tiny -streak of light and air. - -"But, Madame Carton, I don't think it is possible," Eugenia announced -with her usual directness. "I am willing to do whatever I can to help -nurse your little boy and the other patient, but I can come to you very -seldom without being discovered. You see, I may be ordered to nurse in -any part of Belgium and I must do what I am told. Is there any one here -to assist you?" - -Madame Carton nodded. She had once been a very beautiful woman with the -gray eyes and fair hair of her son. But the last year of witnessing the -desolation of her people and her country had whitened her hair and made -many lines in her face. - -"Yes, I have an old family servant with me. I should never have been -able to make the journey without her help. She and my little girl, who -is six years old, are in hiding in another room in the attic of this -house. 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 return to Brussels perhaps Paul may be cared for. But you know -what else would happen. It would be inevitable! Even if I were not shot -I must go to prison. Can't you help me? Can't you think of some way to -save us _all_?" - -The older woman took hold of Eugenia's hands and clung to them -despairingly. - -"I know I am asking what looks like an impossible thing of you, and you -a complete stranger! Yet you look so strong and fine," Madame Carton's -voice broke, but Eugenia's touch was reassuring. - -"If only a doctor could come to us, perhaps with your advice I might -manage the nursing myself," she continued. - -Eugenia shook her head. - -"When Dr. Le Page asked me to see you and gave me the directions, he -said it was only because he dared not visit you himself," Eugenia -explained kindly, but with her usual avoidance of anything but the -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 watched. That is why he -confided you to me, asking me to do the little I can to aid you. So if -he should attempt to reach you out here, it would mean his arrest as -well as yours. I am sorry," the girl ended. - -Her words were simple enough in the face of so great a calamity. Yet -there was no mistaking their sympathy. - -Madame Carton appeared to surrender her judgment and her problem to -Eugenia for solution. - -"Tell me, Miss Peabody, what do you think I should do?" she asked. "It -is not worth while for me to say that I care little what becomes of me. -Shall I return to Brussels and give us all up to the authorities?" - -Eugenia did not answer immediately. When she spoke again she offered no -explanation of her own meaning. - -"Please wait a while, Madame Carton, if possible, until I can see you -again?" she asked. "In case you are not discovered before then I may -have a plan to suggest that will help you. But I cannot be sure. Good-by -and a good courage." - -Then Eugenia marched deliberately back to the place where her old horse -was in waiting. She then drove unmolested to the tiny house that was -sheltering Nicolete and the three stray children. - -But on her way she was repeating to herself a phrase she had learned -years before as a girl at the High School: - -"Quorum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae," said Cæsar nearly twenty -centuries ago. "The bravest of all these are the Belgians." - -Eugenia thought the same thing today and for the same reason Cæsar did. -"Because they are nearest to the Germans, who dwell across the Rhine, -with whom they do continually wage war." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -_Plans for the Future_ - - -The moon shone down upon Belgium as serenely as upon any unconquered -land. - -Two girls were walking slowly arm in arm along a stretch of country -road. There was no one else in sight at the time, yet they seemed -entirely unafraid. A quarter of a mile beyond them, however, a dim light -burned in the window of a small frame house. Near it was a tumbled mass -of brick and stone. - -"We received our orders for work this afternoon, Eugenia dear," Barbara -remarked. "They were sorry you were not with us. But you are to come in -to headquarters as soon as possible, when arrangements will be made for -you." - -Unconsciously Barbara sighed and although it was too dark in the -moonlight to distinguish the expression on her face, her companion -paused for a moment. - -"Are you disappointed in what they wish you to do, Barbara, child?" -Eugenia inquired more gently than she usually spoke. "You sound rather -forlorn and 'wee' as the Scotch sometimes say. Of course, I know you are -tired from the long trip into Brussels and coming here to spend the -night with me. It is lovely to have you for this quiet walk, but I'm -afraid you'll find a bed on the floor a pretty hard resting place even -for war times." - -"Oh, I shan't mind. Besides, I brought over some more bed-clothes," the -younger girl answered, although her attention was not really fixed upon -her reply. - -Eugenia had guessed correctly in thinking Barbara was tired. Her face -was very small and white, so that her eyes appeared almost unnaturally -large and blue. Her only color was in her lips, which drooped like a -weary child's. - -"Oh, yes, the work is all right. One can't expect an easy time of it -these days. Besides, I hope some day to prove to you, Eugenia, that I -did not come to Europe to nurse in the Red Cross just for the sake of -an adventure. Of course, I shall never dare hope to do anything to -compare with what you have done, or to be anything like you, but----" - -Barbara's speech was interrupted by her friend's hand being laid firmly -across her lips. - -"I prefer your not saying things like that," she answered in a tone that -the other girl felt obliged to respect. It was not that Eugenia was -unduly modest. Only that she had never appeared to desire to talk about -her final experience in France. Indeed, the other three girls had been -provoked before this by her reticence. It was all very well for Eugenia -not to discuss before strangers her rescue and care of Captain Castaigne -under such extraordinary difficulties. But it was tiresome of her never -to be willing to relate the details of her experience to her most -intimate companions. Personally, Barbara Meade intended to hear the -whole thing some day from beginning to end. Then she would be able to -tell the story to the Countess Amelie, who had become her own and -Nona's devoted friend. For Captain Castaigne had given only a brief -account of the circumstances to his mother. Actually he had been as -reticent in the matter as Eugenia. However, Barbara was not in the mood -tonight to demand other people's confessions. - -"If you are tired, suppose we sit down for a while," Eugenia suggested. -The two girls found a tree near by that had been uprooted by an -underground explosion and lay face down upon the earth with its arms -outspread, like a defeated giant. - -Unconsciously they both sighed with relief and then smiled half -humorously at each other. - -"We are all to work at the same hospital in Brussels," Barbara went on. -"At least, Mildred and Nona and I have been chosen for the same place. I -don't know about you. Thank goodness, it is an American hospital and -supported by our money!" - -"Don't be prejudiced," Eugenia remonstrated. - -But Barbara shook her head impatiently. "How can one help being? You are -only pretending to yourself that you are neutral. If the Germans had -been conquered, perhaps I should feel equally sorry for them. But to me -Belgium is like a gallant boy who went out with his head up and his lips -smiling to do battle with a giant. The courage of it is like a song!" - -In silence Eugenia agreed. - -Then Barbara leaned her curly brown head on her companion's arm. - -"I have a piece of news for you, Gene," she added. "Really, I came to -you tonight to be the first to tell you. Who do you think arrived in -Brussels today to help with the American Relief work?" Barbara did not -wait for an answer to her question. "Dick Thornton!" she finished with a -sudden indrawing of her breath. - -The older girl did not glance toward her companion. Her attention seemed -to be fixed upon a particularly effective June moon which was just -emerging from a cloud-like veil. - -"That is tremendously good news, isn't it? And it is great of Dick to -insist on being useful in spite of his misfortune! But perhaps I am not -so surprised as you think I ought to be, Barbara. Nona half confessed -the possibility of his turning up to me several days ago. She told me I -was not to speak of this, however, to you, because Dick might not be -able to come and he did not wish--" Eugenia hesitated a second--"he did -not wish _Mildred_ to be disappointed. Now I am particularly glad you -are all to be in Brussels. Perhaps you may have a chance to see Dick -_nearly_ as often as you like." - -"Yes, it will be awfully nice for Mildred and Nona and I am delighted -for them," Barbara interrupted, moving several feet away from her -friend. "But I do hope you will be with us, Eugenia, to associate with -me! I hate to be in the way. And I am afraid I will be, under the -circumstances." - -The younger girl had lowered her voice to the purest confidential tone. -Then, although they were quite alone, she looked carefully around before -going on. - -"Perhaps I haven't any right to say so, but I am almost sure there is a -bond between Nona Davis and Dick. I didn't dream of this when we were -in Paris together. But I know they have been writing each other -constantly ever since. Besides, if you had seen their meeting today!" - -She ceased talking, for Eugenia was shaking her head in doubt. - -"But isn't Nona one of the prettiest girls you ever saw and the most -charming?" Barbara demanded argumentatively the next instant. She seemed -almost angry at the older girl's silent disagreement. - -This time Eugenia inclined her head. - -"I have no idea of disputing Nona's beauty or charm, or Dick Thornton's -either. He is a splendid American fellow. And if one of you Red Cross -girls must fall in love, certainly I should prefer you to fall in love -with Dick. However, at present I simply don't believe there is an affair -between Dick and Nona." - -"But you'll see in time," Barbara persisted. - -"Yes, I'll see in time," Eugenia concluded. - -Then Barbara crept closer again. - -"The moonlight, or something, makes me feel dismal," she confided. "I -don't know why, but the moon gives me the blues far more than it ever -makes me romantic. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get back home -safely, all of us, without any illness or sorrow or anything," Barbara -ended vaguely. - -Eugenia could be a remarkably comforting person when she liked. - -She made no reply at the moment, only drew the younger girl toward her. - -"Now I have something to tell _you_, Barbara. It is good of you to wish -me to be in Brussels with you, but I'm really not much good as a -companion. You girls are ever so much happier without me, I feel sure, -or I wouldn't desert you." - -"Desert us?" Barbara stiffened at once, forgetting the other subject of -their conversation. - -"You don't mean, Eugenia Peabody, that you have decided to give up the -Red Cross work and go back home? You, of all of us! I simply won't -believe it. Why, I thought you were the most devoted, the most----" - -Eugenia laughed half-heartedly. "I didn't say I was going home, -Barbara," she protested. "But you are right in thinking I mean to give -up my Red Cross work, at least if I am allowed to resign. I don't know -why, but recently I don't seem to feel the same fondness for nursing. I -kind of dread a great many things about it." - -Barbara laid her hand caressingly upon Eugenia's knee. - -Really Eugenia was growing so surprisingly human these days that one -could scarcely recall the old Eugenia. - -"Oh, that is just because you are tired. I know you have always denied -this, but you have never been exactly the same since your siege with -Captain Castaigne. The responsibility and the work were too much for -you. I don't think he was ever half grateful enough! The idea of his -joining his regiment without coming to say good-by to you--just writing -a letter! Promise me you will go quietly away somewhere and rest for a -few weeks, Eugenia. Then I know you'll feel like getting back into -harness again. Really, I need you to be with us. I haven't any backbone -unless you are around to make me afraid of you." - -Eugenia shook her head. "Perhaps I shall not be very far away and we may -be able to see each other now and then. I have been thinking of a scheme -for several days, almost ever since we came into Belgium. You remember I -told you I had a good deal of money, but did not always know just how to -spend it. Well, I have found a way here. I am going to get a big house -and I am going to fill it full to overflowing with the Belgian babies -and all the children who need an old maid mother to look after them. And -I think I found the very house I need today. It is an old place that is -supposed to be haunted and is far away from everything else. But it is -big and has an old veranda. Perhaps I'll still be doing Red Cross work -if I take care of well babies as well as sick ones. Do you think I'll -make a great failure as a mother, Bab?" she ended. - -Without replying Barbara's answer was yet sufficiently reassuring. - -At the same time she was wondering if these past few months had changed -Eugenia as much as she appeared to be changed. But perchance she had -always been mistaken in her view of her. - -Then both girls started suddenly to their feet. For the little French -girl, Nicolete, had come upon them unawares. She gave Barbara a glance -revealing but little affection. Then beckoning Eugenia mysteriously -aside she soon ran off again like a sprite in the moonlight. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -_St. Gudula_ - - -Several weeks later Barbara Meade walked down the steps of a house in -Brussels out into one of the streets near the Palais de la Nation. The -house had once been a private residence, but since the coming of war -into the heart of Belgium had been turned into a relief hospital by the -American Red Cross Society. - -Barbara walked slowly, looking at all the objects of interest along the -way. She wore a dark-blue taffeta suit and white blouse and a small blue -hat with a single white wing in it. - -Evidently she was not in a hurry. Indeed, she behaved more like an -ordinary tourist than an overworked nurse. Yet a glance into Barbara's -face would have suggested that she was dreadfully fagged and anxious to -get away from the beaten track for a few hours. It chanced to be her -one afternoon of leisure in the week, so for the time she had discarded -her nurse's uniform. She was also trying to forget the trouble -surrounding her and to appreciate the beauty and charm of Brussels. - -Yet Barbara found it difficult to get into a mood of real enjoyment. -These past few weeks represented the hardest work she had yet done, for -the funds for the Belgian Relief work were getting painfully low. -Therefore, as there were still so many demands, the workers could only -try to do double duty. - -Finally Barbara entered the church of St. Gudula, which happened to be -near at hand. It was a beautiful Gothic building, dedicated to the -patron saint of Brussels. Once inside, the girl strolled quietly about, -feeling herself already rested and calmed from the simple beauty of the -interior. The tall rounded pillars and sixteenth century stained glass -represented a new world of color and beauty. Although she was not a -Catholic, Barbara could not refrain from saying a short prayer in the -"Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Deliverance" for the safety of the Belgian -people and their gallant king and queen. Barbara was too loyal an -American to believe that kings and queens were any longer useful as the -heads of governments. Nevertheless, as a noble man and woman, King -Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, commanded her admiration and -sympathy. Since the outbreak of the war neither of them seem to have -given thought to their royalty, remembering only their common humanity -with the people of their land. - -Already comforted by the few minutes of quiet, finally Barbara slipped -out of one of the side doors that chanced to be open. Afterwards she -stood looking about her in order to find out just where she was. - -The side street was almost entirely free from passers by. Therefore, as -Barbara desired to inquire her way to the nearest tram line, she waited -for a moment. At some distance down the street she could see the figure -of a man walking in her direction. - -She did not look very closely or she might have discovered something -familiar in the quick stride and the graceful carriage of the head and -shoulders. The men of Brussels are rather more French than Flemish in -their appearance, yet this man did not resemble a foreigner. - -Indeed, he walked so much more rapidly than Barbara expected that she -was extremely startled when a voice said close beside her: - -"Why, Barbara, this is good luck. To think I have not seen you since the -first afternoon of my arrival! I'm sorry you have been so tremendously -busy every time I have had a chance to run into the hospital for a few -moments. But Mildred and Nona have given me news of you." - -Dick Thornton had taken Barbara's hand and was looking searchingly into -her face. But after her first recognition of him she had dropped her -lids, so it was not possible to see her eyes. - -"I have just been up to your hospital now, but could not get hold of -either Mildred or Nona. I am sorry. Nona had promised me, if she could -be spared, to spend the afternoon seeing sights. I have investigated -thirty destitute Belgian families since eight o'clock this morning and -reported their cases, so I feel rather in the need of being cheered." - -Barbara's chin quivered a little, although it was not perceptible to her -companion. - -"I am dreadfully sorry too," she answered the next instant. "Certainly -you are deserving of Nona's society for a reward. And if I had only -known your plan you might have carried it out. It is my afternoon of -freedom, but I would very cheerfully have changed my time with Nona." - -"You are awfully kind, I am sure," Dick returned. But he scarcely showed -the gratitude at Barbara's suggestion that she expected. - -He glanced up at the beautiful Gothic tower of the church near them, -remarking irritably, "I expect you are quite as much in need of a rest -as any one else. Really, Barbara, it is all very well to do the best one -can to help these unfortunate people, but there is no especial point in -killing yourself. You look wretchedly. You are not trying to play at -being the patron saint of Brussels, are you? Is that why you haunt the -church of Saint Gudula?" - -Barbara smiled. "I am the farthest person from a saint in this world," -she replied, wrinkling up her small nose with a faint return to her old -self. "Nona and Mildred and I have decided recently that we haven't but -one saint among us. And she is the last person I should ever have -awarded the crown at our first meeting. Moreover, I wouldn't dare -present it to her now, if she could see or hear me in the act. She would -probably destroy me utterly, because my saint is very human and -sometimes has a dreadful temper, besides a desire to boss everybody -else. I wonder if real saints ever had such traits of character? Of -course, you know I mean Eugenia! I am on my way now to her Hotel des -Enfants, if I can ever find the right street car. She already is taking -care of twelve children, and I have never seen her nor her house since -we separated. Gene has promised to send some one to meet me at the end -of the car line. Her house is a deserted old place where a ghost is -supposed to hold forth. But I am assured the ghost has not turned up -recently. It is nice to have met you. Good-by." And Barbara was -compelled to stop talking for lack of breath after her long speech, as -she held out her hand. Dick ignored the outstretched hand. His face had -assumed a charming, boyish expression of pleading. Barbara was reminded -of the first days of their meeting in New York City. - -"I say, Barbara, why can't I go along with you?" he demanded. "Of -course, I realize that for some reason or other you are down upon me. I -am not such a chump as not to understand you could have seen me for a -few minutes in these last few weeks if you had tried. But Eugenia is -friendly enough. I haven't seen her, but I had a stunning note from her. -Besides, as I sent her five of her twelve Belgian babies, I think I've -the right to find out if she is being good to them. I am a kind of a -godfather to the bunch. Let's stop by a shop and get some stuffed dolls -and whistles and sugar plums. Some of the Belgian children I have -discovered seemed to be forgetting how to play." - -Barbara had not answered. Indeed, Dick had not intended to give her a -chance. Nevertheless, her expression had changed to a measure of its -former brightness. It would be good fun to have Dick on the afternoon's -excursion! She had rather dreaded the journey alone into a strange part -of the countryside, one might so easily get lost. Beside, Barbara knew -in her heart of hearts that she had absolutely no right for her -unfriendly attitude toward Dick Thornton. If he had chosen to treat her -with less intimacy than in the beginning of their acquaintance, that was -his own affair. If he now preferred Nona to her--well, he only showed a -better judgment in desiring the finer girl. - -Barbara now put her hand in a friendly fashion on Dick's sleeve. - -"I am awfully glad to have you come along and I am sure Gene will be," -she answered happily. "Lead on, Sir Knight, to the nearest street car." - -After an hour's ride into the country, through one of Belgium's -suburbs, Dick and Barbara arrived at a tumble-down shed. Eugenia had -carefully described this shed as their first destination. - -Not far off they found Bibo waiting for them with a rickety old wagon -and an ancient horse. Money and Eugenia's determined character had -secured the forlorn equipage. For it was difficult to buy any kind of -horse or wagon in these war days. - -However, the small driver, who was the boy Eugenia had rescued some -weeks before, drove with all the pomp of the king's coachman. That is, -he allowed the old horse to pick her way along a grass-grown path for -about a mile. Then he invited his two passengers to get down, as there -was no road up to the old house that a horse and wagon could travel. - -So Dick and Barbara found themselves for the first time in their -acquaintance wandering along a country lane together. Their position was -not very romantic, however. Barbara led the way along the same narrow -avenue that Eugenia had followed on the day of her first visit to the -supposedly deserted place. - -Yet although Barbara almost ran along in her eagerness to arrive, Dick -noticed that she looked very thin. She was not the Barbara of his first -acquaintance; something had changed her. Well, one could hardly go -through the experiences of this war without changing, even if one were -only an outsider. And Dick Thornton glanced at his own useless arm with -a tightening of his lips. He probably owed his life to the little girl -ahead of him. - -Eugenia did not at first see her guests approaching until they had -discovered her. She was in the front yard and the grass had been cut, so -that there was a broad cleared space. Moreover, every window of the -supposedly haunted house was thrown wide open, so that the sun and air -poured in. - -It was as little like either a deserted or a haunted house as one could -humanly imagine. For there were eight or ten children at this moment in -the yard with Eugenia. She held a baby in her arms and a small boy stood -close beside her. - -Barbara saw the little fellow at the same moment she recognized her -friend. Instantly she decided that he was the most exquisite child she -had ever seen in her life. The boy was like a small prince, although he -wore only the blue cotton overalls and light shirt such as the other -boys wore. - -But he must have said something to Eugenia, for she glanced up and then -ran forward to meet her guests. The baby she dumped hastily into her -discarded chair. - -"But I thought I was to be your guest of honor, Gene?" Barbara protested -a few moments later. "Never should I have allowed Dick to come if I had -dreamed he was to put me in the shade so completely." - -Eugenia laughed. Her new responsibilities did not appear to have -overburdened her. - -"Come and meet my family," she insisted. "There was an old woman who -lived in a shoe, who had so many children she didn't know what to do." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -_The Locked Door_ - - -"But she seems to me a very unusual person to be a servant, Gene," -Barbara remarked argumentatively. "Of course, I know she was wearing a -maid's apron and cap so that 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 spoke to Dick -and me with perfect self-possession, although she did seem nervous. But -it is ridiculous to think one can hide a personality under such a slight -disguise." - -Barbara spoke pettishly. She and Eugenia were wandering about the big -house together. They were looking over the arrangements Eugenia had made -for her recently acquired family. These were, of course, of the most -primitive kind. There 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 supports. This formed -a large and informal dining room table. Yet by accident this same room -contained a magnificent Flemish oak sideboard that had been left in the -house by the former owners of the place. - -However, Barbara and Eugenia were in Eugenia's own bedroom when the -present conversation started. They had already seen the lower floor of -the house, where Barbara had been introduced to Eugenia's cook, who was -a plain Flemish woman. But it was the history of the housemaid, a woman -of between forty and fifty, whose identity Barbara was questioning. - -In reply Eugenia gazed at her friend earnestly for a few moments and -then slowly shook her head. - -"These are war times, Bab. I thought you and I had agreed long ago to -ask no unnecessary questions." - -Eugenia had seated herself on the side of her cot bed, Barbara was on a -high wooden box, which served as a chair, near the window. - -She did not reply at first, but this was merely because she was -thinking, not because she intended to consider Eugenia's suggestion. - -She had one foot crossed under her, while the other swung in the air. -Her brow was wrinkled into a painfully heavy frown for so miniature a -person. Unconsciously Barbara pulled meditatively at a brown curl that -had escaped from the knot at the back of her head. - -During her long study Eugenia smiled at her guest. She too could not -grow accustomed to considering Barbara as responsible a person as the -rest of the Red Cross girls. This was only because of her appearance, -for she had learned to have faith in her. - -All of a sudden Barbara began talking again, just where she had left -off. - -"It is all very well to preach, Gene, about not asking unnecessary -questions because we are living and working in war times. But you know -very well we never expected that point of view to apply to asking -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 interests. -Now I don't think for a minute we have the right to keep secrets from -one another. That is, unless they happen to be of a kind one simply -can't bear to tell." And at this Barbara hesitated for an instant. - -"But about this woman, this 'Louise', we were discussing. Eugenia, you -know perfectly well she isn't a real servant. I am dreadfully afraid you -are hiding some one and it may get you into serious trouble," the -younger girl continued, making no effort to hide her anxiety. "Really, -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 deciding so suddenly to give up your Red -Cross work and then knowing exactly where to find a house. Well, I might -as well tell you," Barbara now got off her stool and came over and put a -hand on either of her friend's shoulders, "I mean to find out what you -are trying to hide if I possibly can," she concluded. - -Eugenia did not stir. But she let her own dark eyes rest gravely upon -Bab's blue ones. - -"Please don't," she asked. "I suppose I might have guessed that you -would have discovered there is something unusual about my family. But, -Bab, I want you to promise me on your honor that you 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 that was her little boy, Jan, whom you -saw standing by me when you arrived. But if questions are asked of you, -Barbara, you know absolutely nothing of this. I prefer to manage my own -affairs." - -Eugenia made this announcement in her haughtiest fashion. However, her -companion was not deceived. Eugenia simply meant that if disaster -followed her attempt to shield a prisoner, she alone must bear the -penalty. - -Quietly for another moment, still with her hands on the older girl's -shoulders, Barbara continued to consider the situation. - -"I won't make you any promises, Gene," she answered at last. "I must -decide what to do later. But I won't tell Nona, or Mildred, or Dick, as -I can't see any special point in confiding in them at present. However, -I am not willing 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 different affair. We were under certain -obligations to the Countess Amelie, while this 'Louise' and her 'Jan' -are utter strangers. I think I'll go this instant and tell the woman she -has no right to make you undergo such risks." - -Again Eugenia did not stir, but this time neither did Barbara. - -"You will do no such thing, my dear; you must let me manage my life for -myself," she declared quietly instead. "Of course, I am not going to -take any more chances than I 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 few supplies in -Brussels and I have sent to Boston for a great many more. So when you -girls are able to visit me, we can at least regale ourselves with a -Boston Tea Party." - -Eugenia put an arm across Barbara's shoulder as they moved toward the -door. - -A few feet further on the younger girl stopped. "Are you very rich, -Eugenia Peabody?" she demanded. "Unless you are, it is perfectly mad for -you to have undertaken the expenses of this household. Most of these -children have not had anything to eat for a year and must be nearly -famished." - -Eugenia nodded. "I suppose I am fairly wealthy, although I find it hard -to realize it, as I grew up such a poor girl." - -"Then why--why, Eugenia (I have been simply dying to ask you this ever -since you told us you were rich)--why did you wear such -old-fashioned--if you will excuse me--such perfectly awful clothes?" - -Barbara fairly shuddered, recalling how she and Nona and Mildred had -suffered over Eugenia's ancient Alpine hat. - -But Eugenia only laughed. She had been sensitive enough over the other -girls' attitude toward her appearance when they first knew one another. -But Barbara's way of expressing things was too absurd. - -"I told you I had been so poor I didn't know how to spend money," she -explained. "Besides, I have always been so plain it never occurred to me -that clothes could make much difference in my appearance." - -"Goose!" Barbara looked up at Eugenia searchingly. "If ever this -wretched war is over, I mean to go with you to Paris and make you spend -heaps and heaps of money on clothes. Nona and I have decided that we -could make you look quite stunning if we had the money to spend. Then I -should insist that you pay a visit to the Chateau d'Amelie. The Countess -insisted you never could look like anything but a New England old maid, -no matter what exquisite toilets you wore." - -Then the younger girl's cheeks grew so hot that she could actually feel -the tears being forced into her eyes. - -"I wonder if I shall ever learn what to say and what not to say, Gene?" -she asked wretchedly. "Oh, don't tell me you don't mind what I say. That -is not the point. The trouble is I can't learn when to hold my tongue. I -only wish the Countess could have seen you when Dick and I arrived -today." - -Eugenia was not wearing her nurse's uniform. Instead, she had fished an -old gray crepon dress out of her trunk. But in order to make it more -attractive for her little guests, she wore a white fichu about her neck. -Then her hair was wound in two heavy braids around her head. - -"There isn't any particular reason why I should deny being an old -maid," she returned. "Only I am sorry that you girls discussed my -appearance with a stranger." - -Again Barbara flushed. "The Countess isn't a stranger to us, Gene," she -apologized, "and I don't think you should feel that way toward her since -you and Captain Castaigne have grown to be good friends. I don't see how -you can still consider him unattractive. But you are terribly -prejudiced, Eugenia." - -The two girls had left Eugenia's bedroom and were now walking toward the -back stairs. - -All of a sudden, when Eugenia chanced to be unconscious of her -companion, Barbara moved away. She at once placed her hand on the knob -of a door leading into a room at the back of the house. - -"Whose room is this, Eugenia? May I go inside and see?" she queried. - -Her hand was upon the knob, but, of course, she made no effort to enter -the room, awaiting the other girl's reply. She was interested merely -because this seemed to be about the only room that Eugenia had not -exhibited. - -But Eugenia immediately looked unaccountably angry. Yet she had kept her -temper perfectly through all Barbara's annoying speeches! - -"Please don't attempt to go in that room, Barbara!" she ordered sharply, -quite in the manner and temper of the former Eugenia. "If I had desired -you to see the room I should have taken you into it myself." - -"Oh, I beg your pardon," Barbara replied, angry with herself for the -sudden lump that had risen in her throat. "I suppose this room is -Bluebeard's chamber, or the place where you keep your ghost locked up. I -did not mean to interfere." - -"The room is not locked and is entirely empty," Eugenia replied. -However, she must have parted with her New England conscience at the -moment of making this statement. For Barbara had distinctly heard some -one moving about inside the room. And quite by accident, as her hand -turned the knob, she realized that the door _was_ locked. - -In the yard the two girls found Dick Thornton playing with the -children. He had discovered some ivy growing on one side of the old -house. Therefore, each girl and boy had been decorated with an ivy leaf, -as if it were a badge of honor. Moreover, Dick also wore a leaf in his -buttonhole. - -"Louise" soon brought the tea, which Dick drank with satisfaction. -Barbara tried to pretend that she enjoyed hers, but it was extremely -difficult. Not that she was angry with Eugenia, for her discomfort went -deeper than that. The fact is she was frightened for her. - -Some one more important than "Louise" was being guarded by Eugenia. Who -on earth the man or woman could be, Barbara could not even hazard a -guess. Yet it must be some one whose safety her friend considered of -great importance, for had she not deliberately lied to her? - -Certainly Eugenia was facing a grave situation! At present no one -suspected her of treason. She was simply regarded as an eccentric -American woman, who 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 news that something unusual was going -on in her establishment reached the German authorities, Eugenia could -not hope to escape their vigilance a second time. - -On the trip back into Brussels Dick Thornton found his companion -unusually quiet. He was under the impression that it was because of the -change in her once friendly attitude toward him. He was sorry, because -he very much wanted to talk to her about a personal matter, but never -found a sufficiently intimate moment. - -Only once did she arouse herself in the effort to make conversation. - -"Why do you happen to be wearing that spray of ivy so proudly, Dick?" -she inquired carelessly. "I was amused at your decorating all the -Belgian children with leaves." - -Dick glanced carefully about, but the tram car was almost empty. - -"Don't you understand what the ivy means?" he asked. "I expect it _was_ -pretty absurd of me. But the other day the German commandant ordered -that no Belgian should wear his national colors. Indeed, they were not -to be displayed anywhere. Well, the result is, that almost everybody one -meets upon the street has been wearing a leaf of ivy lately." - -Dick took the ivy spray from his coat and handed it to his companion. - -"Do you know what ivy stands for?" he asked. "It means attachment, -faithful unto death. Won't you wear this?" - -But although Barbara took the shaded, dark green leaf into her hand and -looked at it for a moment, she slowly shook her head. - -"There is something charming and pathetic in the idea, Dick. Remember to -tell the story to Mildred and Nona. And give the ivy to Nona; I am sure -she would love to have it," Barbara finished, as she gave the leaf back -to her companion. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -_A Triangle_ - - -A curious division had developed between the four American Red Cross -girls since their arrival in Belgium. Perhaps this was due to the -arrangement of their work, perhaps to spiritual conditions which are not -always easy to see or define. - -Eugenia, for reasons of her own, had given up the regular Red Cross -nursing, preferring to devote herself to the children whom the war had -made homeless. After Barbara's first visit to her and the discussion -that had arisen between them, she had not urged the younger girl to come -to see her often. - -Barbara had been several times without invitation, but had not referred -to their past difference. Indeed, she hoped that Eugenia would believe -the idea had completely vanished from her mind. Nevertheless, she -watched affairs at the old house more closely than her friend dreamed. -There were other suspicious circumstances that Barbara kept tabulated. -Later on, if she considered Eugenia in danger, she meant to fight for -her and with her when the occasion arose. - -However, Barbara had her own life and labor to occupy her time and was -apparently busier than ever before. For although she and Nona and -Mildred were working at the same hospital, they saw very little of one -another. - -The American Red Cross hospitals in Brussels were not given up entirely -to the care of the wounded soldiers. The Germans looked after their own -men and their prisoners as well. But there were many ill and friendless -Belgians, unable to leave their country, who must have died without the -help of the American Red Cross. - -Fifty thousand Belgian babies were born during the first year of the -present war. Their fathers had either been killed in defence of their -country or were away at the front fighting with their king. So there -were fifty thousand mothers as well as babies who must be looked after. - -Barbara's work was among the women and children in the American -hospital, while Mildred and Nona were engaged in general nursing. The -hospital was not a large one; indeed, it had been a private home before -the coming of the Germans. But the Red Cross Societies of the United -States had outfitted the hospital and only American doctors and nurses -were taking part in the relief work. - -So both from choice and opportunity Mildred and Nona were frequently -together. They shared the same bedroom and grew daily more intimate. - -This had not been true at first. Indeed, Barbara had appeared as the -favorite of both girls, until a new bond had developed between them. - -Always Mildred Thornton had been peculiarly devoted to her brother, -Dick. Even in his selfish, indolent days in New York City she had been -unable to see his faults. In her heart she had resented Barbara Meade's -criticism of him. Now it was charming to find that Nona was as -enthusiastic about Dick as she was. - -Whenever the opportunity came, the three of them used to go upon long -excursions about Brussels. They visited the Royal Museums, the Palais -des Beaux Arts, the parks, the Palais de Justice, which is the largest -and most beautiful modern building in the world. And these parties did -each member of the expedition a great deal of good. No one of them ever -neglected work for pleasure, but the occasional happy times kept them -cheerful and well. - -It might have been better for Barbara had she shared these amusements. -But after inviting her three or four times, finding that she always -refused, the others made no further efforts to persuade her. For they -seemed to be extremely content to be three, in spite of the old adage. - -Indeed, Mildred cherished the unexpressed hope that Dick might be -falling in love with Nona. So whenever it was possible she used to leave -the two of them together. But she was wise enough never to have made -this conspicuous. Neither had she intimated any such idea either to her -friend or brother. - -But it was fairly simple to find one self interested in a picture at one -end of a gallery when her two companions were strolling in the opposite -direction. Also one could grow suddenly weary just as the others had -expressed the desire to investigate some remote picture or scene. - -Certainly it is not usual for a devoted sister to wish her only brother -to marry. But then, Mildred Thornton was an exceptional girl. -Selfishness had never been one of her characteristics, and, moreover, -she was deeply devoted to Nona. Besides this, she felt that the best -possible thing that could happen to Dick was to marry an attractive -girl. For ever since the loss of the use of his arm Mildred had feared -that he might become morose and unhappy. Indeed, he had seemed both of -these things during their stay in Paris. It was only since coming into -Brussels that he had regained a portion of his old debonair spirit. So -naturally Mildred believed Nona to have been largely responsible for -this. - -There were few people in their senses who would have cared at the -present time to dispute Nona Davis' charm and beauty. She had always -been a pretty girl, but the past year in Europe had given her a delicate -loveliness that made persons stop to gaze at her as she passed them on -the street. A great deal of her former shyness had passed away. In spite -of the hard work and the sight of so much undeserved suffering, she had -grown stronger physically. - -For before coming to Europe Nona had led too shut-in and conservative a -life. She had almost no friends of her own age and her poverty was not a -pretence like Eugenia's, but a very certain and to her a very -distasteful thing. - -Nona wanted to see the world and to occupy an important place in it. In -spite of her real talent for her work and her unusual courage under -danger, she had no thought of being a hospital nurse all her life. - -Nona's father was an old man at her birth. He had once belonged to a -family of wealth and prominence. But after the civil war had destroyed -his fortune he had made little effort to rise superior to circumstances. -Yet he had spent a great many hours talking to Nona about the true -position which she _should_ occupy and telling her long stories of her -family's past. - -Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the most beautiful and at the same -time one of the most old-fashioned cities in the world. The tide of the -new American life and spirit has in a measure swept past it. At least -the new Americanism had never entered the doors of Nona's home during -her father's lifetime. - -The old gentleman would have perished had he dreamed of his daughter's -becoming a trained nurse. However, after his death Nona had felt a -strong impulse toward the profession and so far had never regretted the -step. - -But it was true that she had been greatly influenced by the possible -romance and adventure in her decision to help with the Red Cross work in -Europe. This did not mean that Nona was not tremendously in earnest. -But she was a girl who had read a great deal and dreamed many dreams. -All her life poetry and passion would appeal to her more than cold -arrangements of facts. There was no fault in this, it was merely a -matter of temperament. Perhaps it was partly responsible for the soft -light in Nona's brown eyes with their curiously golden iris. Also she -had a fashion of opening her lips slightly when she was specially -interested in a subject, as if she wished to breathe in the essence of -the idea. - -A part of Nona's dreaming was due to the fact that she had never known -her mother after she was a small girl. More than this, she had been -brought up in such curious ignorance of her mother's history. Any child -in the world must have dreamed strange dreams under like circumstances. - -Often Nona used to have a vision of her mother coming to stand at her -bedside. Always she appeared dressed in the white muslin and blue -ribbons, in which she remembered seeing her on a special Sunday -afternoon. - -Moreover, there was always the question of her mother's family to be -pondered over. Naturally Nona believed that her mother must have been a -great lady. Her imagination even went so far as to conceive of her as a -foreign princess, who for reasons of state had been suddenly carried off -to her own land. - -Until she grew old enough to laugh at herself, Nona often sat with her -delicate little nose pressed against the window pane in the drawing room -of her old Charleston home. If questions were asked she could invent -many reasons to explain her presence. She was actually waiting for a -splendid coach and four to drive up to the door and bear her away. The -coach was always decorated with a splendid coat of arms, and for some -absurd childish reason the coachman and footmen were dressed in -pumpkin-colored satin and wore tall black top hats. - -As a matter of fact, as Nona Davis grew older these ridiculous fancies -faded; nevertheless, a few of her old dreams remained. For one thing, -she retained the impression that her mother had probably been a -foreigner. Yet she never could understand why, even after her father's -death, his few old friends continued to decline to give her any -information. Surely one of them must know something of her mother. - -It was all too mysterious and disheartening. On coming to Europe, Nona -had made up her mind to put the trying mystery back of her and to forget -it as completely as she could. In a measure she had succeeded, but since -her confession to the Red Cross girls the old haunting desire had come -back to her. She _must_ find out whether her mother was dead or living -and in either case why she had been told nothing of her. - -Then suddenly one day, without knowing why, she chose Dick Thornton for -a confidant. More than this, she asked for his advice. Whatever the -mystery, it was her right to be told the exact truth, she insisted, and -Dick agreed with her. - -This was on one of the occasions when they were walking together out -from Brussels in the direction of the sea. They were not allowed to -travel very far, since the roads were all patrolled by German soldiers -in command of the fortifications along the way. - -Mildred had chosen to rest for a few moments, so that Dick and Nona were -alone. Not that Mildred's presence would have interfered; this was -simply an accident. - -Dick listened with unusual gravity to Nona's history. Perhaps it struck -him as even queerer than it did the girl herself. She had always been -accustomed to the mystery. Really, the entire story sounded like a -fabrication. Mysteries were out of fashion in these modern days in the -United States. Although, of course, there was nothing too mad or too -inconceivable that was not taking place in Europe at the present time. - -Nothing was more antagonistic to Dick Thornton's nature than concealment -of any kind. Yet he felt profoundly touched by Nona's confession. The -girl herself was so attractive! She was still wearing the black silk -dress and hat she had bought in Paris the autumn before. Her face had -flushed, partly from embarrassment and partly from the emotion she -always felt at any mention of her mother. - -Her eyes were luminous and brown and her features as exquisitely carved -as a Greek statue's. - -Dick also had no other idea except that Nona's mother must have been a -woman of grace and breeding. The daughter was entirely aristocratic to -the tips of her slender fingers. For half a moment Dick thought of -suggesting that he or Mildred write to their own mother for advice. In -reality Mrs. Thornton would have enjoyed tremendously the unveiling of -an _agreeable_ mystery. But only if she should discover in the end that -Nona was the heir to a fortune or a great name. If the conclusion of the -mystery were disagreeable Mrs. Thornton would be profoundly bored. - -Therefore he naturally hesitated. "I don't know exactly what to advise, -Nona," he confessed, since they were by this time calling each other by -their first names. "The sensible thing is to write to your lawyer and -demand to be told all that can be found out. If there are any letters -or papers, you must be twenty-one, so they are legally yours. Then -perhaps with something to go on, you can find out the truth later for -yourself. Only please don't consider my advice too seriously." - -Here Dick's manner and voice both changed. He had grown accustomed to -relying upon his own strength and decision in the past year. Yet every -once in a while he remembered that not many months before he had seldom -given a serious thought to any subject except deciding what girl he -should invite to the theater or a dance. - -"It was awfully kind of you to have thought my judgment worth while," he -concluded. Then his sudden turning of the subject of conversation -surprised Nona. - -"I have a secret of my own which I may some day tell you, because I hope -to have the benefit of your advice," he added. "At present I am not sure -whether it would be wise to speak of it. For so far there is nothing to -be done with my secret but smile and bear it like a man." - -Then Dick smiled. "Do you know, I have been thinking lately that perhaps -it is the women who smile and bear their burdens. A man is rather apt -to want to make a noise when he is hurt." - -Nona glanced down at Dick's sleeve. "I don't think you have a right to -accuse yourself of that fault," she said gently. - -But Dick shook his head. "I was not thinking of my arm; I am learning to -get on fairly comfortably with one arm these days." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -_A Prison and a Prisoner_ - - -One afternoon one of the young doctors in the American hospital invited -Barbara to go with him to visit one of the German prisons. These prisons -sheltered a number of wounded British and French soldiers. There were -scarcely a sufficient number of hospitals to take care of the German -wounded alone. - -Dr. Mason, the young American surgeon, was about twenty-five years old. -He had been sent into Belgium by the Red Cross societies in his own -village in Minnesota. So, although his home and Barbara Meade's were -many miles apart, at least they were both westerners. On this score they -had claimed a fellow feeling for each other. - -The truth was Dr. Mason felt sorry for Barbara. She seemed so young and -so much alone in the unhappy country they had come to serve. She did not -seem to wish to be intimate with the other American nurses at their -hospital and her two former friends evidently neglected her. - -So only with the thought of being kind, Dr. Mason had issued his -invitation. He was not attracted by Barbara. She seemed rather an -insignificant little thing except for her big blue eyes. This was partly -because Barbara so seldom laughed these days. There was little in -Belgium that one could consider amusing. Just now and then she did -manage to bubble over inside when no one was noticing. For there is no -world so sad or so dull that it does not offer an occasional opportunity -for laughter. - -Certainly an excursion to a prison could scarcely be considered an -amusing expedition. Nevertheless, Barbara accepted the invitation with -alacrity, although she had previously declined far pleasanter -suggestions from Dick Thornton and the two girls. - -But she had several reasons for her present decision. She liked Dr. -Mason and she was interested to see the inside of a German prison. -Moreover, it was not unpleasant to have her friends find out that other -persons found her agreeable. - -Have you ever been in the ridiculous state of mind of secretly yearning -to be intimate with an old friend and yet refusing the opportunity when -it is offered you? It is a common enough state of mind and usually comes -from a curious combination of wounded pride and affection. Yet it is a -difficult mood to get the better of and often one must wait for time to -bring the adjustment. - -If Barbara had not been a Red Cross nurse she would never have been -allowed to accompany the American surgeon to the German prison. But as -he might need some one to assist him in cases of severe illness among -the prisoners, Barbara's presence would not be resented. - -The prison was a short distance out from the city of Brussels. It had -formerly been used for persons committing civil offenses, but was now a -military prison. - -The building was of rough stone and was situated in the center of a -large court yard. It was built around an enclosed square, where the -prisoners were sometimes allowed to enjoy air and exercise. - -But conditions were not so unpleasant here as in many other places, -although the discipline was fairly severe. For the Germans were making -their prisoners useful. - -In the early spring crops had been planted by the imprisoned men upon -many of the waste spaces of conquered Belgium. Now the prisoners were -employed in reaping some of the harvests. Only a small proportion of the -food would ever fall to their consumption, yet the work in the fields -was far better for the health and spirits of the captured men than -idleness. It left them less time for thinking of home and for fretting -over the cruel fortunes of war. - -Barbara and Dr. Mason drove out to the German prison in one of the -automobiles connected with their hospital. On the outside frame of the -car was the Red Cross sign with their motto: "Humanity and Neutrality." - -The German commandant of the prison was a big, blond fellow, disposed to -be friendly. Straightway he invited the two Americans to investigate the -prison, declaring that the Germans had nothing to conceal in the -treatment of their captives. - -Dr. Mason, however, was a strictly business-like person. He insisted -upon seeing the sick men first. After doing what he could to relieve -them, if there were time, they would then be pleased to inspect the -prison. - -So Barbara and the young physician were shown into a big room on the top -floor of the building. A sentry sat on a stool outside the door. Inside -there were a dozen cots, but not another article of furniture. The room -was fairly clean, but was lighted only by two small windows near the -ceiling and crossed with heavy iron bars. - -On the cots were half a dozen French and as many English soldiers. -Several of them were evidently very ill, the others were merely weak and -languid. A heavy-footed German woman, more stupid than unkind, was the -solitary nurse. - -Once again Barbara had a return of her half whimsical, half sorrowful -outlook upon life. This excursion with Dr. Mason was in no sense a -pleasant one. - -For no sooner had she entered the sick room than she moved with her -peculiar light swiftness toward the bed of a young soldier. His arms -were thrown up over his head, as if even the faint light in the room -tortured him. - -Barbara pulled his arms gently down. As she did this he made no effort -to resist, but murmured something in French which she could not -comprehend. Yet at the same moment she discovered that the boy's eyes -were bandaged and that he had a quantity of yellow hair, curling all -over his head in ringlets like a baby's. - -The German nurse strode over beside them. - -"He is blind; no hope!" she announced bluntly. - -At the same instant Barbara's arms went around the boy soldier. For -hours he must have been fighting this terrible nightmare alone. Now to -hear his own worst fears confirmed in such a cold, unfeeling fashion -swept the last vestige of his courage away. - -Barbara literally held the young fellow in her arms while he shook as -if with ague. Then he sobbed as if the crying tore at his throat. - -Barbara made no effort not to cry with him. She kept murmuring little -broken French phrases of endearment which she had learned from her -year's work in France, all the time patting the boy's shoulder. - -He was a splendidly built young fellow with a broad chest and strong -young arms. Even his injury and the confinement had not broken his -physical strength. This made the thought of his affliction even harder -to bear, to think that so much fine vigor must be lost from the world's -work. - -"I don't believe it is true that you are going to be blind forever," -Barbara whispered, as soon as she could find her voice. She had no real -reason for her statement, except that the boy must be comforted for the -moment. But he had covered up his eyes as though the light hurt them, -and if he were totally blind neither light nor darkness would matter. - -Dr. Mason had at once crossed the room to talk to another patient. But -at the sound of sobbing, he had turned to find his companion. - -Certainly Barbara was entirely unconscious of the charming picture she -made. She was so tiny, and yet it was her strength and her sympathy at -this moment that were actually supporting the young soldier. - -Never before had the young American physician looked closely at Barbara. -Now he wondered how he could ever have believed her anything but pretty. -Her white forehead was wrinkled with almost motherly sympathy. Then even -while her eyes overflowed, her red lips took a determined line. - -With a glance over her shoulder she summoned the physician. - -"Please tell this boy you will do everything in your power to see that -his eyes are looked after before it is too late," she pleaded. Then she -stood up, still with her hand on the young Frenchman's shoulder. - -"I am a Red Cross nurse. This is Dr. Mason, one of the surgeons who is -giving his services to the American hospital in Brussels," she -explained to the boy, who had by this time managed to regain control of -himself. "Miss Winifred Holt is coming over from New York just to look -after the soldiers whose eyes have been injured in this war," Barbara -continued. "Besides, I know there are eye specialists here who must be -able to do something for you." Barbara's tone each instant grew more -reassuring. "I am sure Dr. Mason and I will both persuade the prison -officers to let you have the best of care. They are sure to be willing -to have us do all that is possible for you." - -By this time the young fellow had straightened himself up and taken hold -of Barbara's other hand. - -"You are more than kind," he answered, speaking with the peculiar -courtesy of the French, "but it is useless! A shell exploded too near my -face. No matter, it is all in the day's business! I was only thinking of -my mother and our little farmhouse in Provence and of the French girl, -Nicolete, who used to dance before our soldiers." - -Suddenly Barbara smelt the odor of pinks and mignonette. For odors are -more intimately associated with one's memories than any other of the -senses. Then the next moment Barbara saw Eugenia and herself standing -near the opening of a trench in southern France. As usual, they were -arguing. But they were interrupted by a French soldier boy, who stood -beside them holding out a small bunch of flowers. He had light hair and -big blue eyes and rosy cheeks like a girl's. - -"Monsieur Bebé," Barbara whispered. - -Relieved that Dr. Mason and the German nurse had both been called to -attend to another patient, Barbara now climbed up on the cot and sat -beside the French boy. - -"I want to tell you something that no one else must hear," she went on, -lowering her voice until it was as mysterious as possible. - -"You do not know it, but you and I are old friends. At least, we have -met before, and that is enough to make us friends in war times. Besides, -you once gave me a bouquet. Do you remember two Red Cross nurses to -whom you gave some flowers that you and the other soldiers had made grow -in the mouth of your trench? Then afterwards we both watched Nicolete -dance and you threw her a spray of mignonette?" - -"Yes, yes," the boy answered, clutching now at Barbara's skirt as if she -were a real link with his own beloved land. "It is the good God who has -sent you here to help me. You will write my mother and say things are -well with me. It will be time enough for her to hear the truth if I ever -go home." - -"You are going to get well, but if you don't you shall at least go -home," Barbara returned resolutely. "The Germans are exchanging -prisoners, you know. But I have another secret to tell you if you will -promise not to tell." - -The boy, who had been crying like a cruelly hurt child the moment -before, was now smiling almost happily. Barbara could be a little witch -when she chose. - -She put her own curly brown head in its white nurse's cap down close -beside the boy's blond one. - -"What would you give to have that same little French girl, Nicolete, -talk to you some day not very far off?" she whispered. Then she told the -story of Nicolete's coming into Belgium with Eugenia and of her living -not far away in the house which Eugenia had taken. But she also made the -boy promise not to breathe to any one the fact of Nicolete's identity. -She was not supposed to be a French girl, but a little Belgian maid -under the protection of a wealthy but eccentric American Red Cross -nurse. - -By the time Barbara had finished this conversation she was compelled to -hurry away. But she promised to come again to the prison as soon as she -was allowed. Dr. Mason needed her help. - -There was far more work to be done than he expected. For the next two -hours Barbara assisted in putting on bandages, in washing ugly places -with antiseptic dressings, in doing a dozen difficult tasks. - -Nevertheless, whenever Dr. Mason had a chance to glance toward his -assistant she managed to smile back at him. It was a trick Barbara had -when nursing. It was never a silly or an unsympathetic smile. It merely -expressed her own readiness to meet the situation as cheerfully as -possible. - -But before the afternoon's work was over the young American doctor had -become convinced that she was the pluckiest little girl he had ever -worked with. What was more, she was one of the prettiest. - -However, though the nurse and doctor were both worn out when their -service for the day was over, they were not to be allowed to return to -the hospital at once. The German officer in command still insisted that -they be shown about the prison building and yard. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -_A Second Acquaintance_ - - -Barbara did not enjoy the thought of being shown over the prison. For -one thing, she was tired; another, she feared she would find the -imprisoned soldiers terribly downcast. She had nursed among them so long -she felt a deep sympathy for their misfortunes. - -Yet she discovered that the imprisoned soldiers go through about the -same variety of moods as men and women engaged in ordinary occupations. -They have their sad days and their cheerful days. There are times when -the confinement and depression seem unendurable, and others when a -letter comes from home with good news. Then one is immediately buoyed -up. - -It was now between four and five o'clock on a summer's afternoon. - -Barbara and Dr. Mason went through the prison hastily. There was -nothing interesting in the sight of the ugly, over-crowded rooms; but -fortunately at this hour most of the men were out of doors. - -So, as soon as they were allowed, the two Americans gladly followed the -German commandant out into the fresh air. They had not been permitted to -talk to the prisoners and Dr. Mason had made no such effort. It was -merely through the courtesy of the German commandant that the American -physician and nurse were given the privilege of visiting the ill -prisoners. Therefore, Dr. Mason considered it a part of his duty not to -break any of the prison rules. - -But Barbara, being a woman, had no such proper respect for authority. -Whenever the others were not looking she had frequently managed to speak -a few words. - -But she breathed better when they were again outdoors. It had been hot -and sultry inside the prison, but now a breeze was blowing, stirring the -leaves of the solitary tree in the prison yard to a gentle murmuring. - -Underneath this tree was a group of a dozen or more soldiers. Some of -them were smoking cherished pipes, while others were reading letters, -yellow and dirty from frequent handling. - -The International Red Cross had done its best to secure humane treatment -for all the war prisoners in Europe. For this purpose there is a Bureau -of Prisoners, having its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. They have -sent forth a petition to the various governments at war, asking among -other things that prisoners be allowed to receive money, letters and -packages from their friends. These last must of course be carefully -censored, and yet they keep life from growing unendurably dull. Think of -long weeks and months going past with never a line from the outside -world! - -Barbara studied the faces of the imprisoned men closely. With all her -experiences as a war nurse it chanced she had never before seen any -number of prisoners. Now and then a few of them had passed her, being -marched along the Belgian roads to the measure of the German goose step. - -Now she managed to bow to the men resting under the tree and they -returned her greeting in the friendliest fashion. Every Red Cross nurse -is a soldier's friend. Yet in the character of an ordinary girl Barbara -would have been almost as cordially received. She looked so natural and -so human. Somehow one recalled once again the vision of "the girl one -had left behind." - -But Barbara was not to linger inside the prison yard. As the day was -nearing its close the men who had been working in the fields were to -return. The German commandant wished Dr. Mason to see how well his -prisoners looked. - -Surrounding the prison was a high stone wall. In the rear of this yard -was a wide gate which could be swung back on hinges, allowing a half -dozen men to be herded through at the same time. - -So Dr. Mason and Barbara were escorted outside the prison wall and given -chairs to await the marching past of the soldiers. - -Barbara sat down gratefully enough. But when five or ten minutes passed -and nothing happened she found herself growing bored. Dr. Mason could -not talk to her. The German officer was discoursing so earnestly in his -own language that it was plain the American physician had to devote all -his energies to the effort to understand him. - -So by and by, when neither of the men was observing her, Barbara got up -and strolled a few paces away. There was little to see except the -stretch of much-traveled road. The fields where the prisoners were at -work were more than a mile away. - -But the girl's attention was arrested by an unmistakable sound. It was -the noise of the imprisoned soldiers being marched back to their jail. -The tread was slow and dead, without animation or life. It was as if the -men had been engaged in tasks in which they had little concern and were -being returned to a place they hated. - -Barbara stood close to the edge of the road along which the men must -pass. She was naturally not thinking of herself. So it had not occurred -to her that the soldiers might be surprised by her unexpected -appearance. - -She was frowning and her blue eyes were wide open with excitement. She -had left her nurse's coat thrown over the back of her chair. So she wore -her American Red Cross uniform, whose white and crimson made a spot of -bright color in the late afternoon's light. - -A young French soldier in the first line of prisoners chanced to catch -Barbara's eye. She smiled at him, half wistful and half friendly. -Instantly the young fellow's hand went up to his cap, as he offered her -the salute a soldier pays his superior officer. - -Then the prisoners were all seized with the same idea at the same time. -For as each line of soldiers, with their guards on either side, passed -the spot where Barbara was standing, every hand rose in salute. - -The girl was deeply touched. But she was not alone in this feeling. The -American physician had a husky sensation in his throat and his glasses -became suddenly blurred. The German commandant of the prison said -"A-hum, a-hum," in an unnecessarily loud tone. - -There was nothing in the spectacle of the girl herself being thus -honored by the imprisoned men that was particularly affecting. The truth -was it was not Barbara who was being saluted, but the uniform she wore, -the white ground with its cross of crimson. In a world of hate and -confusion and sometimes of despair the Red Cross still commands -universal respect. - -Barbara could not see distinctly the faces of the soldiers. She -recognized them to be both French and English and of various ages and -ranks. But there were too many of them and they moved too rapidly to -study the individual faces. However, as the men finally entered the -prison gate the line halted a moment. Then something must have occurred -to delay them still more. Six or eight rows of men were compelled to -stand at attention. - -One of the guards near Barbara moved ahead to find out what caused the -obstruction. This was Barbara's chance to get a good look at the -soldiers. So she began with the one in the line directly opposite her. - -The young man was undeniably an Englishman. He was about six feet tall -and as lean as possible without illness. He wore no hat and his hair was -tawny as the hay he had just been cutting. Moreover, his eyes were the -almost startling blue that one only sees with a bronzed skin. - -He did not look unhappy or bored, but extremely wide awake and "fit," as -the English say. Besides this, he seemed enormously interested in -Barbara. Obviously the young soldier was a gentleman, and yet equally -obvious was the fact that he was staring. - -All at once Barbara moved forward a few steps until she was nearer the -prisoner than she should have been. This was because she had seen him -somewhere before but could not for the moment recall his name. - -"Lieutenant Hume!" Barbara exclaimed suddenly under her breath. "I am -sorry; I did not know you were a prisoner!" - -The young soldier did not move a muscle in his face, yet his eyes -answered the girl with sufficient eloquence. - -There was not a second to be lost. Barbara knew the prisoner was not -allowed to speak to her. Also she was not expected to speak to him. But -she had an unlooked-for chance to say a few words, and what feminine -person would have failed to seize the opportunity! - -"We are nursing here in Brussels, all of us," she went on rapidly, -keeping as careful a lookout as possible. "The other girls will be -grieved to hear of your bad luck. If possible, would you like one of us -to write you?" - -For half a second Lieutenant Hume's rigidity relaxed. Yet once again his -answer was in the look he flashed at the girl. Then next the order came. -The soldiers were marched inside the prison and the gate swung to. - -Immediately after Barbara and Dr. Mason started back to the hospital. - -Really, Barbara felt ashamed of herself, she was such an extraordinarily -dull companion during the return journey. But she was both tired and -excited. - -What an extraordinary experience to have spent a few hours at a German -prison and to have discovered two acquaintances. True, poor Monsieur -Bebé was scarcely an acquaintance, yet she had seen and spoken to him -before. As for Lieutenant Hume, he was almost a friend. At least, he had -been a friend of Nona's. She would be grieved to hear of his misfortune -and no doubt would try to be kind to him if it were possible. - -As for Barbara, she meant to devote her energies to doing what she could -for the young Frenchman. If he were totally blind, surely the German -authorities might be persuaded to exchange him for one of their own men, -should proper interest be shown in his case. As soon as possible Barbara -decided she would go and consult Eugenia. She would be sure to have some -intelligent suggestion to make. - -Barbara and Dr. Mason said farewell to each other outside the hospital -front door, as the man had other work before him. - -Just as he was leaving the girl slipped her small hand inside his. - -"I have had a more interesting afternoon than you realize," she -insisted, "and thank you for taking me with you. I am sorry that I have -been such a tiresome companion on our way home." - -The young man smiled down upon the tired little nurse. The fact that she -was a nurse struck him as an absurdity, as it did almost every one else. - -"You have been a perfect trump, Miss Meade, and if anybody is to blame -it is I, for taking you upon such a fatiguing expedition. Will you go -with me upon a more cheerful excursion some day?" - -Barbara nodded. Dr. Mason was looking at her with the frankest -admiration and friendship. It was good to be admired and liked. Then she -turned and disappeared inside the big hospital door. - -Dr. Mason continued to think of her until he reached the house of his -next patient. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -_A Discussion, not an Argument_ - - -"But very probably you were mistaken in thinking it was Lieutenant -Hume," Nona announced. "I am sure he had not been taken prisoner when we -left France." - -Barbara raised herself on one elbow in her small bed and answered -irritably: - -"I most certainly was not mistaken, Nona Davis. I ought to know Robert -Hume perfectly well after our meeting in Paris and his visit at the -chateau. Besides, though he dared not speak, he showed that he -recognized me. I even promised him that you would write him a note to -the prison if it were possible." Then Barbara relaxed and sank down on -her pillow again. - -She and Nona and Mildred were in her small room at the hospital. It was -time for them all to have been in bed and asleep, since they chanced -not to be engaged in night nursing. But Barbara had retired early, as -she was extremely tired. Then, some time after, Nona and Mildred had -crept in to find out what had become of her. They had missed her during -the afternoon, but had not known of her expedition with Dr. Mason. - -Now Nona looked annoyed. - -"What an extraordinary thing, Barbara, for you to promise! I am sure I -see no reason in the world why I should write Lieutenant Hume. We are -only acquaintances. Of course, I am sorry to know he is in hard luck. -But for me to begin writing him under the circumstances would look as if -we were intimate friends." - -Barbara slipped her arms up over her head, making a kind of oval frame -for her face. - -Nona and Mildred were seated on either side the foot of her bed. - -"I think you are absurd, Nona," she commented, in the frank fashion -which was not always either advisable or pleasant. "I really don't -believe I did say you would write, only that one of us would. -Naturally, I thought as you knew Lieutenant Hume best you would prefer -it. I don't consider he would think you were being _too_ friendly with -him. He is too much of a gentleman. He would understand that you were -sorry for his hard luck and pitied his loneliness. I wonder if it was -because you were brought up in the south that you are so conventional? -You don't seem to be so all the time, only when it suits you. I am sure -I will write the note to Lieutenant Hume with pleasure if I find he is -allowed to receive letters except from his family." - -Evidently Barbara was in a mood when it made but little difference to -her whether or not she made Nona Davis angry. Yet she and Nona had once -seemed to be devoted to each other and appeared to be friendly now. - -Nona, however, was not given to quarreling. So, although she flushed -uncomfortably, she made no immediate answer. - -Mildred, however, broke into the conversation hastily. - -"Well, you did have an extraordinarily interesting afternoon, Barbara, -though it must have been a trying one. I confess Nona and Dick and I -were all hurt when we found you had gone out without even speaking of -your intention. We have asked you to go with us any number of times. -Dick said he did not suppose you knew any one in the hospital well -enough to have accepted an invitation." - -At this Barbara rose up to a half-sitting position, still with her -arm-encircled head leaning against her pile of pillows. - -"Was Dick here this afternoon?" she inquired, wondering within herself -why she felt pleased over Dick's hearing of her departure. - -"Oh, he only stopped by for a moment to bring Nona a book," Mildred -added. "I just chanced to see them as I was passing by in the hall. But -you look very tired, Barbara. Would you like Nona and me to leave you? -You can tell us more of your experiences another time. But I advise you -to ask Dick if he can make any suggestions about the poor little -Frenchman. Monsieur Bebé sounds so pathetic. You know Dick may have -something worth while to propose. He is doing such splendid work with -the Relief Committee." - -Barbara patted Mildred's hand gently and, it must be confessed, a little -condescendingly. - -"You are apt to think Dick does everything well, Mill, aren't you," she -announced, "whether it is looking after the starving Belgians or leading -a dance in a ball room? Still, I don't think I shall trouble him. I have -a plan of my own in mind for the boy and I am going out to see Eugenia -to ask if she thinks it feasible. Then if she thinks it is, I shall go -ahead and see what can be accomplished." - -"And leave all of us completely in the dark," Nona added. "I must -confess, Barbara, I don't think it kind of you to speak to Mildred about -Dick in such a superior, almost scornful, fashion. In the last few weeks -we have both been aware that you did not care to be intimate with us. -But whatever we may have done, I can't see how Dick Thornton can have -merited your disapproval. I don't believe you have even seen him alone." - -Barbara's cheeks flared. "And I wonder how you formed that opinion, -Nona? However, it strikes me as none of your business." - -The instant Barbara had made this speech she was sorry. One was always -at a disadvantage in a quarrel with Nona Davis. For Nona never for a -moment forgot her dignity or breeding. She was white now, while Barbara -was crimson. Her lips were curling a little scornfully, but she answered -quietly, "I am sorry to have made you angry; that was not my intention." - -However, in spite of her apology, the younger girl remained absurdly -aggrieved. Yet she had the grace to turn to Mildred. - -"I am sure you understand, Mildred, that I never intended to be -disagreeable about Dick. You must know that I admire him very much." - -Mildred leaned over and deliberately pinched Barbara's flushed cheeks. -"I know you are a little goose," she asserted, "to be quarreling with -Nona as though you were two badly brought up children." - -But Barbara was not to be appeased. She made no answer, and the next -moment Nona slipped off the bed and knelt on the floor beside her. - -"What is the matter, Bab? What is it that has been making you feel and -behave so differently toward me lately? If I have been to blame in any -way I apologize with all my heart. I confess I was absurd about -Lieutenant Hume. I liked him very much the few times we met. I might at -least be willing to do the poor fellow a kindness when he is in hard -luck. But you see, he does not belong to a very good family in England. -Though he behaves like a gentleman, after all he is only a gardener's -son." - -It was not Barbara who interrupted this time, but Mildred Thornton. - -"That is nonsense, Nona," she protested. "I have heard you say something -of that kind two or three times. Anyone who has traveled in the least -knows that no gardener's son in England is educated as Lieutenant Hume -is, nor has such perfectly self-possessed manners. Besides, he is a -lieutenant." - -Nona shook her head. "Yes, I know it does sound impossible," she -returned. "But Lieutenant Hume told me himself that he was the son of -the gardener when I first met him in Surrey. He was at home then, -recovering from a wound in the leg and was lying asleep near the -gardener's cottage. It has often struck me as queer since, but I have -worked it all out. Lieutenant Hume must have been educated by some one -who considered him unusual. And commissions have been given in the -British army in this war for merit as well as for family reasons." - -But Nona was evidently weary of the subject of the young English -lieutenant. She had remained kneeling on the floor and she now took hold -of Barbara's somewhat limp hand in a very sweet fashion. - -"But you haven't said what the trouble is between us, Bab, or whether -you are willing to forgive me?" she continued. "I should feel very -unhappy if anything serious interrupted our friendship. Eugenia seems so -far away these days and I don't believe she is anxious to have us come -to see her often." - -"Oh, Eugenia is busy," Barbara answered carelessly. "But it is all -right, Nona; of course I am not angry with you. I was vexed for a -moment, but I expect that was because I am tired. It is ridiculous to -suggest that there could be any serious trouble between us." - -To the best of her ability Barbara tried to speak with sincerity. Nona -looked exquisitely pretty and appealing as she knelt beside her. One -would have forgiven her almost any offense. Yet Barbara could not -truthfully convince herself that Nona had committed an offense against -her. Nevertheless, she did not feel a return of her affection, although -she struggled to have her manner at least appear unchanged. - -But Nona was conscious of the difference, for she rose immediately to -her feet. - -"I am sorry we disturbed you tonight when you were so tired," she said, -holding her chin just a little higher than usual. There was no change in -the soft inflections of her voice. "Good night." - -Then Nona left the room without looking back. But Mildred stopped to -kiss Barbara. "You haven't been any too nice to me either, Mistress -Barbara," she asserted. "If you don't reform I shall tell Dick and make -him find out the reason why." - -Of course Mildred made this speech without in the least meaning it. -Nevertheless, after both girls had left the room and she should have -been asleep, Barbara remembered. She sincerely hoped that Mildred would -not be so tiresome as to tell Dick of their personal differences. But -what was the root of the trouble between her and her two former friends? - -For the life of her Barbara could not decide. Or, if at the depth of her -heart she knew, she was not brave enough to confess the truth to -herself. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -_Monsieur Bebé_ - - -One sultry August afternoon Barbara went again to see Eugenia. This time -she went alone. - -According to his usual custom Bibo met her at the end of the car line -with his ancient horse. Owing to his lameness perhaps, he was head -coachman to Eugenia's establishment, which Barbara still insisted upon -calling "L'Hotel des Enfants." - -Bibo was looking extremely well. He had on long trousers of blue cotton -and a blue cotton smock with a round collar. He had lost the frightened, -starved look which Barbara remembered seeing on the evening of his -rescue. The boy's face was round, there was a dimple in one corner of -his brown cheek. His eyes were serene save for his sense of -responsibility as Barbara's escort. - -It is true that Bibo's mother was still held a prisoner in Brussels -because of an act of disrespect to a German officer. But children's -memories do not harass them so long as they are happy. - -"How are things going, Bibo?" Barbara asked in French, as soon as she -was seated beside her driver. Fortunately, French was the language of -Eugenia's Belgium family rather than Flemish. - -Bibo first flapped his reins and then nodded enthusiastically. Words at -the moment appeared to fail him, although he was usually voluble. - -"Then Gene is well?" Barbara continued. For after many difficulties -Eugenia had acquired this informal title. In the beginning the children -had struggled nobly with her name, but Miss Peabody was too much for -them. Then "Miss Eugenia" was equally difficult for little Belgian -tongues, so it became Madame Gene. Later, since Eugenia did not enjoy -being called Madame, nor was she more fond of Mademoiselle, her name -attained its simplest form among the younger children. - -But Eugenia was Bibo's altar saint and he was not inclined to take -liberties. Saint Gene she had been to him in truth! - -"She is well," he answered briefly. Then he allowed his round eyes to -leave his horse and turn ecstatically toward Barbara. - -"In a few days my mother is to be with us. She wrote that she need stay -no longer in prison and that she wished to see me, but alas, there was -no place for us to go! Our home near Louvain was burned and my father--" -The tones of the boy's voice expressed his uncertainty of his father's -fate. "But my friend has written that my mother may come to our home; -she will help us look after the other children. All will be well!" - -Bibo's tone was so grown-up and he was so evidently quoting Eugenia that -his companion smiled. But the smile was because Bibo could not possibly -understand how one _could_ cry over good news. How big was Eugenia's -house and her sympathy these days? Certainly she seemed to wish it to -include all who needed her help. - -"And Monsieur Bebé?" Barbara next queried. "Does he appear more -cheerful since I left him with you a week ago?" - -The boy hesitated a little. "He laughed twice this morning and he sits -all day in the sun and smiles now and then when Nicolete is beside him. -But no one can be cheerful and blind." - -This was spoken with conviction. Of his own affliction Bibo seldom -thought, but indeed his lameness troubled him very little now. He could -run and walk almost as well as the other boys. It had been hard at -first, for until the day when their house had burned and they had been -forced to escape, he had been exactly like other boys. But he had been -stupid then and fallen. There had been no time to heal the hurt in his -leg, so Bibo must hobble as best he might through an indifferent world. - -But Barbara seemed extraordinarily well pleased by her companion's -information. Poor Monsieur Bebé had been so far from smiling even once -during his weeks in the prison hospital. And Barbara felt that she -could claim some of the credit along with Eugenia for his release and -better fortune. - -Soon after her visit to the prison she had secured a prominent surgeon -to go and look at the young Frenchman's eyes. The man could offer him -little comfort. There was every chance that Monsieur Bebé, whose name -was Reney, must continue blind. A little hope he might have, but hope -was not encouragement. - -In the depression that followed this announcement Barbara did her best -to help the boy. But it was plain to his fellow prisoners and to the -prison officers that the news had broken his health and spirit. He had -no wish to live. He would not eat and after a time made no effort to get -out of bed. He would lie all day without speaking, but rarely uttering a -complaint. - -Everybody was sorry for him, the big German nurse, the German guards, -even the commandant of the prison. It was one thing to kill an enemy in -the passion of battle, but another to see a boy, who had done one no -personal harm, slowly passing away in darkness. - -So when Barbara came to the German commandant with her plea for his -prisoner's parole, he was willing to listen to her. - -"What possible harm could be done if Monsieur Bebé, in reality Albert -Reney, be transferred to Eugenia's home in the woods? She had offered -the French boy shelter and care. He would make no effort to escape, but -even if he should, a blind man could never again fight for his country. -Moreover, Germany was arranging with the Allies for an exchange of blind -prisoners. It was possible that Monsieur Reney might later on be sent -home." - -Eugenia was waiting this time near the place where Barbara was compelled -to descend from Bibo's wagon. She had only one of her children with her, -which was unusual, since she ordinarily went about with five or six. But -Jan and Bibo were her two shadows. They were marked contrasts, since -Bibo was so plainly a little son of the Belgian soil, the child and -grandchild of farmers. Jan came of the men and women who have lived -among pictures and books and helped make the history of his now tragic -land. - -The boy Jan was so instinctively a gentleman that, although he was not -ten years old, he immediately upon Barbara's arrival slipped behind the -two friends. For his happiness' sake he wished to keep his eyes fastened -upon his Gene, but he must not be close enough to overhear conversation -that would not be intended for him. - -Eugenia took Barbara's face between her beautiful, firm hands and gazed -at her closely. Although in the first instant she saw that the girl wore -the same look of the past few weeks, she said nothing. Only she put her -arm about her as they walked toward the house. - -Barbara did not feel like talking at first. She had been coming every -week recently to the house in the woods and the visits always rested -her. It did not seem possible that a few months could make so great a -change as they had in Eugenia. One could scarcely have recognized her as -the same girl who set sail from New York City a little more than a year -before. But she was also changed from the girl who had crossed over -from France earlier in the summer. In spite of her responsibilities -Eugenia had grown ever so much larger; all the angular curves were gone, -her chin was softly rounded. Beneath her pallor there was now a soft -glow of pink, and best of all, the severe lines about her mouth had -almost completely vanished. They could return if she were displeased, -but the children rarely saw them. - -"Something very worth while has come to you, Gene," Barbara whispered. -"I wish you felt you could tell me what it is. Is it because you enjoy -looking after the Belgian children?" - -Eugenia nodded. "It is that and something else, but I don't feel that I -can ever explain to any one." - -Then Barbara and Eugenia were interrupted by two persons coming toward -them from the opposite direction. - -One was a splendid, big blond fellow whose eyes were bandaged. He was -being led by a girl of about sixteen with jet-black hair which she wore -short to her shoulders. She had dark eyes and crimson lips. Nicolete's -costume and manner had both changed since her departure from France. But -it was not possible to change the vivid coloring of her face. - -Both the girl and boy were chattering rapidly, and both of them seemed -happier than Barbara had lately seen them. - -"The truth is all French people are homesick outside of their beloved -France," Barbara thought to herself. "So it must be a consolation to -have a fellow countryman for a companion." - -But Monsieur Bebé was tremendously pleased to hear Barbara's voice. He -asked her to take his hand and lead him back to his chair in the garden -before the once deserted house. There, as a small chair chanced to be -beside his, Barbara sat down. Then Nicolete and Eugenia went away to -prepare tea. - -Monsieur Bebé did his best to express his thanks to Barbara and he had -the Frenchman's grace and choice of words. He was of course still -desperately sad over his affliction, but meant if possible to meet it -like a man. He had been willing to die for his country, but perhaps it -took more courage to go on living for her. Miss Peabody had promised -that as soon as possible he should begin to learn a trade. - -After a quarter of an hour's talk Barbara felt in better spirits than -she had on her arrival. Perhaps this was the secret with Eugenia. She -was feeling that she was being useful to some one. It might help heal -another kind of hurt. Certainly Barbara could feel that her interest in -the young Frenchman had been worth while. - -The two friends saw little of each other during the rest of the -afternoon. But this was the usual thing and Barbara did not mind. She -continued to stay out in the yard, sometimes watching the children play -and at other times leading the games herself. - -Eugenia came and went, now and then stopping for a few words of -conversation. "Louise," the maid, rarely appeared. In all Barbara's -visits she and "Louise" had not exchanged a dozen sentences. Indeed, it -was self-evident that the woman did not wish to be noticed. Barbara -respected her desire. - -However, she understood perfectly by this time that "Louise" was not a -servant, but some one who was living in Eugenia's house in order to -conceal herself and her children. Jan had forgotten instructions and -several times spoken to "Louise" as mother. There was also a little girl -who was with her the greater part of the time. - -But Barbara asked no more questions. So far no trouble had come from -Eugenia's kindness. Perhaps this "Louise" was a person of no especial -importance, whom the German authorities would not take the trouble to -seek. - -Of the person behind the locked door, nothing more had been seen or -heard. Only Barbara had never been allowed to go into that particular -room. - -None of these things were troubling her this afternoon. Possibly she -might try and talk them over with Eugenia later, although she really did -not expect to. But she meant to stay all night and Eugenia had promised -to spend an hour or so before bedtime alone with her. - -It was a marvelous August night with the most perfect moon of the year. - -The day had been hot, but the coolness came, as it nearly always does, -toward evening. Nevertheless, Eugenia and Barbara decided to leave the -house for a short walk. There was little chance for privacy indoors, as -every room was now occupied and Eugenia had been compelled to take -Nicolete in with her. - -So at about nine o'clock, when most of the members of the household had -retired, Eugenia and her guest started out. Eugenia wore a dark red -sweater and cap and Barbara white ones, which she kept in the country -for the purpose. - -Neither girl intended to go far from home. Eugenia's house was in a -comparatively deserted part of the countryside. There were no other -places near. But for that very reason in case of difficulty there would -be no one to offer aid. - -To the left of Eugenia's was a big, uncultivated field. On the other -side was the woods with the path which connected with her yard. The -children often played in the woods near by, but in taking a walk -persons were compelled to follow the traveled path. If one wandered away -for any distance there was danger of getting lost. Not that the woods -were particularly thick, but because they had been neglected and -underbrush had grown up between the trees. - -Therefore, as soon as the two girls walked the length of their yard they -turned into the usual path. The woods were in reality only another -portion of the abandoned estate. The moonlight was so bright that the -path looked like a strip of white ribbon ahead. Then, though the foliage -of the trees made beautiful, dense shadows, one could see distinctly in -between them. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -_The Ghost_ - - -The girls had been talking over certain details in connection with the -management of Eugenia's establishment. She found it extremely difficult -to buy provisions. But neither one of them was giving thought to what -she said. - -It was Eugenia, however, who offered the interruption. - -"Please let's don't talk about things that are of no importance, Bab, -when I see you so seldom," she protested. "Tell me, please, about Dick -Thornton and Mildred and Nona. Dick and Nona were out here a few moments -the other day, but I had no chance to have any conversation with them. I -thought they both looked extraordinarily well to be working so hard. I -never believed Nona as strong as you, Barbara, so why do you seem so -used up? Is your work at the hospital more difficult than hers?" - -"Certainly not," the other girl answered. "Really, Eugenia, I don't -think it kind of you, or of other people, to keep on telling me I don't -look well. I have assured you a dozen times I am all right. If you -continue suggesting the other thing I shall probably fall ill. But Nona -and Dick do seem well and cheerful, and so is Mildred for that matter. I -think it is because they are all very happy over something. No one has -spoken of it to me so I am only guessing. But it is true, isn't it, -Eugenia, that if one is happy oneself, it is not hard to bear the -sufferings of other people? Yet it seems to me that Belgium is scarcely -the place to make one cheerful." - -Instead of replying Eugenia laughed. The cynicism in Barbara's tone was -so unlike her. Yet one could realize that she did not mean to be -disagreeable. Really she was confused and needed information. - -"Oh, I suppose one's own happiness is of chief importance," Eugenia -finally returned. "It isn't human to expect people to be utterly -wretched over others' sorrows. One can be sympathetic, of course, and -depressed now and then, but that is about all." - -Then they walked on a few yards in silence before the older girl added: - -"Are you speaking of the same thing, Bab, that we discussed one night in -the moonlight a good many weeks ago? I believe it was the first evening -after Dick Thornton arrived in Brussels? Because if you are, I still -don't agree with you. Of course, I have been separated from the rest of -you most of the time lately, yet I don't think I am mistaken. What makes -you believe as you do, Barbara?" - -The older girl put this question in as careless a tone as possible. -Then, although she and her companion were walking arm in arm, she did -not glance toward her. She did not even try to get an impression of her -expression in the moonlight. - -Barbara shrugged her shoulders. "There are many signs, Eugenia, and they -cannot always be defined. But I don't think _you_ would ever see or -understand them." - -The slighting emphasis upon the pronoun was unmistakable; nevertheless, -Eugenia only smiled. Once Barbara's point of view might have hurt her, -but tonight she was not thinking of herself. She had something else upon -her mind, but was uncertain whether it would be wise to discuss the -subject, or leave it still in darkness. - -"Well, perhaps you are right, Barbara," she admitted. "I had a note from -Nona yesterday, but she made no reference to Dick. She wanted me to ask -you a question for her, which perhaps neither of us has the right to -ask. I don't know, it has worried me a good deal----" - -She stopped because Barbara had turned in the path and was facing her -half belligerently and half affectionately. - -"Don't be a goose, Eugenia, ask me anything you like. Certainly I have -bored you enough recently with my bad tempers and complaints to have you -say whatever you wish to me. It's funny, Eugenia, but when we started -for Europe I was sure I was going to like you less than any one of the -girls. Now you are the only one I care very much about." - -With this Barbara laughed, pretending that she was not altogether in -earnest. But there was no humor in her laughter. - -Eugenia received her information gravely. - -"That may be good of you, dear, but I don't believe you," she returned. -"Still I am glad you made the remark just at this minute. It helps me -with what I wish to say to you. Nona wanted me to find out what it was -that had changed your feeling for her. She says she has done her best to -discover for herself and has asked you to tell her, but without success. -She seems much distressed and is anxious to make amends if she has -injured you." - -The older girl had to cease talking because Barbara had pulled away and -was walking on ahead without pretending to answer. - -She was being rude and was aware of it. But it was better to be rude -than to have any human being discover how crimson her face had become -and how her lips were trembling. Eugenia's question had taken her so by -surprise. Several weeks before she had gone through much the same kind -of conversation with Nona and Mildred. But the subject had never been -mentioned again and she hoped was happily over. It was too stupid to -have Nona go on dwelling upon the matter in this way and utterly -pointless. She had told her that she had nothing in the world against -her. Surely one had the right to one's likes and dislikes! - -Quietly Eugenia continued after her guest. She made no effort to stop -her, although she realized that they were walking farther than they had -intended. - -Finally Barbara must have appreciated the fact, because she stopped and -turned around. - -"Let's go back home, I am dead tired," she murmured. - -Of course Eugenia complied, and they continued in single file on the -return journey. - -Walking alone, Barbara once or twice thought that she heard some one -tramping about in the underbrush not far away. But although she glanced -over in that direction she saw no one. - -After five minutes more of silence Barbara caught up with Eugenia, who -was in the lead on the way home. - -"Can we stop a minute somewhere, Gene, before we get back to the house? -I have something I want to tell you. I believe I'll feel relieved once I -have made a plain statement of a fact to myself as well as to you. And -it will be easier to say it out here in the moonlight than in the light -of day." - -This time it was the older girl who hesitated. - -"You said you were tired, Bab, and it is getting late. Besides, I am not -sure it is wise for us to be so far from the house alone." She turned -her head uneasily toward the left side of the woods. It was on the same -side that Barbara had believed she heard a noise. But at present she was -paying no attention. - -"Please do as I ask you; a few minutes more cannot make any difference." - -Then, just as they had two months before, the girls found a fallen tree -and seated themselves on the trunk. But Barbara turned around so that -she could look directly at her companion. A shaft of light shone -straight across her face. Eugenia could see that the characteristic -little frown was there as well as the slight wrinkling of the short, -straight nose. Also that Barbara's eyes were serious, although the -expression of her mouth was partly humorous. She looked very young and -charming. Perhaps she was not so beautiful as many other girls. Yet she -had a kind of mocking grace, an evanescent, will o' the wisp quality -that was more fascinating than ordinary beauty. Then beside this, she -was so thoroughly human. - -"Yes, I have a grievance against Nona, a perfectly dreadful one. When I -told her I didn't have, I just lied," she began directly. "Fact of the -matter is, I can't forgive Nona for being more attractive than I am. I -can't tell her this to her face though, can I, Eugenia? Nor can I see -exactly how I can let _you_ tell her." - -Barbara clasped her hands together. They felt very warm, although the -evening was cool. But then her cheeks were even hotter. Nevertheless, a -smile at herself, perhaps the best smile there is in the world, -flickered around the corners of Barbara's mouth. - -"I know perfectly well what you are thinking, Eugenia. Nona has not -changed recently. If I cannot like her now because she is prettier and -more charming than I am, then why did I like her at the beginning of our -acquaintance? She was both those things then. But the fact is, I didn't -care then, because, because--Oh, why is it so hard to get it out, Gene? -I don't see why girls need always be ashamed of caring for people who -don't care for them? I didn't know at first how much Dick Thornton was -going to be interested in Nona Davis, nor how much I cared for Dick. -There, the worst is out and I am glad of it!" - -Then Barbara dropped her chin into her hands and sat staring at the moon -up over the top of the trees, waiting for her companion to answer. -Eugenia remained silent. - -"Are you disgusted with me, Gene?" the younger girl asked the next -moment. "Goodness knows, I have been with myself, though I never -confessed the truth to any one, not even to Barbara Meade, until this -second. I haven't any right in the world to like Dick except as a -friend. He has always been only ordinarily nice and polite to me. I -really never thought of him seriously until after we left Paris. Then -when I found out he was writing to Nona and never to me, I was terribly -hurt. I had believed we were better friends than he and Nona. At first I -didn't see why I should mind so much, then by degrees I suppose I began -to find out. Anyhow, the only reason I have for not liking Nona at -present is jealousy. It is about the ugliest fault there is, so I'm not -very proud of myself. But as I intend to make a clean breast of the -subject tonight and then never mention it again, you might as well hear -the rest. I don't like Mildred so much as I used to, because she -evidently prefers to have Nona for Dick's friend than to have me. And -there are times when I'd like to pinch her." - -It was so absurd of Barbara to end her confession with this -anti-climax. Yet the older girl was not deceived. Because she endeavored -to make fun of herself and of the situation, she was no less in earnest. - -"Why don't you say something, Gene?" she pleaded the next instant. "What -shall I do? Am I ever going to be sensible again?" - -Perhaps it was because Eugenia had been devoting herself to caring for -children for the past two months, or perhaps it was because she had so -strongly the mother feeling. For at this moment she wanted to take -Barbara in her arms. Really, there was not very much for her to say -under the circumstances. Should she insist that Dick was not in love -with Nona when she knew absolutely nothing about it? This would, only -make things harder for the other girl in the end. Barbara was not a -foolish, sentimental person; she was usually clear-sighted, with sound -common sense. Of course, she would stop caring for Dick Thornton after a -time if he felt no affection for her. But how convince her of this at -the present moment? - -"I had been fearing something like this, Barbara," Eugenia said -finally. "I don't mean in connection with Nona. I never dreamed of her -entering into the situation. Dick is a splendid fellow, but after all he -has only one arm. Besides, I don't think Judge Thornton is really -wealthy. They spend a great deal of money. I know from all I have heard -that Judge Thornton makes a great deal, but that Mrs. Thornton is very -extravagant and very ambitious." - -Barbara got up. "Let's go to bed, Gene dear. Of course, nothing you can -say will make any difference. But I promise to turn over a new leaf. -Away with all human weakness!" - -Barbara started to wave her hand, but instead clutched at Eugenia's arm -frantically. - -"Great heavens, who was that, Gene?" she whispered. "I am sure I saw -some one sliding along between the trees. He was crouched over as if he -feared we might see him." - -Eugenia took the younger girl's arm. "It was no one, my dear. But -remember, this is a haunted house and a ghost is supposed to wander all -over the estate. Keep hold of my hand and we'll run to the house. -Perhaps we may get there before the ghost does." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -_An Arrest_ - - -"I want you to know that I understand who the ghost was last night, -Eugenia," Barbara said unexpectedly next morning. - -Eugenia was just about to leave her bedroom, Nicolete having gone -downstairs half an hour before. - -At these words the older girl turned and stood straight and severe with -her shoulders braced against the wall as if for support. - -"What do you mean?" she inquired slowly. - -Barbara had not finished dressing. Indeed, she was in the undignified -attitude of sitting on one side of the bed putting on her stockings. -Nevertheless, she gazed at Eugenia squarely. - -"I mean just what I said," she answered. "That is, of course, I don't -know the name or the age or the identity of the man I saw by accident -in the woods last night. But I realize that he must be the same person -you have been concealing ever since you took this house. Naturally he -must grow weary of the long confinement and be obliged to go outdoors -now and then at night." - -Eugenia had not replied, so Barbara went on thinking aloud. - -"Or else some one may have been coming to the house with a message for -the person in hiding. Of course, I don't know whether your refugee is a -man or woman. But whoever he or she may be, goodness knows, I'll be -grateful enough when the escape is over and this house left behind!" - -Eugenia's face whitened at the younger girl's words. Nevertheless, she -again turned as if she meant to leave the room without an answer. - -Barbara was too quick for her. - -She took hold of both her shoulders and pulled her gently around. - -"I would rather you would say something, Gene. I have been doing all -the talking ever since I arrived. One minute I can't decide whether I -ought to try and find out who this person is you have in hiding, or what -your reason is. Then I wonder if it is best I should leave you alone? -But please, please don't run any risks. You know that if you are defying -the German authorities and are found out, what your punishment may be. -What could _I_ possibly do to help you? I feel so powerless. I can't -tell you how I have longed to confide my suspicion to Dick Thornton or -the girls and ask their advice. But I have kept absolutely silent." - -"Thank you," Eugenia said, and then waited another moment. "Sit down, -please, Barbara," she added. "I suppose it is only fair that I offer you -some explanation. You have been so good." - -Barbara did as she was requested. But Eugenia continued to stand. Her -level, dark brows were drawn close together and her face was pale. -Otherwise she looked entirely self-possessed, sure of herself and her -position. - -"I am not going to tell you that I have any one in hiding here, -Barbara. If questions are ever asked of you, you are to know absolutely -nothing. But I want you to understand that I appreciate perfectly the -danger of what I have undertaken and have done it with my eyes open. If -I am punished, well, at least I have always faced the possibility. But -after today, dear, if things go as we hope, you need no longer worry -over me. So far I feel pretty sure the Germans in command of this part -of the country have not suspected our house in the woods of being -anything more than a shelter for defenseless Belgian children. And -really that has been my chief motive in all that I have done." - -Barbara sighed. "God keep us through the day," she murmured, quoting a -childish prayer. - -Then Eugenia went downstairs to her work and a short time later the -younger girl followed her. - -Barbara was to remain until after lunch. But at her friend's request she -spent most of the time in the yard with the children and Monsieur Bebé. -Whatever went on inside the house neither she nor any of the others were -to be allowed to know. - -As a special pleasure the children were to be permitted to eat their -luncheon under an old tree in the one-time garden. This garden now held -no flowers except two or three old rosebushes and overgrown shrubs. - -The heat of yesterday had returned and with it even more sultriness. -There were heavy clouds overhead, but no immediate sign of rain. It was -one of those days that are always peculiarly hard to endure. The air was -heavy and languid with a kind of brooding stillness that comes before -the storm. - -The nerves of everybody seemed to be on edge. Monsieur Bebé had lost his -courage of yesterday and sat silent in his chair with his head resting -in his hand. Was he dreaming of Provence before France was driven into -war? Or was he hearing again the cracking of rifles, the booming of -cannon, all the noises of the past year of life in a trench? - -Several times Barbara did her best to distract his attention, but the -French boy could do nothing more than try to be polite. It was evident -that he hardly heard what she said to him. Nicolete was too engaged with -her duties in the house to offer companionship. Nevertheless, she came -back and forth into the yard. Now and then she would stop for a moment -to speak to Monsieur Reney, who was Monsieur Bebé only to Barbara, who -had so named him. - -Nicolete was busy in arranging the outdoor luncheon for the children. -For she it was who brought out the dishes and the chairs. Only once did -she have any assistance and then the maid from the kitchen helped her -with the luncheon table. Neither Eugenia nor the woman whom they called -"Louise" was seen all morning. - -So to Barbara fell the entire task of looking after the children. -Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps they too were vaguely conscious that -something unusual was going on about them, for they were extremely -difficult. - -Not once, but half a dozen times, each child insisted upon going into -the house to search for Eugenia. She could not be busy for so long a -time that she could not come out to them, they protested. This had never -happened before. - -Jan and Bibo were particularly sulky, nevertheless Barbara continued -firm. Jan had been made her especial charge. Whatever happened he must -be kept away from all knowledge of what was transpiring in the big house -only a few yards off. - -This world is ever a double mask with the face of tragedy painted upon -one side and of comedy upon the other. - -So often Barbara thought of this during the long hours of the morning. - -Sometimes she was whirling about with the children in a ring, singing at -the top of her voice to keep their attention engaged. Yet at the same -moment her thoughts were all concentrated upon what was going on in the -house with Eugenia. Whom had she in hiding all these weeks, risking her -own liberty for his or her safety? And how was it possible that any -human being could escape from Belgium whom the Germans wished to detain? - -Yet not a carriage nor a human being approached the house from the -front. Of this Barbara was absolutely certain. Always when it was -possible she had kept a watchful lookout. Besides, there was Jan who had -appointed himself sentinel. - -The boy could not consciously have been expecting disaster. Not a human -being had given him a hint of what was to take place. Yet he simply -refused to play when the other children invited him. - -When Barbara explained that Eugenia insisted he remain out of the house, -he made no effort toward disobedience. He merely took up a position as -far away as possible, but one where he could still see the house and at -the same time keep a lookout ahead. For his quiet gray eyes would study -the landscape beyond him sometimes for five minutes, then he would turn -his head and gaze toward the house. Satisfied that he could discover -nothing wrong there, he would again begin his former scrutiny. - -He was an interesting figure; Barbara studied him whenever she had a -chance. Here was a child whom the war had not so far injured -physically. Although ill some weeks before he had since recovered. Yet -he would bear the scars that the war had made upon his spirit so long as -he should live. Bibo's lameness was as nothing to this boy's hurt. There -was a look of abnormal gravity in his eyes, of an understanding of -sorrows that a child of ten should know nothing of. He was fearful and -frightened and yet there was something indomitable in the child's -watching. - -He recalled the gallant army of children crusaders who, led by Stephen -of France, went forth to wrest Jerusalem from the infidels. So their -little sentinels must have waited wide-eyed and courageous, yet sick -with dread, for the ravenous hosts to overpower them. - -Another possibility worried Barbara and the children all morning. There -was a prospect that rain might come and so spoil their luncheon party. -Suppose they should be compelled to scamper for shelter just at the -critical moment in Eugenia's plans? - -The rain did not come. It must have been just a little after twelve -o'clock when Eugenia finally walked down the front steps into the yard. -She did not look toward Barbara, but her appearance was enough. Whatever -she had wished to accomplish was now over. - -Although at the moment she was engaged in learning a new Belgian game, -Barbara had to suggest that she be allowed to sit down for a time. -Eugenia might be able to look as calm as an inland lake, but she felt -uncomfortably agitated. - -First Eugenia spoke to Monsieur Bebé. Then she walked down to where Jan -was standing. She said nothing to the boy, but put her arm on his -shoulder. Afterwards they walked back together toward the other -children. But Jan's expression had entirely changed. He was smiling now -and his cheeks were happily flushed, yet he kept his hand tightly -clutched in his friend's. - -Soon after Nicolete came out of the house with a great tray of -sandwiches. There was real ham between some of them and peanut butter -between the others. Moreover, there was an enormous dish of baked -potatoes and another of beans. For some reason the children did not -understand, for it was neither Sunday nor a saint's day, they were to -have a feast. - -The table, which had been easy enough to arrange, since it was only a -couple of boards laid upon carpenter's horses, was set in the middle of -the garden, partly shaded by an old elm tree. The garden was just a few -yards to the left of the house and in plain view of any one approaching. - -Naturally Eugenia took her place at the head of the table, with Nicolete -at the other end. Barbara was on Eugenia's right, with her eyes on the -scene ahead. She could see the edge of the woods with the path that -connected the house with the outside world. Jan was next her with the -same outlook upon the surroundings. - -It was Jan who saw the two German officers approaching with a guard of -eight soldiers behind them a few moments later. - -The boy had just lifted a sandwich to his lips when something in his -rigid attitude first attracted Barbara's attention. She then let her -knife drop onto the table. - -The noise startled Eugenia, for she too looked up. Instantly Barbara -explained what was happening. - -"Don't stir and please don't appear to be frightened before the -children," Eugenia ordered. "I must go and meet the officers, but I'll -wait until they are nearer." - -So the German soldiers had a clear vision of Eugenia and the children as -they approached. The rough board table had no cover, but in the center -was a bunch of wild flowers that the children had gathered in the -neglected fields. - -In order to keep them from seeing too soon what must inevitably happen, -Eugenia started the singing of a Belgian translation of the Russian -"Prayer for Peace." - -It was perhaps the song that came most from her heart at the moment, -although she and her little companions had been trying to learn it for -several weeks past. - - - "God the All Righteous One! Man hath defied Thee, - Yet to eternity sure standeth Thy word; - Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee, - Give to us peace in our time, O Lord!" - - -Then when the German officers were within a few yards of her, Eugenia -got up and walked quietly forward. She did not go alone though, because -Jan held on to her skirts so tightly that there was no possibility of -tearing him loose. - -"Will you wait a moment, please, until the children can be taken to -another part of the yard?" Eugenia asked quietly. "Some of them are very -young and will only be terrified and confused by our conversation. I -think most of them are afraid of soldiers." - -There was no reproach in the girl's tone as she said this. But the sting -was inevitably there. - -However, the older of the two officers bowed his head and Nicolete led -the reluctant children away. - -By this time Barbara had placed herself at one side her friend next to -little Jan. And poor Monsieur Bebé, hearing the voices, had crept -blindly forward to within a few feet of the little company. - -In the meantime the soldiers had divided: two of them stood before the -front door and two had retired to the rear of the house. The other four -guarded either side. - -"You are under arrest, Fraulein," the German officer began. He was -stern, but rigidly polite. - -"Very well," Eugenia answered. "In five minutes I can be ready to go -with you. But tell me, please, of what I am accused." - -"You are accused of harboring a Belgian spy, a Colonel Carton, who got -back through the lines, disguised as a German soldier and into his -wife's home in Brussels. His effort was to obtain certain papers and -information and then return to King Albert and the British Allies. We -have reason to believe Colonel Carton is still in your house." The -officer at this instant drew a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. - -Naturally Eugenia flinched, yet she held out her hands. - -"Your intention is to search my house. You will, of course, do what you -wish. But remember that I am an American citizen and under the -protection of the United States flag." - -Then one of the officers remained in the yard while the other led his -soldiers into the house. - -Ten, fifteen minutes passed. Eugenia talked quietly to Barbara. She -begged her to ask permission of the hospital authorities to allow her to -stay with the children. She told her where she might obtain the money -for keeping up their expenses. Some time before she had written a letter -giving Barbara her power of attorney. Almost every detail had been -arranged. - -Of course, Eugenia was frightened. She was not unlike other people, only -that she had a stronger will and sometimes a finer determination. - -Finally the German officer and his soldiers returned. - -"We can find no trace of Colonel Carton or his wife," the younger -officer reported. "However, a servant from their household in Brussels -is here and I have reason to believe the two children of Madame and -Colonel Carton." - -Still Jan, who had never let go his hold on Eugenia, did not flinch. -Not once did he even glance up toward one of the German soldiers, nor -give a sign that might betray him or his protector. - -"I am sorry, but you must go with us until the circumstances can be more -thoroughly investigated," the older officer commanded. - -A short time afterwards Eugenia went quietly away. One of the soldiers -carried her suitcase. Since she marched between them and showed no -intention of giving trouble, the officer had taken off the handcuffs. -Evidently he meant to be as courteous as possible under the -circumstances. Moreover, Eugenia's dignity was impressive. - -All through the interview Barbara had felt her knees trembling so -beneath her that she felt unable to stand. Her hands were like ice and -her cheeks on fire; moreover, there was a lump in her throat which made -her totally unable to speak. - -Nevertheless, she did speak whenever a question was asked of her, nor -did she shed a tear until Eugenia had gone. - -It was curious, but no one broke down, not even Jan. He merely kept his -hold on Eugenia's skirt until she started to leave. - -Then Eugenia herself unloosed his hands. He had been on his knees before -and he made no effort to get up afterwards. - -Finally, when Barbara lifted the boy in her arms she found it was -because he was too weak to stand. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -_A Month Later_ - - -Dick Thornton had taken lodgings in an old house in Brussels in a once -fashionable quarter of the city. He had a big reception room and a small -room adjoining. Recently Nona and Mildred had been coming in to have tea -with him on their afternoons of leisure. They even dropped in -occasionally in their daily walks. For in order to keep their health and -spirits each Red Cross nurse, following the familiar rule, was given two -hours off duty every afternoon. - -But Barbara Meade had never seen the quarters where Dick lived. Always -she had pleaded some kind of an excuse in answer to his invitations, -until finally he had proffered them no more. Then for the past month she -had been taking Eugenia's place in her house in the woods. - -But this afternoon Barbara had made an appointment to meet Nona and -Mildred at Dick's at four o'clock. - -Half an hour before the time, Dick came into the house with his arms -full of flowers which he had purchased from a little old woman at the -corner. She had become a great friend of his, for the flower business -was a poor one in a city where people had no money even for food. So -today Dick had purchased bunches of wall flowers and others of columbine -and larkspur. For the flowers grew in the old woman's own garden within -a sheltered suburb of Brussels. She must have grown them and sold them -in order that she might still continue to sit in the same place. For so -far as one could know she had no other reason for her industry. She -appeared to be entirely alone and friendless. - -Dick's sitting room was enormous, yet almost empty. The house had been -deserted by its owners early in the war. They had then removed most of -their belongings to London for safe keeping, soon after hostilities -broke out. - -But Dick opened wide a pair of French windows until the atmosphere of -the room had grown cool and sweet. He then arranged his own flowers and -set out his own tea table in a somewhat clumsy fashion, drawing four -chairs conveniently near. They were the only four chairs in the room and -very different in character. Two of them were enormous armchairs -upholstered in Brussels tapestry, the other were two small wooden ones -which had probably served for the servant's dining room. - -But Dick was fairly well satisfied with the appearance of things, since -empty grandeur is much more satisfying than tawdry quantity. - -Afterwards Dick disappeared to make an afternoon toilet. - -It had been such ages since he had worn anything but the most workaday -clothes. Now and then when he came in tired at night and discouraged -with life from the sight of so much unnecessary sorrow, he used to slip -into a smoking jacket for an hour or so. Usually several American -fellows dropped in later, young doctors or other men assisting with the -Belgian relief work. - -But today Dick felt the occasion to be a more important one. - -Barbara was coming on an errand of grave importance. Yet one might as -well meet the situation as cheerfully as possible. Nothing was ever to -be gained by unnecessary gloom. - -It still remained a task for Dick to dress himself with one of his arms -almost useless. At first it had been impossible and he had employed a -man to help him. But men were needed for more strenuous labors these -days than being another fellow's valet. So he had come to taking care of -himself in a somewhat awkward fashion. The collar was his supreme -difficulty, just as it frequently is with a man with two perfectly good -arms. - -Today, of course, because Dick was in a hurry, his collar behaved in a -worse manner than usual. The collar button had to be searched for under -the bed for nearly five minutes, and then it did not seem to fit the -button-hole of the shirt. - -Finally Dick sat down and began to smoke in an effort to soothe his -nerves. Mildred had promised to come along ahead of time to do whatever -was needed. As there was nothing more, except to adjust his tiresome -neckwear, he might as well wait in peace. - -But in the meantime Dick read over the note from Barbara in which she -asked that the four of them might meet at his apartment. It was the one -place where it was possible that their conversation be absolutely -private. And what they had to discuss was a matter for gravest secrecy. - -Although Dick had previously arranged his hair with much care, while -reading the note he thrust his hand through it until his locks rose in -brown, Byronic confusion. - -So when the first knock came at his sitting room door, convinced of his -sister's arrival, Dick strode to it, dangling his collar in his hand. - -His appearance was not strictly conventional. - -The girl at the door looked a little startled, then smiled and walked -into the room without invitation. - -"I suppose I am first. I didn't mean to be," she explained. "But Dr. -Mason came out to see one of the children and brought me back to town in -the hospital motor car. So I got here sooner than I expected." - -"I am sorry. I thought you were Mildred. I mean, I hoped you were -Mildred." Dick laughed. "Sounds polite, doesn't it, what I am trying to -say? But the fact is, if you'll just take off your hat or your wrap, or -your gloves, why, I'll disappear for half a minute and come back with a -collar on." - -Barbara nodded and her reluctant host disappeared. - -She was glad of a few moments to look around. It was almost homelike -here in Dick's quarters, and not since leaving the little "Farmhouse -with the Blue Front Door" had she enjoyed the sensation of home. - -She certainly did not enjoy it at Eugenia's big house, although she was -now in full charge of the establishment. For there was always the sense -of Eugenia's loss and of the privations which she was enduring. - -Barbara did throw her hat to one side and her coat and gloves. The -freedom was pleasanter. Then, since small persons have a penchant for -large chairs and large persons for small ones, Barbara seated herself in -the most imposing chair in the room. - -Not thinking of where she was, nor of what she was doing, she slipped -one small foot under her, leaned her head against the upholstery and -gazed critically around. - -They were going to have tea and she was glad of it. Then she loved the -presence of so many simple outdoor flowers. Probably they had been -purchased for Nona's delectation, yet one could enjoy them just the -same. - -Besides, Barbara was by this time convinced that she had entirely -recovered from any jealousy where Nona and Dick were concerned. She had -seen them very seldom in the past month. But this was not because she -had any more feeling in regard to the situation. It was merely because -she had more important matters to engage her attention. Her talk with -Eugenia seemed to have cleared the emotional situation so far as she was -concerned. Now her interest in Dick and Nona was purely impersonal and -friendly. - -Yet Barbara got up and strolled over to the tall French mantel. Yes, -there was a picture of Nona on it. She had not been mistaken. Certainly -Nona took an extremely pretty picture. Her features were so regular and -delicate. It was rather different if one chanced to be afflicted with a -retroussé nose. - -Still studying Nona's photograph, Barbara heard a slight noise behind -her. - -There was Dick with his collar yet dangling from his hand. - -"I say, which would you prefer, to talk to a man without a collar or to -help him put one on? I am not going to lose all the chance I may have -for seeing you in struggling with this dog-taked thing." - -The girl looked demure. Then she indicated that Dick might seat himself -upon the lowest stool. The next moment he was entirely ship-shape, as -Barbara had also assisted in adjusting a new dark-red tie. It was of a -flowing character, because Dick wore the same black velvet coat in which -he had appeared before Barbara in New York City some eighteen months -before. The coat was therefore not new. But Dick may have had a -suspicion that it was becoming, although men are not supposed to be -interested in any such trivial concerns. - -However, Barbara was aware of the becomingness and was sincerely glad to -discover how well her former friend looked. Certainly he had taken his -share of the war's misfortunes in a courageous spirit. Once she had not -believed him capable of any ideal save a social one. - -Barbara had returned to her tall chair and Dick sat across from her on -one of the wooden ones. The tea service stood between them, but of -course they were waiting for the coming of the other two girls. - -Although she had wished for her tea, Barbara did not feel impatient over -the delay at present. She was trying to make up her mind whether it -would be wise to tell Dick how glad she was of his cheerfulness before -she began to speak of her own mission. For then there would be little -opportunity for cheerfulness unless one of the others had better news to -report than she had. - -So instead of beginning a conversation Barbara sat in entire quiet, -although gazing at her companion in an extremely friendly fashion. - -In the pause Dick Thornton suddenly thrust out his right hand and placed -it lightly over Barbara's hand, which chanced to be carelessly lying on -the table. - -"I have something I'd like to tell you, Barbara, before Nona and Mildred -get here," he began. "It is a secret so far and perhaps I have no right -to be so happy until things are settled. But I've every right----" - -The moment had come! The news that Dick had to tell her she had been -expecting. Yet she had believed the announcement would first be made by -Nona. It was kind of Dick to remember their former friendliness and to -wish her to share his happiness so soon. - -But at this instant Mildred and Nona, without waiting to knock, opened -the sitting room door and Dick's confession was never made. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -_Powerless_ - - -"But it is too dreadful for us to be able to do _nothing_," Barbara -commented. She looked dispirited and blinked resolutely at a small -pocket handkerchief which lay folded in her lap. - -However, she had made up her mind not to cry, no matter what happened. -After all, she was a woman and not a child, and Eugenia would consider -tears a most ineffective method of assistance. - -She had come to Dick's apartment with every idea of being brave and had -started off in that spirit. Then Dick's interrupted confession had been -a trifle upsetting. Moreover, she had hoped that Dick or one of the -girls would have good news to tell about Eugenia, or at least be able to -make a comforting suggestion. - -While she was thinking this, Nona Davis got up and began walking up and -down the length of the room. - -"The situation is abominable!" she exclaimed. "To think of a splendid -person like Eugenia, who is so needed, shut up in a German prison! -Besides, she is an American girl! It simply makes my blood boil. I wish -for a short time I were a man." - -Nona's cheeks were a deep rose and her golden brown eyes were almost -black from emotion. - -Barbara thought she looked charming. But Dick smiled upon the excited -girl rather condescendingly. - -"Do come and sit down, please, Nona. I know it is your southern blood -that makes you long to fight. But this isn't the time for it. After all, -I am a man and I haven't been able to rescue Eugenia. Of course, you -would be a more effective man than I can ever hope to be. But today let -us try to face the situation quietly. It is the only way we can hope to -accomplish anything." - -In order to take the edge off his words Dick smiled. Also he thrust a -chair nearer his guest. Barbara thought the other girl sat down -somewhat meekly. Never could she have taken a snubbing so gracefully. -But then there was no disputing that Nona had the sweeter disposition. - -Then Dick reseated himself by the tea table. After taking several papers -out of his pocket he again looked over toward Barbara. - -"I wish you would repeat to me, word for word, as nearly as you can, -just what statement Eugenia made to you when you were allowed to see her -in prison," he demanded. - -His matter-of-fact tone and present cold manner entirely drove away -Barbara's weak leaning toward tears. - -"It was some time ago, but I'll try and repeat what Gene said exactly as -possible. She said we were not to be angry or embittered over her -imprisonment, because she had defied the German authorities. She -declared they had a perfect right to arrest her. For she _had_ been -hiding a Belgian soldier who would have been shot as a spy if he had -been discovered. It was almost a miracle how he managed to escape. But -they had been warned by a friend in Brussels a few days before, that -their house was at last suspected. Actually Madame Carton and Colonel -Carton both got away on the very day the German officers came for them. -Eugenia would not tell how they managed their escape. She said that -wasn't my business, nor any one else's." - -As she repeated this speech, Barbara looked so surprisingly firm that -Dick had to swallow a smile. Unconsciously Barbara was behaving like a -phonograph record in reproducing the exact tones of the original -speaker. - -"But if Eugenia understood what she would have to face, whatever made -her do such a mad thing? This Colonel Carton was absolutely nothing to -her. When he returned to Brussels he took his own risk. It is natural -that the Germans in command here in Belgium should be enraged. He -probably carried back much valuable information to the Allies. Goodness -only knows how he ever succeeded in getting here, much less getting -away!" Dick protested, speaking as much to himself as his audience. - -Then he pounded the table with his one good hand in his agitation. - -"Eugenia was out of her senses. What excuse did she have for saving the -man and his family? She is an American and is a guest of the country. -She had no right to aid Germany's enemies. Besides, you girls always -said that Eugenia was the one of you who insisted that you remain -absolutely neutral." - -With this final statement Dick gazed reproachfully from one to the other -of his audience. - -Every day since Eugenia's arrest he had gone about Brussels seeking -assistance and advice. He had seen the American Minister, the American -Consul and nearly every member of the Belgian Relief Committee. But in -each case his answer had been the same. Whatever was possible would be -done to effect Eugenia's release. But without doubt her behavior had -placed her in a difficult position. - -But Dick had not been alone in his pilgrimages. Mildred, Nona and -Barbara had been equally energetic. There was no person in authority in -Brussels possible to see whom they had not interviewed. But Eugenia was -still in prison and liable to remain there. However, she had not yet -appeared for trial before the German Military Court. Her friends were -doing their best to have her set free before this time came. For once -her sentence was declared, it would be more difficult to secure her -pardon. - -Eugenia insisted that there was nothing to do but plead guilty. And this -might mean months or years of imprisonment! - -The three girls became more unhappy under Dick's reasoning. It was so -perfectly true that there seemed nothing for them to say. - -Nevertheless, Barbara flushed indignantly. Dick always inspired her with -a desire for argument. Moreover, when it came to a point of defending -Eugenia, she would perish gladly in her cause. - -"I realize that Eugenia's conduct does seem foolish. Perhaps it was -worse than that; perhaps she was wicked to do as she did," Barbara -added, no longer looking down at her handkerchief, but directly at Dick -Thornton. Eugenia, she appreciated, would not require to be absolved -before the other girls. - -"Just the same, I think there was something beautiful and inspiring in -Gene's act. She hasn't asked us to worry over her. She has declared all -along that she was willing to take what was coming to her," Barbara -murmured, falling into slang with entire good faith. "Her only defense -is that both Colonel Carton and Jan were desperately ill when Madame -Carton made the appeal to her. If she had not gone to the house in the -woods to take care of them, they must have been found out. Then without -a doubt Colonel Carton and perhaps Madame Carton would have been hung as -spies." - -An uncomfortable lump was beginning to form in Barbara's throat. For at -the instant it seemed to her that Dick Thornton represented the whole -tribunal of masculine wisdom and justice arrayed against a woman's -sentiment. - -How was she to make him see Eugenia's point of view? - -In spite of her best efforts Barbara's eyes were filling with tears and -her voice shaking. - -"Gene says she never thought things out in detail, although she fully -realized the risk she was running. All she decided was that Jan and his -little sister should not be made orphans if she could help it. She says -that ever since she put her foot in Belgium the cry of the children has -been ringing in her ears. What had _they_ to do with this war and its -horrors? If she could aid them in the smallest possible way, this was -her work and her mission. 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of -these little ones, ye have done it unto me,'" Barbara whispered, and -then was unable to continue. - -But Mildred had risen and was standing by her side as if she were a new -witness for the defense. - -"I have written father the whole story, everything Eugenia has done in -connection with this entire case," Mildred explained quietly. "And I -have asked him to go to Washington and see the Secretary of State and -the President if he thinks necessary. As soon as my letter arrived he -answered it immediately, promising to do what I asked. Then he told me -to see Eugenia and if it were possible to present his regards to her and -to tell her to be of good courage. Of course, he could not write all he -meant, as his letter might be censored, but I think I understood -father's point of view pretty well." - -Because Mildred Thornton did not talk a great deal, what she said was -usually respected. Even Dick looked somewhat subdued. - -"What do you suppose father really did mean, then, Mill?" he queried. "I -confess I am so troubled and so harassed over this business of Eugenia -that I am of little account. I keep regretting that she ever got herself -and all of us into such unnecessary sorrow." - -Mildred went over and laid her hands on Dick's hair, which had again -become rumpled through his agitation. - -"I don't believe father thinks Eugenia's action was entirely -unnecessary, Dick, even if we must all suffer with her," Mildred argued. -"Perhaps Eugenia only did what any one of us would have done under the -same circumstances, if we had possessed her courage and good sense. The -Belgians were perfectly innocent of offense in this war. Colonel Carton -was risking his life and his honor. If Eugenia could help him or his -family----" - -"Be quiet." It was Nona's voice that spoke, although under her breath. -At the same instant she held up a warning finger. - -There were persons passing in the hall outside their door. One could -hear their footsteps distinctly. - -Almost at once Nona got up and approached the tea table. - -"Let us have tea, won't you, please, Dick?" she begged. "We are all -tired and hungry and thirsty. Besides, we are discouraged." She said -this even more softly, although the sounds in the hall had ceased. -Doubtless the passersby were only other dwellers in the house. - -Dick sighed with relief and gratitude. - -"What a satisfying person you are, Nona! It would have been better, -however, if you had made this suggestion half an hour ago." Then he -turned again toward Mildred and Barbara. - -"Please don't think I can't see that there was something fine and -quixotic in Eugenia's conduct, even if I wish she had chosen -differently," he added. "Truth is, I have taken the situation more -seriously than ever today because I have had bad news." - -Nona Davis had lifted the teapot in her hand to pour out the tea, but at -these words she set it down hastily. - -Mildred merely took a firmer hold on Barbara's shoulder. - -"What is it, Dick?" she demanded. - -This time Dick got up and floundered about impatiently. - -"Oh, it may be nothing and perhaps I should not have spoken of it. But -the truth is, Eugenia is ill. One of the physicians at the prison was -considerate enough to let me know. He does not think the trouble serious -and says Eugenia insists she will be all right in a few days. Just the -same, Eugenia has been through a lot. I don't want to be a croaker, but -there was the strain of the long nursing of Captain Castaigne and then -this business. One of you girls must go to her as soon as I can get you -permission, if I ever can get it. Which one of you shall it be?" - -From the depth of her big chair Barbara answered in a somewhat weary but -steadfast voice: - -"There is no question; Eugenia and I have meant everything to each other -lately, and----" - -"There is a question, Barbara, and you must be sensible. In looking -after Eugenia's house you are doing everything you have strength for. I -am sure you can't weigh a hundred pounds these days! Ever since we came -to Belgium, it seems to me you have been growing tinier. After a while -you may blow away," Mildred declared. - -Then she marched over and, removing the teapot from Nona's hand, began -pouring out the tea in a quiet and comforting fashion. - -"Of course, Eugenia is not well after a month of being in prison. Why -should any one of us expect her to be?" she announced. "Here, Dick, -please pass this cup to Barbara and your muffins. The poor child looks -utterly fagged! We ought to have thought that she has come all the way -in from the country and has probably been up since daylight. She is a -very little woman to live in a shoe." - -Gratefully and without further protest Barbara drank her tea. She was -more tired than she had dreamed and glad to be taken care of for even a -short a time. How happy she was to have gotten over her former -antagonism toward her friends. What right had she to be jealous and -miserable because a beautiful experience had come to Nona and Dick? They -were both her good friends. - -At this moment Dick was whispering something to Nona, while she smiled -up toward him. There was no mistaking the expression in her eyes, -Barbara felt convinced. Later on she would congratulate them, but not -this afternoon; she was too tired. - -Perhaps Nona became conscious of the other girl's gaze, for she drew -away from her companion. - -"By the way, Barbara," she exclaimed, "there is something I have wished -to tell you for several days! Weeks ago when you told me you had -discovered Lieutenant Hume a prisoner in Brussels, I wrote him a note. -It must have taken ages for my letter to get to him. Anyhow, I received -three or four lines from him the other day. I suppose it was all he was -permitted to write. But he thanked me and said he was getting on pretty -comfortably. Certainly I could not but admire his courage." - -Dick Thornton frowned. "You don't mean, Nona, that you wrote a letter to -Lieutenant Hume in prison without his asking you. I didn't suppose you -knew him sufficiently well." - -But before Barbara could confess that the suggestion had come from her, -Mildred Thornton interposed. - -"Don't be absurd, Dick. You are taking everything in a gloomy fashion -this afternoon. I should have written Lieutenant Hume myself if Nona had -not. He is in hard luck, when a single line from the outside world is -cheering. We must go now. Please do your best to get me permission to -visit Eugenia. In the meantime I shall see what I can do. Sorry we had -to have such a dismal party tea. Hope for better news next time." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -_Louvain_ - - -Recently Nona Davis had begun to confess to herself that she might some -day be able to like Dick Thornton more than an ordinary acquaintance. - -Without doubt this idea had come to her gradually, for during their -early acquaintance he had simply represented Mildred's brother and -Barbara's especial friend. When she thought of him at all it had been -chiefly in his relation to the other two girls. - -Dick was good looking and agreeable, these were obvious facts. Moreover, -he had shown splendid grit and courage in his work for the poor and -wounded in the present war. However, it was not until after their -holiday visit together in Paris that Nona had reason to believe Dick -desired her intimate friendship. - -She had already left Paris and was living at the little farmhouse in -southern France when he wrote begging her to tell him the details of -their life together which his sister, Mildred, might forget. - -The request had struck Nona as surprising. Why had he not made the -suggestion to Barbara Meade rather than to her? He and Barbara had -quarreled now and then before the trip to Paris and while there, but in -spite of this seemed to find each other's society more than ordinarily -agreeable. - -Moreover, Dick probably owed his life to Barbara. Had she not rescued -him from the bursting shell near their base hospital, or Dick must have -carried more than a useless arm as a record of his adventure. - -Nevertheless, if Dick and Barbara had chosen for reasons of their own to -be less intimate, Nona could scarcely ask questions. Neither did she see -how she could refuse to write to Dick Thornton if he really wished it, -since her letters were merely to keep him in closer touch with the four -American Red Cross girls. - -Dick wrote delightful letters and so did Nona. Besides, these were days -when, in spite of its tragedies, life was brimming over with interests. -The letters grew more frequent, more intimate, and finally Dick spoke of -his coming to Belgium. But he proposed that his coming be kept a secret -until the last moment, for there might be circumstances that would -interfere. - -Since his arrival Nona had been frequently in his society. The fact that -Mildred was partly responsible for this, she did not realize. She only -knew that Barbara had persistently refused to join them in leisure -hours. Therefore she and Dick and Mildred were of necessity more often -together; Eugenia was entirely out of the situation. The fact that -Mildred purposely left her alone in her brother's society, Nona never -considered. Whenever this had occurred, she simply regarded the -circumstance as an accident. - -But Nona naturally felt a closer bond between herself and Dick since her -confession of her own problem. Moreover, she had taken his advice and -sent a letter to her family lawyer in Charleston. In this letter she -demanded to be told everything that was known or could be found out in -connection with her mother's history. But although a number of weeks had -passed her letter had remained unanswered. - -Three days after the interview in regard to Eugenia in Dick's apartment, -Nona received a hurried note. The note explained that Dick Thornton had -been ordered to Louvain to make an especial investigation for the -Belgian Relief Committee. He asked if Nona could manage to make the trip -with him. They would start early the next morning and return the same -day. If it were possible for Nona to be excused from her hospital work, -he was particularly anxious to have her join him. - -Ten minutes after the note arrived, Nona was busy making the necessary -plans. - -At the hospital there were no objections offered to her being given the -day's holiday. For Nona explained that she was convinced that it would -be a wonderfully interesting experience to visit the ruined city and -University of Louvain. - -More than the other girls she had enjoyed their journeys from place to -place in Europe, when they were obliged to change their fields of work. -Even when these trips had not been taken under the pleasantest -conditions her enthusiasm had been able to rise above the difficulties. - -When the war was over Nona hoped before going home that it might be -possible for her to travel over the continent. Now and then she and -Mildred Thornton had even spoken of this as a possibility in an idle -fashion. For with Nona such a discussion could be nothing but idle, as -she had scarcely a dollar beyond what she was able to earn as a nurse. - -At ten o'clock on the chosen day Dick called for her. As soon as she -joined him in the hall of the hospital, Nona recognized that Dick had -seldom looked so well. Besides, he seemed somehow more vigorous and -happier. - -In honor of the occasion he wore what appeared to be a new suit, -although it had been purchased in London soon after his arrival a number -of months before. - -After her first sensation of admiration Nona suffered a tiny pang of -envy. How satisfying it must be to have as much money as Dick and -Mildred seemed to have! They were not extravagant and yet they never had -to worry over small matters. More than this, it must be a great help -through life to have so distinguished a father as Judge Thornton. -Whenever his name was mentioned abroad people had heard of him as a -great international lawyer. Sometimes Nona wondered why Mildred and Dick -should care for her friendship. The distinguished members of her family -had belonged to generations that were now dead. - -But today, for many reasons, Nona would particularly have liked to wear -a different costume. For assuredly Dick must be as tired of the one she -had on as she was herself. It was the same black dress that she had -bought in Paris last spring and been compelled to use for best ever -since. - -True, Nona had managed to run out the evening before to one of -Brussels' millinery shops, where she purchased a small black turban. -Before the coming of the German military hosts to Belgium, Brussels was -regarded as the small sister of Paris in matters of fashion. Since then, -of course, the city had but little heart for frivolity. - -However, Nona felt fairly well satisfied with her purchase. Moreover, -she was pleased to discern that Dick Thornton's eyes rested upon it with -immediate satisfaction. It is true that a man more often observes a -woman's hat than any part of her costume. - -In walking on the street you may make this discovery for yourself. A man -or boy looks first at a girl's face, then if this pleases him he slowly -studies her costume and figure. Frequently a woman or girl glances first -at the toilette, and then if displeased never cares to look beyond for -the personality. - -However, Nona had but little reason for being dissatisfied with her own -appearance. She was one of the few fortunate persons who have a grace -and beauty of coloring that is not dependent upon clothes. Clothes help, -of course, under all circumstances, yet she could manage to be beautiful -in shabby ones. Moreover, the black dress was only slightly worn and her -white crepe waist had been freshly washed and pressed. - -Before she arrived at the Station du Nord with her companion, Nona had -the good sense to cease to consider her apparel. For since Belgium was a -land of mourning, poverty was the most fitting dress. - -The land between Brussels and Louvain was once an agricultural district. -Since Belgium had been conquered and possessed by the Germans, they had -made every effort to resow and harvest many of the fields. But the -neighborhood of Louvain was still a place of desolation. - -As their train carried them farther along on their journey, Nona decided -that she had never seen anything like the countryside in all her -experience as a war nurse. In certain parts of France wide areas had -been destroyed, but not far away one would often find other districts -untouched by fire or sword. - -Dick and Nona talked in a desultory fashion as they journeyed toward the -famous old university town. One felt as if Louvain was already a city of -the past. Within its suburbs there were many small ruined homes, looking -as if a giant had ruthlessly pushed over whole rows of dolls' houses. -For Louvain was formerly one of the lace-making centers of Belgium, and -in these small houses dark-eyed women and girls once worked long hours -at their trade. - -Before their arrival Dick decided that he must first attend to his -business in Louvain. Afterwards they would feel freer to prowl about and -investigate the ruins of the University. It would not be necessary to -hurry then, as there would be no reason to return to Brussels until -after dark. - -Dick's pilgrimage to Louvain had been inspired by the desire to discover -a family of Belgians supposedly starving in one of the city's wrecked -homes. The father was known to have been killed at the sacking of -Louvain. Yet in some amazing fashion the mother and children had -continued to exist for nearly a year without money and almost without -food. The American Relief Committee, learning their need, had despatched -Dick to see what could be done for them. - -Just what the character of the place he was to seek, nor the conditions -surrounding it, the young man did not know. Therefore, he considered it -wiser for Nona to wait for him. So he led her into the interior of the -ancient Church of St. Pierre, where she was to remain until his return. -The church had been only slightly injured by the burning of the city. - -As a matter of fact, Nona was glad to be allowed to rest there -peacefully for a time. Although she was an excellent nurse, she was not -so successful in making friends with unfortunate people as the other -three Red Cross girls. So she feared that Dick might consider her more -of a drawback than a help to him in his work. The girl was frank enough -to confess to herself that she wished to make a good impression. - -An old church is ever a citadel of dreams. Yet Nona had not the faintest -intention of letting her imagination wander into unbounded realms when -she first found a seat in the semi-darkness. - -Simply from curiosity she had gone into one of the chapels behind the -high altar. Here she discovered five paintings, depicting the life and -death of the blessed Margaret of Louvain, the patron saint of domestic -servants. - -At first Nona was simply amused and interested, for it had not occurred -to her that domestic servants had a saint of their own. - -Then without realizing it she fell to thinking of her own old home in -Charleston, South Carolina, and of the southern "mammy," who had been -more than her own mother to her. - -It was strange that her lawyer in Charleston had not yet answered her -letter. Perhaps she would ask Dick his opinion again. However, Nona -felt a curious shrinking from this idea. For if Dick was beginning to -feel interested in her, surely the mystery of her mother's history must -influence him against her. - -At the same instant the girl's cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. Then -she deliberately struggled to discover a different train of thought. But -for some reason, no matter along what road her thoughts set out, they -had a curious fashion of including Dick before the end was reached. So -at last Nona gave up and let her imagination have its will. - -When he came back an hour after their usual luncheon time, Dick found -her not in the least impatient. She insisted that she had enjoyed -herself, and her face and manner gave proof of it. - -But Dick was tired and not so cheerful as he had been earlier in the -day. His work was over temporarily, but he had found a most depressing -state of things among his poor people. Moreover, Dick was hungry, when a -masculine person is always difficult. - -They discovered a little restaurant existing in a half-hearted fashion -near the University. After a leisurely meal, it must have been past -three o'clock when finally the two friends made their way into the -University grounds. - -The buildings were not all entirely destroyed by the German bombardment, -as the newspapers gave us to understand after the fall of Liege. -Possibly many of them can be restored when the present war is over. - -Up and down the Rue de Namur the young Americans wandered, first -investigating the ruins of the handsome Gothic Halles. The Library is -perhaps the most complete wreck, and it was one of the most valuable -libraries in Europe. For it contained many priceless manuscripts -gathered together by the old monks, who were once teachers in this most -famous Catholic university in Europe. - -The University of Louvain was founded in the fifteenth century by Pope -Martin V, and only a little over a year ago sheltered eighteen hundred -students. - -But they have disappeared even as the bricks and mortar of the -centuries have been brought to confusion. - -Finally after nearly two hours of sightseeing Dick and Nona confessed to -each other that they were too weary to feel any further interest in -their surroundings. Moreover, they were obliged to rest before returning -to the railroad station. - -Nothing could be more romantic than the spot they chose. - -With a half tumbled down wall for a background and a tall tree for a -screen, a small green bench lingered serenely. It was as comfortable and -undisturbed as though no destruction had raged about it. - -With a sigh of relief Dick dropped down beside his companion. - -"If you don't mind, I'd rather not speak for five entire minutes," he -suggested. "Afterwards perhaps I may tell you something about which I -have been thinking more or less all day. But I am not yet convinced that -I ought to mention it to you, though with all my heart I wish to know -what you think and feel upon the subject." - -In reply Nona only nodded agreement. - -Then she folded her hands in her lap and sat gazing quietly at the -unique scene about them. - -In a little while twilight would fall. The atmosphere was already a pale -violet and over the massed ruins of the ancient buildings the sun was -declining peacefully. Except for the girl and her companion the -neighborhood was deserted, not a man, woman or child, not even a dog -could be discovered in the nearby streets. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -"_Sisters under the Skin_" - - -After a little while the silence between the girl and man grew self -conscious. Both of them seemed to recognize this at the same moment, and -Dick turned apologetically toward his companion. - -"I am sorry to continue so stupid," he explained, "but I have been -thinking something over for the nine hundred and ninety-ninth time." - -In spite of the coolness of the October afternoon Dick now took off his -hat and in a boyish fashion ran his fingers through his hair. -Immediately the curly pompadour he so detested arose, while under his -dark skin the color was rushing in warm waves. - -"I say, Nona," he began in an awkward fashion, his charming manners -entirely deserting him, "has it ever struck you that I have had -something very much at heart for the past few months, something I have -not been able to mention? It has seemed to me as if the whole world must -know of it, although I have never spoken a word. Yet even Mildred has -appeared totally blind. Of course there was a reason once why I should -keep my dream to myself, but lately that reason no longer exists." Then -Dick laughed unexpectedly. - -"Here I am talking like a school-boy who does not know his lesson! I -don't suppose you have the faintest idea of what I am trying to say? -Wonder if you have ever guessed my secret, Nona?" - -Dick had swung himself around on the bench so that he might be able to -gaze more directly at his companion. But Nona Davis' head was for the -instant in profile. - -Just then she preferred not to catch Dick's glance. Her own cheeks were -delicately flushed and indeed the world had acquired a new fragrance. -Yet oddly Nona wished to hug her emotion to herself. - -There is a moment when the spirit of romance appears to every girl in -some lovely guise. Now Nona Davis felt that no moment and no scene -could be more picturesque than her own. - -Dick Thornton was ideally handsome; moreover, the fact that one of his -arms was now useless only added to his value. For was not Dick a soldier -of peace rather than of war, yet one who had made the same sacrifice? -And he had given himself for a cause that was not his own. - -"No, I have not guessed, Dick," Nona replied an instant later. "How -could I? If you have a secret you have certainly not betrayed yourself. -Besides, if I had been able to discover what you had in mind, I should -not have allowed myself to know. No one has the right to interpret -another person's thoughts." - -Nona made this speech with entire innocence, but she was to recall the -last phrase within a few moments. - -"Well, I'll start off with a piece of news I am sure you will be pleased -to hear," Dick began. "I wanted to tell Barbara first, but we were -interrupted the other afternoon. It is only that I think I am to have -better luck with this lame arm of mine than I deserve. When I was in -Paris the surgeons told me to leave it alone, that I stood a chance of -being able to use it later on. So I tried to forget the whole matter. -Then one day several weeks ago without thinking I discovered that I -could use my arm the least bit. Of course, it is by no means well, but -each day the arm grows stronger----" - -With this news Nona stretched out her hand toward her companion. But -Dick did not see her, as he chanced to be gazing at his afflicted arm in -the half tender, half apologetic fashion in which one surveys a backward -child. - -"The doctors I have seen since I made the discovery say my arm will be -as good as new in another few months," Dick went on. "I have only to -have it massaged daily and wait for the vigor to come back. So I may be -able to amount to a little something in the world after all. Perhaps a -man with a lot of brains may manage to get along with no arms, but I'm -afraid _I_ require the full amount." - -By nature Nona Davis was inclined to be serious. Therefore she could -never understand the fashion in which Barbara and Dick were able to jest -over their deeper emotions. - -Her yellow-brown eyes were serious now. - -"I am sure _I_ have never doubted your future for a moment, Dick. It -sounds ridiculous to hear you make a speech like that. I am sure your -father is a distinguished man, yet I feel sure you will be a greater one -some day." - -For half a moment Dick smiled upon his companion. "You are an optimist, -Nona, but just the same I am tremendously grateful to you." - -Then in a surprising fashion his gay spirits suddenly deserted him. For -he frowned moodily toward the purple and rose colored sky on the far -western side of the horizon. - -The sun was by this time about to retire and the colors in the evening -sky were merely the garments she had cast off in passing. - -"I wish you could persuade Barbara Meade to share that idea of yours, -Nona?" Dick continued a moment later. "If you could you would be doing -me an immense service." - -"Barbara?" Nona repeated her friend's name dully. She was so far away -from any thought of her at the time that it was difficult to readjust -her point of view. "What is it you wish me to persuade Barbara to -believe?" she demanded the next instant. For in her surprise she had -forgotten her own remark. - -"Oh, that I am worthy of bearing my father's name and that there is a -chance I may not turn out a hopeless good-for-nothing," Dick went on, -with a scarcely concealed bitterness in his voice. - -"Two years ago when I first met Barbara I suppose I was only a society -fellow, but really I was not so bad as I painted myself. Fact is, I -rather enjoyed arousing Mildred's little western friend in the early -days. Well, I accomplished my purpose with a vengeance, for Barbara has -never had an ounce of respect for me. Even if you and Mildred have never -guessed how much I care for her, the fact has been plain enough to -Barbara. What other reason could she have, except to spare me -humiliation, for refusing to have anything to do with me since I came to -Brussels? But you have understood the situation better than you confess, -Nona. Be sure that I appreciate your kindness immensely." - -Still Nona made no reply. However, as Dick had been holding his emotions -in check for many weeks, he was glad now to have a chance to let them -overflow. - -"I appreciated that you understood when I first asked you to write me, -after you left Paris," the young man continued. "Your letters meant so -much to me, for they used to tell me so many things of Barbara and your -life together in the little French farmhouse." - -Interrupting himself, Dick glanced at his watch and then at his -companion. - -"You look tired, Nona, and I am sorry, but I expect we must hurry if we -are to get to the station in time for the six o'clock train to Brussels. -You have been wonderfully patient with me this afternoon and I hope not -too bored. Perhaps I should have kept all this to myself, but at last it -has overflowed. I shall never refer to the matter again and shall be -grateful if you do not mention it." - -Dick held out his right hand to help his companion arise. - -But for another instant Nona did not stir. Neither did she glance -upward. Her eyes had dropped to her lap and were evidently fastened upon -her slender hands, which she held lightly clasped together. - -Possibly she had become a shade paler, but not by a flicker of an -eyelash did she betray that her house of cards had suddenly fallen. - -The next moment she gave her hand to Dick and got up. - -"I am not tired, so let us walk on quickly if you think best. I am going -to be honest and tell you, Dick, that I have never dreamed you were -seriously interested in Barbara until this hour. I knew you were friends -at one time and that Barbara had done a beautiful thing for you. But I -thought you had probably quarreled, or that you did not find each other -so interesting as you had at first." - -The girl was walking along swiftly as she talked. - -Her delicate chin was lifted a little higher than usual and because of -her pallor her lips showed a deeper crimson. She was a lovely height and -slender and graceful, but beyond everything else she had the air of -perfect breeding. - -Dick's own train of thought was diverted for a moment by a glance at -her. - -"After all, it is not an impossibility, Nona Davis' mother may turn out -a foreign princess," he thought, and then smiled. For Dick was a typical -American man and to him a mystery in one's family was ridiculous when it -was not unpleasant. - -On the train returning to Brussels neither he nor his companion cared to -talk a great deal. Indeed, Nona frankly explained that there was -something she wished to think about, and if Dick did not mind, would he -please leave her alone. So he was satisfied to continue sympathetically -silent. - -He had unloosed certain thoughts of his own which were not so easy to -chain up again. - -However, they still had a half hour before their arrival in Brussels -when Nona unexpectedly returned to their former subject of conversation. - -"You asked me never to refer to your confession, Dick, and I won't again -after today. But first I must tell you something. Then if you'll forgive -me I want to offer you a piece of advice. I know it is an ungrateful -present, but you'll listen, won't you?" Nona pleaded. - -Dick's brown eyes were very friendly. "I'll listen to whatever you wish -to tell me forever and ever," he insisted. "For there was never quite so -kind an audience as you have been to me!" - -The girl was glad of the flickering lights in the railroad carriage, -when she spoke again. - -"It is only that I have been thinking of you and Barbara ever since we -left Louvain," she added. "I told you I was surprised at the news. But -now I think it was stupid of me. What I want is to ask you to tell -Barbara what you have confided to me this afternoon. I understand that -when you were uncertain about your arm, you may have felt that a -drawback. Now you have every right to believe in your recovery -and"--Nona hesitated and smiled directly into Dick's somber brown -eyes--"oh, well, it is only fair that Barbara be allowed the same -information that I have received under the circumstances!" - -At this moment it was Dick who would not be humorous. - -"I suppose you think I ought to give Barbara the satisfaction of telling -me what she really thinks of me. But I am afraid I am not willing to -amuse her to that extent." - -Nona shook her head. "That wasn't worthy of you, Dick; I know you did -not mean it. I am not going to give up. I want you to promise me that -whenever the chance comes you will let Barbara have some idea of your -feeling for her." - -This time Nona held both her hands tight together. - -"I can't explain to you, Dick, so please don't ask me why," she -continued. "But I have been thinking that there may be another reason -why Barbara has seemed less friendly with you since your arrival in -Brussels. Girls sometimes get strange ideas in their minds. But there we -are coming into Brussels. Thank you for my day in Louvain, I shall not -forget it!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -_Difficulties_ - - -Perhaps it was due to Nona Davis' advice, or perhaps to Dick Thornton's -own judgment, that he decided to make his position clear to Barbara. - -He had no thought of her returning his liking; nevertheless, a -confession appeared the more manly and straightforward. - -But beginning the next day's events moved ahead so swiftly that there -was never a chance for Dick to carry out his intention. - -By noon a message was sent him by his sister Mildred. She explained that -soon after breakfast she had been summoned to the German prison for a -consultation in regard to Eugenia Peabody. She found the prison officers -both embarrassed and annoyed. - -For the young American woman whom they had been compelled to arrest had -become dangerously ill. They had not been prepared for such a -contingency. She had been locked up in what had formerly served as an -ordinary jail in Brussels and there were no accommodations for seriously -ill persons. - -They could not determine what should be done. It was extremely awkward -to have their prison doctor declare the prisoner a victim of typhoid -fever, and to have the physician sent from the American Relief Committee -confirm his opinion. - -Suppose this Miss Peabody should be so inconsiderate as to die? The fact -might arouse international complications and would certainly precipitate -unpleasant discussion. - -The young woman had been kept a prisoner for something over a month -without a trial, but even in this time important pressure had been -exerted for her release. - -Because she had been an American Red Cross nurse, naturally all Red -Cross societies were interested. Moreover, she was said to be a member -of an old and prominent New England family, who would make themselves -heard in her behalf. Then as this Miss Peabody was herself wealthy and -had been using her money for the benefit of the Belgian children, what -might not be said in her defense? There was a chance that the German -government would be accused of resenting her care of the Belgian -children. - -In order to show their good feeling, Mildred had been permitted to visit -Eugenia. She found her friend in a small room like a cell. It was of -stone with only one window, a stool and a cot bed. - -But whatever Eugenia must have suffered for her breach of faith, she was -now past being disturbed by mental unhappiness. - -For an hour Mildred sat beside her friend trying to arouse her. But -Eugenia gave no sign of recognition. She did not seem to be enduring -pain, but was in a stupor from fever. - -Mildred felt unhappy and helpless. There was but little chance of her -friend's recovery if she remained without the right care. Moreover, the -American Red Cross girls owed it to one another to keep together -through good and evil fortunes. - -"What would Eugenia have done for one of them under the same -circumstances?" Mildred tried her best to decide. She implored the -prison authorities to allow her to remain and care for her friend. But -they refused. It was not that they were unwilling for their prisoner to -be properly looked after. It was that there were no arrangements whereby -it was practical for Mildred Thornton to continue at the prison. She -could come each day and stay for a time with her friend. And this was, -of course, a surprising concession. - -So after Mildred returned to her own quarters she had sent a note of -explanation to her brother. - -Then began the most anxious week that the American Red Cross girls had -endured since their arrival in Europe. Before now anxiety had harassed -one or two of them at a time. Now they were all equally concerned. - -Eugenia did not grow better. From day to day the report of her -condition became worse. Mildred Thornton was the only one of the three -girls ever allowed to enter Eugenia's room at the prison. However, Nona -and Barbara hovered about the neighborhood like restless ghosts. Indeed, -they now appeared as deeply attached to each other as in the early days -of their acquaintance. - -Nor was Dick Thornton much less anxious. He had always liked and admired -Eugenia. Although he disapproved her action in regard to Colonel Carton, -it was not possible wholly to object to it. One had to have a sneaking -sense of appreciation for a girl or man who would risk so much for an -entire stranger. - -However, interest in Eugenia's condition was not confined to her few -friends. In a little while her case became the most talked of in -Brussels among the Americans and their acquaintances. Then the news of -Eugenia's arrest and the reason for it appeared in the American daily -papers together with the account of her critical illness. Afterwards -these facts were copied in the newspapers of England, France and -Russia. Eugenia became an international figure. - -Now and then Barbara tried to smile, thinking how Eugenia would have -resented her notoriety had she been aware of it. But the idea did not -create much mirth. It was so far from amusing to picture one's friend at -the point of death, shut up in a tiny room, with only such crude care as -the prison physician and nurse could give her. - -The situation was unendurable; nevertheless, like a great many other -situations about which one says this _same_ thing, it had to be endured. - -The German officials in command of the city of Brussels assuredly grew -weary of visits from white-faced American girls and their friends, all -bent upon the same quest. Was it not possible that Eugenia be removed to -a hospital or to her own home until she recovered? - -The answer remained the same. Much as the situation was to be deplored, -one could not surrender a prisoner because of ill health. Discipline -must be enforced. - -Then a day came when Mildred and Dick Thornton were granted an -unexpected interview with the American Minister in Brussels. They had -seen him several times before, but on this occasion it was the Minister -who sent for them. - -He had previously been kind and interested in Eugenia's case, but so far -his good will had not availed in her behalf. He could only offer his -good will, because it was not possible to demand the prisoner's -liberation when she had frankly confessed her offense against the German -administration. - -Yet as soon as they were permitted to enter the study where the Minister -was seated at his desk, Mildred Thornton had her first moment of -hopefulness. For Mr. Whitlock had become her friend since this trouble -began and his expression indicated good news. - -"There was no use going into particulars," he declared, "but some days -before he had received certain letters from Washington. It appeared that -Judge Thornton had been to Washington in Eugenia's behalf, according to -his daughter's request, where he must have interviewed persons of -importance." Whatever took place the American Minister now announced -that he had placed Judge Thornton's communications before the proper -German officials. Whether they were influenced by these letters, or -whether they concluded that there was more to be lost than gained by -detaining their prisoner under the present conditions, it is impossible -to say. The important fact was that Eugenia might at last be moved to -her own house. There she was to be allowed to stay under guard until -such time as she could safely leave the country. She would then be -conducted to the border line of Holland and allowed to depart. But -Eugenia Peabody was never again to set foot within a German country -during the course of the present war. If she should enter it she would -immediately become liable to arrest. - -So in spite of the possible danger Eugenia was immediately removed to -her own house in the woods, the house supposedly inhabited by a ghost. - -But instead of ghosts it was now haunted by the other three Red Cross -girls, all of whom insisted upon sharing the labor of caring for Eugenia -and looking after her home. - -Yet after all it was on Barbara Meade that the largest share of the -burden fell. For the children had grown accustomed to her since their -first friend's departure. Then by a freak of chance Eugenia seemed to -wish Barbara near her the greater part of the time. She was not -conscious, so her desire was only an eccentricity of illness. -Nevertheless, Barbara naturally tried to be with her friend whenever it -was humanly possible. - -So it is easy to see why Dick Thornton found no opportunity to confide -to Barbara the dream that lay so near his heart. He saw her now and -then, of course, in his own frequent visits to the household, but seldom -alone. - -Occasionally, when for a moment he had a chance for a quiet word with -her, Dick was not willing to intrude his own desires. - -Barbara looked so worn and fragile these days. The roundness had gone -from her cheeks as well as their color, her eyes and lips rarely smiled. -It would only trouble her further to have him cast his burden upon her. -For Barbara would, of course, be sorry to cause him unhappiness. So Dick -decided to wait until serener times. - -One afternoon, however, the opportunity for entrusting one of his -secrets arrived. - -For the past three days Eugenia had been growing continuously weaker. -The crisis of her disease had passed and her fever was not so high. But -her weakness had become a more dangerous symptom. - -About four o'clock Dick drove out to the house in the woods with Dr. -Mason, who was one of the physicians devoting himself to Eugenia's case. - -He did not go indoors, but asked that one of the three American Red -Cross girls be sent out to speak to him. It was a cold afternoon, yet -the sun was shining and Dick felt that the fresh air would be of -benefit. No matter which of the three girls was free to join him, they -could walk up and down in the yard for a few minutes. The suspense of -waiting for Dr. Mason's verdict would be less severe outdoors than shut -up inside. - -But although Dick walked up and down the front porch for quite ten -minutes, no one appeared. Either Dr. Mason had forgotten to deliver his -message or else the girls were too busy or too nervous to leave the -house. - -Dick finally grew weary of the veranda as a place for a promenade. A -little later some one would be sure to come out to him, and in the -meantime he would walk a short distance into the woods. - -A few yards along the path the young man stumbled across Barbara. - -She was wearing her gray blue nursing cape and was sitting upon a log. -She looked so tiny and was huddled so close that Dick somehow thought of -a little gray squirrel. - -Barbara was too engrossed in her thoughts to hear him until he was -almost upon her. Then Dick grew frightened, because instead of speaking -she jumped to her feet and put up her hand to her throat as if she were -choking. - -It did not occur to Dick that she was terrified. He did not dream that -she had run away from the house because she dared not wait to hear Dr. -Mason's decision in regard to Eugenia. Now, of course, she thought him -sent to her with a message. - -And the worst of it was Dick did not say a word. He simply stared at -her, mute and sorrowful, because gay little Bab had become such a -pathetic figure on this November afternoon. - -Dick's silence could mean but one thing to the girl. - -She made a little fluttering sound, wavered, and the next moment Dick -was holding her upright on her feet with both his arms. - -At this same instant Barbara forgot both Eugenia and herself. - -She had felt the world growing dark before her eyes a moment before. Now -a miracle brought her back to her senses. - -She drew herself away at once and stood upright. Then placed both her -hands on Dick Thornton's two arms. - -"Dick," she said in an awed tone, "didn't you use _both_ your arms just -now, when you kept me from falling?" - -Her companion nodded. - -"I have been meaning to tell you, Barbara, but you have been too busy -with other things. My arm has been growing stronger each day, but I -didn't know myself until this minute that I could use the lame one as -easily as the good. I suppose because I was frightened about you, I -forgot my own weakness." - -Then while Barbara was gazing at her friend in silence, but with her -eyes expressing her joy in his news, Mildred Thornton came running along -the path toward them. - -"Dr. Mason says Eugenia is much better this afternoon. He has the -greatest hopes of her," she cried, while still several yards away. - -"Gene recognized Nona and asked for something to eat. Nona says she even -objected to the way in which she gave her medicine, so I suppose we have -the old Gene back again. Come with me, Barbara dear, Dr. Mason says we -may both speak to her. Afterwards she is to be left alone to go to -sleep and I shall have to try to keep the children quiet. You must see -if you can get Jan away from her door. The boy has not moved from there -since six o'clock this morning." - -Then Mildred condescended to recognize her brother. But after kissing -him hurriedly, she put her arm about Barbara's waist and both girls fled -back to the house. - -Later, Dick returned to town without seeing either one of them again -that afternoon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -_En Route_ - - -Barbara Meade was chosen as the suitable one of the three girls to -accompany Eugenia out of Belgium. - -There were a number of reasons for this decision, but the most important -was that her friends agreed she was most in need of a change. Another -point was that Eugenia appeared to prefer to have her. - -But the journey could not be expected to be an altogether pleasant one. -Eugenia was still ill enough to be a responsibility, and, moreover, the -German authorities did not hesitate to express their wish to be rid of -her as soon as possible. It was for this reason that the trip was -planned as soon as it was in the least feasible. - -Toward the middle of December the preparations for departure were -finally concluded. It was arranged that Nona Davis and Mildred Thornton -should remain in charge of Eugenia's house in the woods for a time. For -the children must continue being cared for. Therefore, the American -hospital in Brussels had agreed temporarily to dispense with their -services. Later on perhaps it might be possible to make a more definite -arrangement. But at present Nona and Mildred were both pleased to have a -change in their work. Besides, this change afforded them the chance to -stay on with their friends until the actual time of their leave-taking. - -Neither of the four girls ever forgot the final moment of farewell. - -Since daylight they had talked about everything else under the sun -except the fact that they might not meet again for many months. For -under the circumstances naturally their future plans were indefinite. - -Barbara and Eugenia had been informed that they would be escorted to the -frontiers of Holland. Once within the neutral state no further -observation would be made of them and they could go where they chose. - -They had determined to cross at once to England and then, lingering -only long enough for Eugenia to rest, to travel by slow stages to -southern France. Once there, they were once more to take refuge in the -little "Farmhouse with the Blue Front Door." - -For in the midst of Eugenia's illness a letter had arrived from Madame -Castaigne. In it she had demanded that Miss Peabody be removed at once -from a country at present overrun by barbarians. In her opinion, the -American Red Cross girls should never have departed from the protection -of her beloved France. Whenever it was possible the farmhouse was at -their disposal. Moreover, Madame Castaigne suffered for their -companionship. For she and François had been entirely alone for months. -Captain Castaigne was away in another part of the country with his -regiment. - -So it had been both Eugenia's and Barbara's fancy to go back for a time -to the little house they had both loved. When Eugenia had entirely -recovered her health, they could then decide on the next step. - -At Eugenia's request no one of their many friends in Brussels came out -to say good-bye on the last day. For her own sake and the happiness of -the children she wished her departure to be as quiet as possible. - -She and Barbara were therefore ready and waiting by noon, when the -German officer arrived who was to take them to the border line. - -Neither of the girls had been informed who this man might be, nor what -his character and rank. - -Personally, Barbara felt a considerable anxiety. So much of the comfort -of the first of their journey would depend on his courtesy. Then there -was the chance that Eugenia might be less strong than they hoped and -fall ill again along the way. - -Yet Eugenia herself seemed to have no qualms upon the subject. Her one -desire appeared to be to get away, to return to the country she had -wilfully turned her back upon. For it had been chiefly due to Eugenia's -influence that the American Red Cross girls had left France to begin a -new service in Belgium. - -Finally, when the German officer arrived, Nona, Mildred and Barbara were -equally discouraged by his manner and appearance. - -In the first place, he was a man of a rough and surly exterior. He was -only a sergeant, with an overbearing and insolent method of speaking. -Indeed, he made no pretence of treating Eugenia in any way except as an -intruder who had come dangerously near being a traitor to his -government. Therefore, he had nothing but scorn and dislike of her. - -He would have chosen to travel with his prisoner in handcuffs, but since -this had been forbidden she should be allowed no other consideration. - -So Nona and Mildred had to kiss their friends good-bye with the German -sergeant staring at them disdainfully. Then before they realized what -was taking place they beheld Eugenia and Barbara being marched down the -path toward a car which was to take them to their train. - -Eugenia could scarcely keep up with the rapid pace demanded of her. She -looked very ill and fragile and Barbara very tiny to have her clinging -for support to her arm. - -Neither Mildred nor Nona could see distinctly at the last. Afterwards -they remembered that Eugenia and Bab had both waved their hands just as -the motor car plunged ahead down the narrow path through the woods. - -They had promised to write as soon as it was possible to get a letter -through the lines. But there was a chance that their mail must first be -sent to the United States and then have to recross the ocean. - -Naturally the two girls who had been left behind were deeply depressed. -Yet they had little time for reflection. For Eugenia had asked that the -children be given a feast as soon as she was safely out of the way. -Moreover, there was Nicolete dissolved in tears! She had wished to -accompany her friend, but on account of Monsieur Bebé's helplessness had -been persuaded to remain behind. - -Work is ever the solace of sorrow, as Mildred and Nona both discovered -ten minutes after their parting from the other two Red Cross girls. - -But Eugenia and Barbara had no such immediate consolation. - -Half a dozen times in the next few hours Barbara greatly desired to -start a war on her own account. Yet in spite of her somewhat fiery -temperament she could say and do nothing. It was not on her own account -that she was so angry, but for the sake of her friend. - -For notwithstanding her apparent weakness, Eugenia was forced to travel -in a train so crowded that she started upon her journey standing up. -Barbara's protest against this as an impossibility availed nothing. But -a few moments later a Belgian woman took compassion upon them. She was -old but sturdy and determined and Eugenia's refusal to occupy her place -she would not consider. Moreover, the girl had by this time reached such -a condition that she must either sit down or fall. Though desiring her -to be as wretched as possible, even her guard appreciated this fact. - -Afterwards Barbara decided that she had never gone through more trying -hours than those she endured on their way into Holland. - -Eugenia scarcely spoke a dozen words. Indeed, she appeared happily -unconscious of a great deal of the insolence leveled at her. But Barbara -missed nothing. The sergeant's every glance at Eugenia was an insult, -whenever he spoke to her it was with a growl. Perhaps his task of -driving an American girl out of a once friendly country was such a -disagreeable one that no one except a bear would have wished to -undertake it. - -However, both Barbara and Eugenia were willing exiles. The moment when -the girls realized that their feet were upon Dutch soil was the happiest -they had spent in many weeks. For here at last their guard said good-bye -to them. At least, though he used no words, his behavior had the effect -of a good-bye. What he actually did was to deposit them upon the -platform of a railroad station, then with a grunt of disfavor turn and -stride away. But the girls both knew that the next train on which they -were to travel would run through the peaceful Dutch country. - -By night they arrived at a Dutch port. In spite of the peril of floating -mines and submarines the Holland passenger boats were still making their -nightly journeys to the English coast. - -Naturally there were but few passengers aboard, as no one was crossing -for pleasure. But tonight there were a small number of business men and -a few women. - -At eight o'clock in the evening their boat sailed, and immediately after -Barbara and Eugenia went to bed. Food was brought to their stateroom, -but they were too weary and too excited to eat, so it was scarcely nine -o'clock when they were both sound asleep. - -Of course they appreciated the possible danger of their crossing. But as -a matter of fact neither Barbara nor Eugenia gave the idea five minutes' -thought. When one has lived in the midst of war's tragedies and terrors, -one no longer worries over _possible_ misfortunes. There is time enough -when the blow falls. - -Therefore, at midnight the two friends were peacefully sleeping, when -they were awakened by an extraordinary sensation and then a tumultuous -noise. - -Suddenly their little steamer had come to an abrupt halt in mid-sea. -There was no warning, no gradual slowing down. One moment they had been -traveling at full speed, the next they were at a complete standstill. -Then there began a tremendous rushing about on the deck above the floor -where the two American Red Cross girls had their berths. Soon after a -heavy splash followed as if something had been dropped into the sea. - -Although they were both awakened with the first reversal of the boat's -engines, neither of the girls spoke until after the noise subsided. - -Then it was Eugenia. - -"Something extraordinary has happened, Bab dear," she said quietly. "I -think you had best go and see what it is. I have a feeling that perhaps -our boat is going to sink. But there has been no explosion so far!" - -Eugenia was extraordinarily calm, almost passive. One may not believe -this state of mind to be possible, but wait until you have had just such -a personal experience with danger. - -Barbara's answer was to scramble quickly out of the upper berth. She -chanced to be wearing a warm blue wrapper which served as a gown. So now -she only needed to slip her fur coat over it and pull down her gray -squirrel cap over her brown curls. - -"Be getting dressed, Eugenia, while I find out what has happened. I'll -come back in a moment," she advised. - -But once outside her stateroom, Barbara discovered only a mild -excitement. A few passengers were running up and down the narrow -hallway, clinging to scanty costumes. One of them explained the -situation to Barbara. - -"Nothing's much amiss, we are all getting too nervous these days," he -commented. "Our ship has just run up against a solid bank of fog. As we -can't see an inch ahead of us, our captain has too good sense to go on -in the darkness. We may have to stay here an hour, or twenty-four, there -is no telling. Hope a submarine won't come along and pick us off." And -with this parting pleasantry Barbara's new acquaintance departed. - -The next instant Barbara returned and opened her stateroom door. - -"Go back to sleep, Gene dear, everything is serene," she said -reassuringly; "there is only a heavy fog at sea. I want to go up on deck -and investigate, so please don't worry about me." - -A few moments later Barbara was groping her way about on deck until she -discovered an empty steamer chair. This she crawled into, tucking her -feet up under her and snuggling down close in the darkness. She could -still hear the sailors rushing about on deck. Now and then she could -even catch the dim outline of a figure, but nothing else was -discernible. The very lights suspended from the ship's side were pale -and flickering. - -Yet it was all immensely interesting. Outside the ship both sky and -water had apparently ceased to exist. One could see only a solid mass of -gray-black fog like a wet and heavy veil overspreading the world. - -Barbara had recovered from her fatigue with her few hours of sleep. -Never had she felt more wide awake or more excited. If only it were -possible to see more. - -Suddenly she jumped up from her chair. It is true the decks were wet and -slippery and since she could not see her way about, nor be seen, she -might be in danger of falling. Nevertheless, Barbara decided to risk the -danger. A tumble more or less need not be serious and she was freezing -from sitting still. And yet she had not the faintest intention or desire -of going back to her stateroom. - -The fog might last for many hours, but then there was the chance that it -might lift at any moment. Barbara greatly desired to see the spectacle -of a familiar world emerging from darkness into light. - -Fortunately her side of the deck appeared to be entirely deserted. - -She rose and walked a few steps up and down, compelled to go slowly, -for the fog lay like a damp weight upon her chest, pressing her backward -with its dim, invisible hands. - -But after a little time, growing bolder when the desire to gaze down -into the water swept over her, she turned and walked blindly forward. -Within a few paces she reached out to grasp the ship's rails. - -But instead her hands touched something warm and human. Immediately she -gave a smothered cry of embarrassment and fright. - -"I am so sorry," she murmured apologetically, then with a characteristic -laugh. "But really I don't know whether I have run into you or you into -me. Will you please move to the right and I'll go to the left. Then we -need never meet again." - -"Barbara," began a familiar voice. - -For the second time the girl's hands stretched forward, but this time -they clung to the coat of the young fellow standing within a few feet of -her. - -"Dick Thornton, can it be possible this is you, when you are in -Brussels?" she protested. "But then how can it be any one except you, -although I have not seen you. If it is only your ghost I am holding on -to, at least it is a very substantial one, and I never was so glad to -meet any other ghost in my life." - -In answer Dick Thornton laughed out loud. "Did anyone in the world ever -talk in such a ridiculous fashion as Barbara, and yet was there ever -anyone so delightful?" He slipped his arm through the girl's. - -"Let us walk up and down for a few moments while I explain the reality -of my presence," he suggested, quietly taking his companion's consent -for granted. - -"Personally, I think it would be the more surprising if I were not here. -Did you think for an instant I would allow you and Eugenia to go on this -long trip alone, when Eugenia has been so ill? I did not mention the -subject to you girls, since I did not intend to have a discussion. But -whether you allow it or not I shall be your faithful follower until you -reach the little French farmhouse." - -Barbara's eyes were swimming with unexpected tears. - -"You are the kindest person in the world always, Dick," she answered. -"And I can't tell you how glad I am to have you with us! I did dread the -responsibility of Gene more than I would confess. Besides, I want you to -see our 'House with the Blue Front Door.' But I wonder if it is fair to -Mildred and Nona to have you leave them for even a short time? Your -place is with them rather than any one else, isn't it?" - -"My place is beside you, Barbara, whenever you are willing to have me," -Dick returned in such a matter-of-fact fashion that his companion did -not at once understand the meaning of his words. - -"Your place beside me?" she repeated slowly. "Why, how is that possible -when Mildred is your sister and Nona----" - -But Dick was drawing her toward the side of the ship and now they were -both leaning against the railing looking down at the glossy darkness -beneath them. - -"Yes, Mildred is my sister and Nona my friend," Dick continued, "yet -neither one of them can mean to me what the girl I would choose above -all others to be my wife means. Don't answer me for a moment, Barbara. I -have no delusion about your feeling for me, but that makes no -difference. I want you to know that ever since those first days in New -York you have filled the greater portion of my world. No matter what may -happen to divide us, nor how far your life may lead away from mine, I -shall not change." - -The girl and man were standing within only a few feet of each other. Now -Barbara moved closer and laid her hand on her companion's coat sleeve. - -"I am not very anxious for anything to divide us, nor for my life to -lead far away from yours," she whispered. - -At this moment the bank of fog rolled up as if it were a stage curtain -being raised in answer to the prompter's bell, when for the first time -that evening Dick and Barbara caught the vision of each other's faces. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -_Noel_ - - -It was Christmas morning in southern France. For several hours a light -snow had been falling, but had not stayed upon the ground. Yet it -clothed the branches of the trees with white lace and filled the air -with jewels. - -Walking alone a slender girl with dark hair and eyes lifted her face to -let the snow melt upon her cheeks. She looked fragile, as if she were -just recovering from an illness, nor did her expression betray any -special interest in Christmas. - -"These woods are as lovely as I remember them," she said aloud. "It is -true, I never could find a place in Belgium I liked half so well." - -Then she stopped a moment and glanced around her. - -"I do hope Barbara and Dick won't discover I have run away. I feel as -much a truant as if I were a small girl. But they surely won't be -tramping through my woods at present, when they assured me they would -spend several hours at the chateau. So I can't be found out till it is -too late. I feel I must see Nicolete's little log house and Nona's 'Pool -of Melisande.'" - -Ten minutes after Eugenia arrived at the desired place. The lake of -clear water which she had once described as the "pool of truth" was -today covered with a thin coating of ice at its edges. The center was as -untroubled as it had always been. Above it tall evergreen trees leaned -so close to one another that their summits almost touched. - -Eugenia breathed deeply of the fragrance of the snow and the pine. The -day was an unusually cold one for this part of the country, but the -winter was being everywhere severe. It was as if nature would make no -easier the task of her children's destruction of each other. - -But Eugenia was not thinking of warlike things at this hour. She was -merely feeling a physical pleasure in her own returning strength. - -Yet just as she was congratulating herself on having been able to walk -so far without tiring, the girl experienced a sudden, overpowering -sensation of fatigue. - -For several moments she stood upright fighting her weakness; she even -turned and started back toward home. Then recognizing her own folly, -Eugenia looked for a place to rest. - -But she did not look very far nor in but one direction. Yes, the log was -there in the same place it had been six months before. - -With a half smile at herself Eugenia sat down. She was not deceived, for -she understood perfectly why she had wished to come back to this -neighborhood and why today she had wanted to walk alone into these -woods. - -But there could be no wrong in what she was doing, since no one would -ever guess her reason. - -Eugenia was sincerely pleased over Barbara's and Dick's happiness. But -she would never confess herself so completely surprised as Barbara -demanded that she be. She merely announced that if one of the girls felt -compelled to marry (and she supposed they could not all hope to escape -the temptation of their nursing experiences in Europe), at least she was -grateful that Barbara had chosen to bestow her affection upon an -American. Personally, she felt convinced that no foreign marriage could -be a success. - -Yet here sat Eugenia in an extremely sentimental attitude with the light -snow falling about her. More than this, she was in an equally -sentimental state of mind. But then nothing of this kind matters when -one chances to be entirely alone. Dreams are one's own possession. - -Then the girl heard a sound that entirely accorded with her train of -thought. - -It was a slow velvet-like tread moving in her direction. - -In another moment Duke had approached and laid his great head in her -lap. He did not move again; there was no foolish wagging of his tail. -These expressions of emotion were meant for lesser beasts; Duke -revealed his joy and his affection in a beautiful, almost a thrilling -silence. - -Eugenia had not seen her old friend since her arrival at the farmhouse a -few days before. For some reason he had not called there with François -and she had not been outside the house until today. Their trip had been -a long and tiring one and she was more exhausted than she had expected -to be. - -But this was a far more satisfactory reunion and Eugenia was sincerely -moved. - -She put her own thin cheek down on Duke's silver head and remained as -still as he was. Truly _he_ had not forgotten! - -Captain Castaigne found them like this when he appeared within the next -few seconds. - -He made no pretence of a greeting. Instead he frowned upon his one-time -friend as severely as she might have upon him had their positions been -reversed. - -"It is not possible that you are in the woods in this snowstorm, -Eugenie! Miss Meade told me that I should find you at the little -farmhouse. Take my arm and we will return as quickly as possible." - -With entire meekness Eugenia did as she was told. She did not even -remember to be amused at this young Frenchman's amazing fashion of -ordering her about. But she was surprised into speechlessness at his -unexpected appearance. - -"Only yesterday your mother assured us you were in northern France with -your regiment," Eugenia murmured as she was being escorted along the -path toward home. "She insisted that there was no possible prospect of -your returning to this neighborhood in many months." - -Captain Castaigne smiled. "Is that American frankness, Eugenie? We -French people prefer to leave certain things to the imagination. Of -course, I understand that you would never have come to the farmhouse had -you dreamed of my being nearby. However, I am here for the purpose of -seeing you. My mother did not intend to deceive you; I had not told her -of my intention. But we will not talk of these things until we arrive at -home. You are too weary to speak." - -This was so manifestly true that Eugenia made no attempt at argument. - -She was fatigued, and yet there was something else keeping her silent. - -How splendidly well Captain Castaigne looked! His face was less boyish -than she remembered it. But then she had not understood him at the -beginning of their acquaintance. It had been stupid of her too, because -no soldier receives the Cross of the Legion of Honor who has not put -aside boyish things. - -Because it was Christmas day, Noel as the French term it, the living -room at the farmhouse was gay with evergreens. But better than this, a -real fire burned in the fireplace. - -Eugenia let her companion take off her long nursing cloak and she -herself removed her cap. - -Then she stood revealed a different Eugenia, because of Barbara's taste -and determination. - -Instead of her uniform or her usual shabby, ill-made dress, she wore an -exquisite pale gray crepe de chine, which made a beauty of her -slenderness. About her throat there were folds of white and in her belt -a dull, rose-velvet rose. This costume had been purchased in Paris as -the girls passed through and Eugenia wore it today in honor of -Christmas. - -Without a doubt Eugenia looked pale and ill, but her hair was twisted -about her head like a dull brown coronet and the shadows about her eyes -revealed their new depth and sweetness. - -When she sat down again, drawing near the fire with a little shiver, -Captain Castaigne came and knelt beside her. - -No American could have done this without awkwardness and -self-consciousness. Yet there was no hint of either in the young French -officer's attitude. Seeing him, Eugenia forgot her past narrowness and -the critical misunderstanding of a nature that cannot appreciate -temperaments and circumstances unlike their own. She was reminded of the -picture of a young French knight, the St. Louis of France, whom she had -seen among the frescoes of the Pantheon in Paris. - -Very gravely Captain Castaigne raised Eugenia's hand to his lips. - -"I care for you more than I did when I told you of my love and you would -not believe. I shall go on caring. How long must I serve before you -return my affection?" - -Eugenia shook her head fretfully like a child. - -"But it isn't a question of my caring. I told you that there were a -thousand other things that stood between us, Henri." - -Then she drew her hand away and laid it lightly upon the young man's -head. - -"This house has many memories for me. Perhaps when I am an old woman you -will let me come back here and live a part of each year. May I buy the -house from your mother? Ask her as a favor to me?" - -Eugenia was trying her best to return to her old half maternal treatment -of the young officer. This had been the attitude which she had used in -the months of his illness in the little "Farmhouse with the Blue Front -Door." - -But this time their positions were reversed. - -"We will talk of that another time," he returned. "Now you must be fair -with me. I will not accept such an answer as you gave me before. I must -be told the truth." - -Captain Castaigne had gotten up and stood looking down upon Eugenia. - -"I return to my regiment tomorrow. You must tell me today." - -In reply the girl let her hands fall gently into her lap and gazed -directly into the handsome, clear-cut face above her own. - -"Why should I try to deceive you? It would be only sheer pretence. You -are the only man I have ever cared for or ever shall. But I'll never -marry you under any possible circumstances. I am too old and too -unattractive and too--oh, a hundred other things." - -But Captain Castaigne was smiling in entire serenity. - -"We will marry at the little 'Farmhouse with the Blue Front Door' during -my next leave of absence." - -But Barbara and Dick were at this moment entering the blue front door. - -Half an hour later, when they had finished Christmas dinner, Dick -Thornton drew a magazine from his pocket, which had on its cover the -sign of the Red Cross. - -"Here is a poem some one in America has written called 'She of the Red -Cross.' Will you listen while I read it to you? To me the poem, of -course, means Barbara and to Captain Castaigne, Eugenia." - - - "She fulfills the dramatic destiny of woman, - Because she stands valiant, in the presence of pestilence, - And faces woe unafraid, - And binds up the wounds made by the wars of men. - She fights to defeat pain, - And to conquer torture, - And to cheat death of his untimely prey. - And her combat is for neither glory nor gain, but, with charity - and mercy and compassion as her weapons, she storms incessantly - the ramparts of grief. - There thrills through her life never the sharp, sudden thunder of - the charge, never the swift and ardent rush of the short, - decisive conflict--the tumult of applauding nations does not - reach her ears--and the courage that holds her heart high comes - from the voice of her invincible soul. - She fulfills the dramatic destiny of woman because, - reared to await the homage of man and to receive his service, she - becomes when the war trumps sound, the servitor of the world. - And because whenever men have gone into battle, women have borne - the real burden of the fray, - And because since the beginning of time, man when he is hurt or - maimed turns to her and finds, in her tenderness, the consolation - and comfort which she alone can give. - Thus she of the Red Cross stands today, as woman has stood always, - the most courageous and the most merciful figure in all history. - She is the Valor of the World." - - * * * * * * - -The fourth volume in the American Red Cross Girls series will be called -"The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army." - -In this volume the four girls will return to the scene of actual -fighting. They will be with the Russian army in their retreat. Moreover, -certain characters introduced in the first book will reappear in the -fourth, so increasing the excitement and interest of the plot. A new -romance differing from the others plays an unexpected part in the life -of one of the girls. The story may safely promise to have more important -developments than any of the past volumes. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Cross Girls in Belgium, by -Margaret Vandercook - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM *** - -***** This file should be named 53730-8.txt or 53730-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/7/3/53730/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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