The Red Cross Girls in Belgium

ets near the Palais de la Nation. The house had once been a private residence, but since the coming of

t along the way. She wore a dark-blue taffeta suit and white

d that she was dreadfully fagged and anxious to get away from the beaten track for a few hours. It chanced to be her[Pg 59] one afternoon of leisure in the week,

d the hardest work she had yet done, for the funds for the Belgian Relief work were getting painfull

ry 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"[Pg 60] for the safety of the Belgian people and their gallant king and queen. Barbara was too loyal an American to believe that kings and queen

ed out of one of the side doors that chanced to be open. Afterwards

ired to inquire her way to the nearest tram line, she waited for a moment. At some

quick stride and the graceful carriage of the head and shoulders. The men of Brussels are ra

n Barbara expected that she was extremely

f my arrival! I'm sorry you have been so tremendously busy every time I have had a chance

ngly into her face. But after her first recognition of him she

ised me, if she could be spared, to spend the afternoon seeing sights. I[Pg 62] have investigated thirty destitute Bel

ittle, although it was not

Nona's society for a reward. And if I had only known your plan you might have carried it out

urned. But he scarcely showed the gratitude

lse. 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. Y

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[Pg 64] c

e 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 b

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

and in a friendly fas

am sure Gene will be," she answered happily. "

g

suburbs, Dick and Barbara arrived at a tumble-down shed. Eugen

ient horse. Money and Eugenia's determined character had secured the forlorn equ

g's coachman. That is, he allowed the old horse to pick her way along a grass-grown path for about a mile. Then he i

lane together. Their position was not very romantic, however. Barbara led the way along the same narro

quaintance; something had changed her. Well, one could hardly go through the experiences of this war without changing, even if one were only an o

e front yard and the grass had been cut, so that there was a broad cleared space. Moreover, ever

y imagine. For there were eight or ten children at this moment in the yard wit

g

d that he was the most exquisite child she had ever seen in her life. The boy was like a small p

glanced up and then ran forward to meet her guests.

tested a few moments later. "Never should I have allowed Dick to c

sponsibilities did not appe

an old woman who lived in a shoe, who had so many