The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-26

BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.


When Nan went on her first visit to
Europe she had not the slightest hint
that she would arrive in land brown
into the horrors of war. She had
taken her trip across the ocean on
long delayed holiday and had expected
to find only JOY and merriment, for
Nan had a way of meeting happiness
half way wherever she went.
But in Belgium she had fed from
the advance of the common enemy
into Paris and from the gay city she
had enjoyed a scant three weeks when
with hundreds of other Americans
she had scrambled onto safer Eng
lish SOIL
London was a haven of refuge to
Nan, who had smelled the smoke Of
battle and heard the boom of dis
tant fire. She had seen pitiful little
families of Belgian refugees fleeing
along the roads from devastated
homes, leaving behind them all beau
~ and all hope and going they knew
not where.
But London was waiting with open
arms to receive all of the weary refu-
gees from the courageous little coun-
try, and Nan found herself again face
to face with the realities OF war.
There were no less than q dozen Of
/ these Belgians sheltered in hospitable
homes in Norland square.
1t was in the acre OF green park
belonging to the square that Nan be-
came acquainted with little Jean
Leman, Belgian child who had been
/ brought over from the devastated city
of Louvain.
jeans mother was a French lady,
who was sleeping beneath a flower
garden in Belgium. Her father was
a soldier, Maj. Albert Leman.
From that moment on Jean and
Nan became fast friends. They
romped and played and went on long
bus rides through the city and out
into country lanes.
When the wounded soldiers began
to arrive in trainloads, Nan could no
more have left the city of London
than she could have cut off her own
right hand She simply had to re
i main Something held her, she knew
not what
1t was during the sixth week of the
war that Nan discovered little Jean
Leman's photograph on the front page
of the Sketch Major Leman was
anxiously seeking news of his little
: girl and had asked the papers to as
Z sist him in the search. Nan did not
wait to have her breakfast but went
quickly into the boarding house next
door in search of Jean.
Nan explained as swiftly as possi
Bile in her improved French that Dad
dy Soldier was in London and that he
was looking for his little girl.
I'VE will go down this morning
when you have eaten your nice break
FAST" Nan told her and went of tC
ascertain the location of the King Ed
ward VII hospital and the quickest
way of getting there.
Jean chatted necessarily on the
Journey down; she was so excited
her as if for the purpose of steadyinG
, the child Consequently, when they
arrived at the hospital and ap
preached the big Belgian Officer
whose head was swathed in bandage!
and one arm pinned in like fashioI
to his side, it was Nan who displayed
a most wonderful calm. Major LemaT
broke down emotionally - perhaps
mere than he had during the entire
weeks of fierce fighting-when JeaI
was swept into his uninjured arm
Over ner head, which he held agains
his breast, he looked at Nan and made
swift apology for having converset
in a foreign tongue.
"One is apt to forget convention IL
moments of great emotion" he added
''In a moment l will thank you TO
having cared for my little JEAN
You are not going away from M
again, are you?" Jean was asking he
father.
Yes, dearie, as soon as this arm i
; better, and the more often Miss Nan
ny brings you down to see me tn
I sooner / can s. back to help the sol
3 diers at the front"
: So it was that during the lorg hour
: of conyalescence Nan came TO know
4 love. The emotion was so great an
d wonderful that Nan was shocked a
i her own weakness before the attack.
y Jean did not know what her fathe
and Nan were talking about, nor VIII
her father swept Nan so suddenly int
his arms, but she smiled for the pie
:. ture was pleasing and Jean knew tha
p all was well.