Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-14
Won by Waiting
\ BY -
EDNA LYALL.
Continued.

W SOLl4IOlL I<opSl duCS.
Poor little one," she said. tenderly:
all the troubles of life come to you
But do not cry, dear child; no doubt
Gaspard is but slightly wounded
Has he not passed through the rest
Of the siege without hurt-save, in
deed, that arm wound, which was
but a trife?"
But the uncertainty" sobbed
poor Esperance; Il could bear it, if
only knew all, even if he were
dead" Then as madame could find
no reply, she started up with despair
ing energy, Madame, I must know
where he i! I must find him! l
will go to the ambulances"
She hurried away to her own room,
snatched up her cloak and hat, and
in half a minute was again in the
salon. where NJ and Nine. Lemercier
we're discussing the possibility of her
enterprise
Monsieur, who was a kind-hearted
little man, came to meet her with a
mixture of affected gallantry and
true sympathy, which would have
amused her at any other time
Dear mademoiselle, he began,
do you rightly understand the diff
Guilty of your task? The ambulances
are scattered about the city in every
direction; the night is cold, it will be
too much for you. | will make ev-
cry possible inquiry if you will per-
nit
Esperance interrupted him
Monsieur is too good; if you will
indeed go with me, I shall have no
dlfl1culty, 1T will be far easier for me
10 bear than waiting here. Let us
come at once if you can really spare
the time. Adieu, dear madame;
give us your good wishes"
The night air felt cold and chill as
Esperanco and her companion walked
down the street; the lamps had long
ago ceased to be lighted and their
progress would have been slow had
not NJ. Lemercier known every inch
OF the ground A few minutes
walking brought them to the Odeon
Theater, which had been converted
into an ambulance. Esperances
heart beat high with hope as she
waited in the vetsibule while n. Lee
mercier went in to make inquiries,
but after what seemed to her a long
absence, he returned with Failure
written on his face.
HE is not there dear mademoi-
seIle. But courage! we will find
him yet. Let us 60 to the American
ambulance" \
Esperance loved the American hos
pital in spite of it's painful associa-
tons; had often visited it since her
fathers death, taking her small con-
tributions of charpie or garments for
the sick, so she was pleased at the
thought of going there, and OF seeing
again the kind American ladies, and
somehow she felt cofdent that Gas
pard must be there if anywhere.
She walked on bravely in this
hope But alas, she was soon unde-
ceived. The cool, airy tents were
there, the prettily dressed American
ladies were just as she had pictured
them, but among the rows of wound
ed soldiers Gaspard was not to be
found
The names of several other ambu-
lances were suggested to them, and
they went out on their search once
more but Esperance, now that her
hope had been disappointed found
it hard to keep up. Bodily fatigue
and mental suffering were beginning
to tell upon her, ae1d after three ."
four more fail "os, N. Lemercier,
locking at her white face grew
alarmed.
"Mademoiselle is ILL., Let me call
g fiacre, if | can procure one, indeed
which is doubtful after all the horse
flesh we have eaten. Let us reSSIrn,
and wait for daylight to resume our
search"
But tired as she WAS, Esperamce
would not hear of this. @'No, no, in
deed l am not i'll, monsieur" she re
piled, quickly; ''let us do all we can.
Which will be the next ambulance?"
THE Grand Hotel-and here we
are; now let me persuade you TO
wait in the entrance while I go TO
inquire"
faint that she was obliged to consent,
and, sinking down on a bench, she
waited, though with scarcely any
hope of success. 1t seemed hours
before her companion returned. and
then, once more, came the weary an
swer: 1T is no use-he is not
there
M vii fbaro
ever bent upon going home, and she
had scarcely strength to resist his
urging. 1t was not till he was on
the very point of calling a fiacre
that she was fully reused The
very realization of what the relief
would be, reminded her also of her
object, quickening all her powers,
and renewing her grief, which for the
time had been half numbed +,
Indeed, monsieur, I would rather
walk" she exclaimed, with sufficient
energy to surprise NJ Lemercier
land we have yet to inquire at the
Theatre Francois,
"Ah. It is true" said monsieur, re-
fiectively. "You are a veritable
heroine, mademoiselle; and if you are
really able to do so we will proceed
No, citoyen,' to the driver of the
fiacre. lone must walk en- foot dur.
ing a siege Take my advice, ant
eat your horse while he is yours
The driver growled out something
about "a fare" and adding to thu
rations;" but they were soon out o
of