The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-03-18
A Belgian
War Romance
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

One quiet efeuihB IL lhS ouHAASA -
1913 a pair Of young lovers stood on
bridge that crossed the river Lys. In
Belgium. They were there for a part
ing. The young man was to leave for
the coast early the next morning and
thence for America. Nothing could be
more peaceful than the scene about
them A young moon stood In the |
west. II an occasional breeze stirred |
the leaves on the trees they were stir |
red lightly. AS for sound. there was
only a slight gurgle beneath them as
the current passed the abutment OF the |
bridge.
Nina" said the young man. cheer
up. 1t win not be long before in Amer.
lea shall have saved enough money
to send for you That we may have
definite time to be reunited | prom
Use you that one year from today, II
not before. you shall receive the pas
sage money to bring you to me-.
"And |, Hans, will work and save
SO that II you do not succeed In gain
ing enough to send for me may have
enough for the Journey
When the year had passed a great
change had come over Belgium. The
Germans were pouring into the coun-
try from the east. the French from the
south. Wilhelmina had received let
tiers from her lover In New York that
money would be sent her for her pas
sage. but before 1t was dispatched the
war had stopped the mails.
On the anniversary of their parting,
at evening. Wilhelmina went to the
bridge on which they had stood year
, before. 1t was now ruin, more than
: half Of 1t having been destroyed. Here
and there across the fields were flashes,
followed by a distant roar OF guns.
while searchlights sent their columns
! of light across the sky like the tails or
nearby comets.
What should she do? Her home had
been that day in the line OF fire and
was a ruin. Before leaving 1t she had
snatched up her savings, and these she
i had with her. Standing there In the
identical spot where she had stood In
e quiet with her lover, she resolved to
go to him II possible.
There was no way Of announcing her
coming beforehand. She had neither
writing materials nor a way to send
. a letter. Indeed. 1t was doubtful II
: even she could break through the line
i, Of war to reach the coast. And II she
d arrived at a port would she find YES
a sell? Nevertheless she turned her face
u toward Holland and set Off In the dark
ness.
= Her adventures are long story by
. itself. Fortune favoring. she reached
II Rotterdam in safety and there found
i that she had the means to buy steer
+ age ticket on an outgoing steamer TO
ID New York.
IS On the arrival of the vessel the emf
a grants were landed at Ellis island. and
Wilhelmina among others was brought
I, before the emigration commissioners
"a There she was asked how she would
ut be provided for In America, and when
he she said that she had no money she
was told that she would be sent back
to Holland.
Il Her modesty. the consciousness that
she was coming to marry man with
out special bidding. had caused her
to conceal what she expected. Be
Sides suppose Hans had changed!
But the prospect of being sent back
J. to land running In blood. where even
D. the little home In which she had been
le born and always lived had been level
rs ed, overcame her redcence. and she
e. told love story that no pen. however
or inspired. could put on paper.
Z "Hans must be found!'
= Such were the instructions given to
messenger. who departed on his err
,e rand.
Z There is a committee OF Belgians In
I'd New York whose purpose 1t is to look
KS after their incoming fellow country
as men. The head of the committee was
gs found. and he in turn started hunt
for Hans.
:, Ever since the war had broken out
Hans had been anxious about his VIII
" helmina. He had not dared to send heI
his savings for fear they would be lost
tie Indeed, one of the troubles brought or
ng by the war was the inability to send
funds to Europe. BE had written her
W but without expectation that she would
- receive his letters. AS to receiving let
n tiers from her. he had no faith in thai
ge either.
" Hans was at work one afternoon
nd when fellow workman came to hin
he and told him that the boss wished Il
~ see him in the office. Hans laid dowI
',a his tools and reported as directed Fl,
~ found beside the boss man. who ask
re ed him.
lr- Are you Hans WichtelT"
its II am"
nd There is girl on Ellis island VIII,
came over from Belgium. She says yo1
will marry her"
"Mina?"
va "She says her name Is Wilhelmina. :"
Marry her. OF course | viii MARI,
her. Where can | find herr
Hans wished to go at once to ELI
island. but suddenly remembering tina