The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-01-04
ADOPTED BY 4 CoUNrESs


There are few orphans TO whom sucA
good fortune comes az that which 1atos
" befell Gertie Gerlach, flaxen-haired
miss Of ten summers. From the statiou:
Of poor waif, dependent upon the
charity Of poverty-stricken neighborx
the little girl has been suddenly lifted
to the position Of an heiress. She Il now
on her way to Sweden. fl 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 ont
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, = ID
left no property, his family became :.
charge on the bounty Of the neighbors.
The three younger children were
given homes, but there seemed NO p1ace
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 ManitoWoe
Count and Countess Tourni boarded the
train. In the drawing com car every
seat was taken, and they found places
in one Of the common coaches. They
sat directly across from Mrs. Bauer.
meister 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 w1a
much moved at the child's story, and
questioned Mrs. Bauermeister as to her
ability to care for the child. Learnine
that the woman was little better that
destitute, the countess agreed, after
consulting her husband. 70 take Gertie
OF her hands and adopt her as her own
child. Mrs. Bauermeister consented to
give her mp. and Gertie being willing n
accompany her newly found friends
the compact was closed. Upon arriyinR
in Chicago. clothing suitable to her new
station in life was provided for the
child.
Gertie is remarkably pretty. Her
hair ID long and heavy, and while quite
fair is Of . bright color. She has HI.
pathetic eyes, shaded BY long. dafk
lashes, and her complexion is . clear
pink and white. For child cf her
meager advantages she seems unu-
sually intelligent, and has stock "
common sense that would do credit ~
q much older person.
Count and Countess Tournf were II.
this country on pleasure expedition,
and had been here nine months when
they met Gertie Gerlach. They spent
amonth nChicagola last spring, and then
went to California, and, returning. ran
up to Manitowoc for . day to visited1D
tant relative Of the count. They sailed
the other day for Europe, taking their
adopted daughter with them. Count
Tourni holds government position 81
Sweden. He owns large estate neas
Stockholm, and is Of ! very old ri
noble family. Chicago Inter Ocean,