The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-02-08
The Little Lacemaker.
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5Nn Ollie. NOEMI vERDIER, a
!MI lacemaker of Valenciennes, was
00~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 a small subsidy to her sol
der who was thinking of her there in
his PARKWAY garrison!
On his side Louis behaved in his regi
ment as he did in Valenciennes; that is
10 say. like an honest man. and So at
the end of the second year Of his alb
sence he was able to announce one
beautiful morning that he had been
promoted to be sergeant.
You can imagine how happy Noeml
wasl How her heart thrObbed with joy!
oh, how proud she was of her dear
brotherl But her happiness was short.
In few weeks came a 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, Rozenville,
Saint-Private, Gravelotte. Sedan. Then
silence followed-no more letters, nc
more news, nothing.
Noemi, who never read the papers
FASTENED now to the office of the Guet
teur de Valenciennes and of the Echo
lie Ia Frontiere, seeking there some lit
tie ray Of hope. She listened to the
talk on the street she mingled Will
the groups of people commenting OF
the news, she gave ear to the painful
accounts of the war and she learned
with sinking heart, that her brothers
regiment had met with severe losses
Meanwhile the wounded soldiers were
sent, through Hirsan and Ayesnes. t
the towns and cities on the northern
frontier. Every day fresh conveys ar
rived in Valenciennes.
All the hospitals We're full, and still
they came. Then private ambulance
we're organized everywhere, churche
and factories opened their doors to tn
unfortunate wounded soldiers.
One morning the report was circu
lated that a convoy of wounded frOr
her brothers regiment had arrived dun
ing the night.
To the poor girl a glimmer of hop
returned.
She ran from one to the other, askin
of the nurses, bending over every col
but the hope of the morning vanished
All at once she remembered that III
day before they had opened in Sain
sauIve a hospital intended especial
for the officers. Was there any poss
bilHy that an unknown sergeant migl
have been brought there2 Surely no
Yet Notwithstanding. she foun
strength to go thither.
An army surgeon came toward her.
.What do you wish, mademoiselle'
"Oh. monsieur! Pardon! 1 am lool
ing for my brother. Sergeant Louis We
der"
"You mean Lieutenant Louis We
dlerY' And pointing with his fing
down the long row of mattresses on Il
floor. there he is in the sixth bed"
To the poor girl it seemed as if Il
earth vanished from beneath her fee
She choked back an exclamation of 10
tottered forward a few steps and wi
an outburst of infinite happiness knt
before the bed of Lieutenant Verde
who. with his head wrapped in line
was lying in heavy stupor.
''Louisl Louisl 1t Is l" she