The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1915-03-03
A Belgian
War Romance
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

One quiet evening in the summer Of
1918 pair of young lovers stood Oh
a bridge that crossed the river Lys, IL
Belgium. They were there for 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. If 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 a.
the current passed the abutment Of the
bridge.
Nina" said the young man. cheer
up. 1t will not be long before in Amer
tca | shall have saved enough moner
to send for you. That we may have
a definite time to be reunited ] prom
Use you that one year from today. Il
not before. you shall receive the pas
sage money to bring you to me-"
"And |, Hans. will work and save
SO that if you do not succeed in gain
ing enough to send for me l may have
enough for the journey"
When the year had passed 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 it 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 it 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 OF
nearby comets.
What should she do? Her home had
been that day in the line of fire and
was a ruin. Before leaving it she had
snatched up her savings. and these she
had with her. Standing there in the
Identical spot where she had stood in
quiet with her lover, she resolved tn
go to him if possible.
There was no way of announcing her
writing materials nor way to send
a letter. Indeed. it was doubtful If
even she could break through the line
of war to reach the coast. And if she
arrived at port would she find a YES
sci? Nevertheless she turned her face
toward Holland and set off in the dark
ness.
Her adventures are a long story by
itself. Fortune favoring. she reached
Rotterdam in safety and there found
that she had the means to buy a steer
age ticket on an outgoing steamer to
New York.
On the arrival of the vessel the emf
grants were landed at Ellis island. and
Wilhelmina among others was brought
before the emigration commissioners.
There she was asked how she would
be provided for in America, and when
she said that she had no money she
was told that she would be sent back
to Holland
Her modesty, the consciousness thu;
she was coming to marry man with
out a special bidding. had caused he.
to conceal what she expected Be
sides. suppose Hans had changed
But the prospect of being sent back
to land running in blood. where even
the little home in which she had been
born and always lived had been level
ed, overcame her reticence. and she
told love story that no pen. however
inspired. could put on paper.
Hans must be foundr'
Such were the Instructions given Il
q messenger. who departed on his or
rand.
There is a committee of BelSianS Ill
New York whose purpose it is to look
after their incoming fellow country
men. The head of the committee was
found. and he in turn started ii huns
for Hans.
Ever since the war had broken on
Hans had been anxious about his w
helmina. He had not dared to send be-
his savings for fear they would he los;
Indeed. one of the troubles brought u
by the war was the inability to sen'
| funds to Europe. he had written ha~
but without expectation that she wont,
receive his letters. AS to receiving IL.
tiers from her. he had no faith il til
! either
Hans was ut work one afternou'
when fellow workman came to hii.
and told him that the boss wished {,
! see him IN the office Hars '"'d dow