The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-05
ADOPTED BY A COUNTESS.
Gertie Gerlach, a Little wisconsin
Orphan, Finds Rich and Pow-
crful Friends.

There are few orphans to whom such
good fortune comes as that which late
" befell Gertie Gerlach, a flaxen-haired
miss of ten summers. From the station
of poor waif, dependent upon the
charity of poverty-stricken neighbors,
the little girl has been suddenly lifted
to the position of an heiress. She is now
in her way to Sweden, in company with
Count and Countess Tourni, who are
now her foster parents, and with whom
she became acquainted by the merest
chance.
Gertie has lived the greater part of
her life on farm near Tornado, Wis.
Her mother died when she was seven
years old, and when the reports of the
gold fields in the Klondike country
reached Wisconsin her father set out
to seek his fortune in the Yukon. His
four children he left in charge of neigh
bors, from time to time sending small
sum for their maintenance. About
three months ago news of his death
reached Gerlach's friends, and, as he
left no property, his family became a
charge on the bounty of the neighbors.
The three younger children were
given homes, but there seemed no place
for Gertie She was shifted about from
one house to another, until Mrs. Amelia
Bauermeister, whose husband also died
In Alaska, decided to return to her old
home in Germany, and agreed TO take
the little girl with her. Mrs. Bauer
meister had only little money, but ex-
pected to get work in Chicago that
would enable her soon to save enough
to proceed to Germany. At Manitowoc
Count and Countess Tourni boarded the
train. In the drawing-room car every
seat was taken, and they found places
in one of the common coaches. They
sat directly across from Mrs. Bauer
nleister and her young charge, and
soon noticed that the little girl was cry
ing bitterly. AS she continued TO sob
and weep the countess tried to comfort
the child, and she drew from Gertie the
story of her sorrow. The countess was
much moved at the child's story, and
questioned Mrs. Bauermeister as to her
ability to care for the child. Learning
that the woman was little better than
destitute, the countess agreed, after
consulting her husband, to take Gertie
off her hands and adopt her as her own
child. Mrs. Bauermeister consented to
give her up, and Gertie being willing to
accompany her newly found friends
the compact was closed. Upon arriving
in Chicago, clothing suitable to her new
station in life was provided for the
child.
Gertie Is remarkably pretty. Her
hair is long and heavy, and while quite
fair is of bright color. She has big,
pathetic eyes, shaded by long, dark
lashes, and her complexion is clear
pink and white. For child of her
meager advantages she seeIns unu-
sually intelligent, and has stock Of
common sense that would do credit to
much older person.
Count and Countess Tourni were in
this country on q pleasure expedition
and had been here nine months when
they met Gertie Gerlach. They spent
month in Chicagolast spring, and then
went to California, and, returning, ran
up to Manitowoc for day to visit dis
tant relative of the count. They sailed
the other day for Europe, taking their
adopted daughter with them. Count
Tourni holds government position in
Sweden. He owns large estate near
Stockholm, and is of very old and
noble family.--Chicago Inter Ocean.