Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-09-19
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A TALE OF
ADVENTURE
BY PAULINE D. EDWARDS

Cross headquarters. Naturally they
talked as they worked.
'"Come, Madeline; can't you tell us of
MY life has been very uneventful,"
was the reply.
You were in Europe. weren't you,
when the great war bro out? Surely
there must be something interesting in
your experience at that time
''There was romance"
"Oh, do tell us about it," chimed q
dozen voices.
1T wasn't much Of happening, but
since you want to hear it 1 don't mind
telling YOU
"You see, l was in Belgium when
war was declared, but l didn't know
that the Germans were going to come
In such hurry, and hadn't seen all
the sights. So delayed getting away
till they were driving the French be-
fore them toward Paris
'"That's the way got into Red Cross
work.
'The only means by which l could
travel were the ambulances carrying the
wounded. l set myself up for a nurse,
taking care of load Of wounded men
who were being carried to the rear,
till shell exploded under it and blew
it and its contents sky high"
weren't you killed?' asked one of
them.
NO." said the story teller;."I wasn't
killed."
"What saved you?"
II was leaning over a wounded SOL
der at the time, and when he was
blown up his body constituted q pro-
lection for me. He was killed, though"
ut seems to me-" remarked one of
the ladies, that there is some unnec-
essary information given here. Go on
with the story so far as regards your
self alone"
"And leave out the romance?'
"No! shouted every woman present.
"They took the ambulance I was in
to Calais
II thought it was blown to ATOMS"
put in listener
"That was q French ambulance. l
was picked up by English Red Cross
workers and at Calais was taken
across the channel.'0>
The speaker stopped short, as though
she had finished her story.
"Where does the romance come in ?"
asked several ladies at once.
"Oh, I'm going to tell you that. Do
you want to hear it?''
st0f oo11rco oil rocnop6o6
II stayed in England long while,
caring for wounded soldiers in the hos
pital. At last sailed for America in a
British slip. That was when the SUBJ
marines had got to work, and we were
all fearful of being sunk to the bottom
of the ocean. Most Of us remained
dressed day and night. l wore tailor
made suit l had bought in London.
You see If l got through safely /
wouldn't have to pay duty on it, and If
we were blown up and was saved l
would be well dressed and correspond
ingly we'll treated. If was drowned
my corpse would be we'll gowned."
"How thoughtful! remarked several
listeners soto voce.
when there came the sound of an ex-
plosion forward. knew at once it
was submarine. l went to my state
room, got out all my jewels and put
them on
"What for?" asked surprised lis
| tener.
'For the same reasons l wore my
tailor made gown. I've been asked
not to give any unnecessary informa-
ton. think ! won't tell any more
of it."
go on" was the universal cry.
| "Well, when l went up the compan-
ionway found a terrible scene on
deck. The officers were protecting the
boats ut the point Of the pistol for the
women and children. When one of
them saw me and how we'll dressed
was-nost of the women looked like
frights-he offered me his arm and es-
corted me to boat. got in, and as
we were pulled away from the sinking
ship threw him a kiss of thanks"
How lovely! Was he the romance?"
mo. I'm going to tell you about the
romance now. The sea was running
high, and one huge wave came along
and turned our boat over. l gave my
self up for lost. Fortunately my tailor
made gown l told you about caught a
lot of air under it, and this kept me up
for awhile. But the seas finally took
all the air from under me, and l was
about to sink when felt myself drawn
| upon some boards. 1t was an impro-
vised raft. looked up into the face
of the handsomest man ever saw.
This raft is not capable of support
ing us both,' he said. 4 give my life
that you may live With that he rolled
off into the water"
'How beautiful" exclaimed a chorus.
1--WE women don't appreciate the ef-
feet Of own adornments There was
admiration in my preservers eyes,
which no doubt was heightened by my
tailor made SUITE and my jewels, all Of
which We're becoming to me. l have
no doubt that owe my life to them"
! There was hushed assent.
~"You were picked up?'
"Yes." ~
"And hep r.
The narrator bent over her work to
hide the dimness in her eyes.
"No; he sank beneath the waves"
"Who Is that young woman?" asked
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