The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-02-09
TheL>aCemaker'S
Sacrifice.

creeper and clematis. From morning
ito night young girl might have been
seen at the open window lbusily occu-
pied in making lace. The pretty fea-
lures of the young worker, and the al
most rhythmical movements of her
graceful arms, were quite picture OF
loneliness. The bobbins danced in
her fingers, flying in one direction to
return with redoubled speed, SO MINI
bly,, that she appeared like one of the
good fairies we read of in old legends.
The eyes of the passers-by were raised
to this little window with its curtain
Of verdure, and more than one heart
sighed at the sight of the beautiful
lacemaker; but such signs found no
response. Miss Noemi Verdier was as
good as beautiful, and her modesty
and simplicity won universal respect.
At thirteen years of age she had
Ssen left an orphan with an only
brother, journeyman cabinet-maker,
three years her senior, who thus be-
ing left alone at the head of the fam
lily worked for his sister and himself.
At first times were very hard for
the brave youth; hardly had he I'M
ished his apprenticeship when mis-
fortune arrived AS yet Noemi earn
ed nothing, and the young workman's
days were not very remunerative.
But with goodwill, labor and great
economy, he succeeded, in spite of all,
In enabling his sister to finish her
education in lacemaking, and now, in
this affectionate association of broth
er and sister, it was the latter who
contributed the larger share to the
maintenance of the home.
The rich laces of pure artistic de-
sign, real masterpieces of delicacy,
made by Noemi, were those which
won Valenciennes it's fame. All was
happiness in the little household.
Years glided by until the time for the
CONSUMPTION arrived, and Louis had to
accompany the army The parting
was bitter for these two so deeply at
tached to each other.
Il shall count the days which sep
arate me from your return-a long
time, alas!' said Noemi.
Il Also" replied the brother, until
the happy moment of being restored
to you"
Left alone in the little house, now
too large, Noemi set to work with
a heavy heart, making marvels, more
delicate than gossamer, destined per-
haps to adorn the heads of persons
less worthy of wearing them than
herself. Every Saturday she deliver
ed her work, ard divided her earnings
into two parts, one of which she sent
to her brother to tighten the burdens
of his soldier life.
For his part, Louis behaved in his
ciennes; that Is to say, In a credita-
BILE way, so that after a term Of two
years he sent word one fine morning
that he had been promoted to the rank
of sergeant. Noemi was delighted at
the news and was proud of her be-
loved brother.
But her JOY was OF short duration
Some days later cries of "War!" sud
denly resounded on all sides. Armed
France rushed to the eastern frontier.
The terrible year had commenced.
Noemi shed no tears; she wrote to
her absent brother, not to exhort him
to duty-this she knew was unnec
essary-but to tell him once more of
her anxious love and to send her lit
tile supply of money. One by one she
learned by her brothers letters the
successive defeats Of the French
army-Worth, Rezonville, Saint Priv
at, Gravelotte, Sedan! Then sudden
ly there was silence; no letters, no
news, nothing. Wounded? Perhaps
dead!
Noemi, who had never read the
newspapers, now hurried every morn
ing to the offices of the Valenclennes
papers to look for some ray OF hope.
She listened to the street rumors,
mingled with the crowds discussing
the news, and heard the sorrowful
accounts of that horrid war, learning
that her brothers. regiment had suf-
fered most severely. The wounded
were transported by the Hirson and
Avesne lines to the northern frontier
towns; every day new conveys ar
rived at ValencieIpes. Soon the civil
and military hospitals were filed, but
the wounded still continued to in
crease, so that private ambulances
had to be organized everywhere.
Churches and factories opened their
doors to the poor, manned soldiers,
who seemed innumerable. Noemi was
paralyzed with terror; her heart filled
with an infinite pity, which with her
brother was shared by all these
wretched survivors of heroic battles.
She watched the sad professions, Gag
erly scanning the countenances con-
tracted with pain and wasted fever,
In hopes of recognizing the beloved
features she despaired of ever again
seeing In this world.
One morning the news reached her
that a convoy of wounded belonging
to her brothers regiment had arrived