The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-01-04
The Little Lacemaker.

MO7 Ollie. NOEMl NERDlER, q
IM lacemaker of Yalenciennes, was
~sas good as she was pretty, and
her modesty and simplicity commanded
the respect of all.
Left an orphan at thirteen years OF
age she lived with her brother, three
years her senior, who, having suddenly
become the head Of the house, labored
for his little sister and himself at cabi.
net making.
The two lived happily together; but
the years passed and the time of mill
tary service came Louis was obliged
to go. The separation was terrible to
those two children, who loved each 9th
er so much.
Left alone In the little lodgings, thus
suddenly become too large for her, Noe
mi with bleeding heart applied herself
to her work and wrought marvels from
the fax fields.
Each Saturday she carried back her
work and when she returned home di-
yided her earnings In two parts. Must
she not send small subsidy to her sol
dler, who was thinking of her there in
his far-away garrison?
On his side Louis behaved in his regi-
ment as he did in Yalenclennes; that is
TO say, like an honest man, and SO, at
the end Of the second year Of his abb
sence he was able to announce one
beautiful morning that he had been
promoted to be sergeant.
You can imagine how happy Noeml
was! How her heart throbbed with joyl
oh, how proud she was of her dear
brotherl But her happiness was short.
In a few weeks came letter. The war
cloud had burst all at once; armed
France rushed to the frontier of the
East.
The dreadful war began.
From the letters of her beloved Louis
she learned the successive defeats of
the French army, Woerth, Rozenvllle,
Saint-Priyate, Gravelotte, Sedan. Then
silence followed-no more letters. no
more news, nothing.
Noemi, who never read the papers,
hastened now to the Office of the Guet-
teur de Valenciennes and of the Echo
de la Frontiere, seeking there some lit
tie ray Of hope. She listened to the
talk on the street, she mingled with
the groups of people commenting on
the news, she gave ear to the painful
accounts of the war and she learned,
with a sinking heart, that her brothers
regiment had met with severe losses.
Meanwhile the wounded soldiers were
sent, through Hirsan and Ayesnes, to
the towns and cities on the northern
frontier. Every day fresh conveys ar
rived in Valenciennes.
All the hospitals were full, and still
they came. Then private ambulances
were organized everywhere, churches
and factories opened their doors to the
unfortunate wounded soldiers.
One morning the report was circu-
lated that q convoy of wounded from
her brothers regiment had arrived dur
ing the night.
TO the poor girl glimmer of hope
returned
She ran from one to the other, asking
Of the nurses, bending over every cot;
but the hope Of the morning vanished.
All at once she remembered that the
day before they had opened in Saint
Saulve n hospital intended especially
for the officers. Was there any possi-
bility that an unknown sergeant might
have been brought there? Surely not.
Yet, Notwithstanding, she found
strength to go thither.
An army surgeon came toward her.
"What do you wish, mademoiseIle?" |
"Oh, monsieur! Pardonl | am look |
ng for my brother, Sergeant Louis Yer
Her"
"You mean Lieutenant Louis Yer
lier?" And pointing with his finger
lown the,long row of mattresses on the
ioor "there he is in the sixth bed"
To the poor girl 1t seemed as If the
arth vanished from beneath her feet.
,he choked back an exclamation Of joy,
offered forward a few steps and with
N outburst of infinite happiness knelt
,efore the bed of Lieutenant verdier.
Who, with his head wrapped In linen,
vas lying in heavy stupor,
Louis! Louis! 1t is l." she ex-
laimed, trembling, with clasped hands,
eady to fall.
At this appeal the wounded man re-
overed his consciousness, opened his
yes and perceived his sister, but not
eing able to raise his head he stretch
d forth both his hands, which she
elzed in hers and covered with tears.
In the meantime the surgeon an
reached, and, half unwillingly, led her
way.
You must not cause him any emo
on, or we cannot guarantee anything,
apristi! Your brothers wound is do
lg well; he will recover, that is GER
hin, II you do not undo our work"
"Oh. monsieur lie docteur-"
Never mind monsieur lie docteur.
his is enough for to-day Come back
'-morrow morning, but now go home"
DO you see my dear Louis" said |
le happy Noemi to him few days
tier, sitting by the bedside Of her
rother yesterday the merchant for
HON work ordered Of me piece of
Iagnificent lace for a wealthy English
ouse. l began to work ON II last night |
nd | hope to finish it in ten days. For :
IFS work they will pay me very high |
rice. Do you know what am going /
do with the money!"