The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-31

Our friends returned in the evening
, with more eatables, but with no in
formation which would enable us ts
rejoin our corps. They told us that
they had learned the Germans were
rapidly driving the allies toward Paris
,, and 1t was expected that the city
would fall into the hands Of the enc
my. Indeed, the capital had already
been removed to Bordeaux.
This did not look like our making
our way toward our comrades, who
were doubtless retreating faster than
We could travel. We concluded that
We might as well remain where we
were till we could get some definite
information, for there would be no
advantage in making for a point that
was always changing. That night We
slept in a barn We espied near our
bivouac, finding a comfortable bed on
the hay. Not caring to rely further on
our friends the girls for provisions,
we went in the morning to the house
Of the farmer who owned the barn and
secured breakfast such as might have
been expected from such a source
We induced the farmer to take us
in and remained with him for sleep
and meals from day to day while news
kept coming to us that the Germans
were nearing Paris. We felt like
shirkers in being absent from our
posts, where we were so much needed,
but what could we do? Evidently our
way to Paris was blocked, and If we
tried to get there we would likely fall
into the enemy's hands.
We were perfectly safe where we
were, but dissatisfied at remaining
there. Jim proposed that we make an
attempt to get through the German
lines, but l believed tfl4t we would
soon hear either that the Germans had
taken Paris or had settled down be-
fore it for siege. In either case we
would know what to do. Meanwhile
to pass the time we took long walks
about the country.
One day we came to the brow of a
hill looking down on very attractive
landscape.
a picture" said to Jim.
"And there are the artists making It,"
replied Jim.
Lowering my eyes to point directly
beneath where we were standing,
saw two women, one before an easel,
the other with sketching board be-
fore her. proposed TO go down and
see what they were doing, and we did
so. Hearing us approach they turned
their heads, and we recognized our
peasant girl benefactors. We saw them
look at each other and laugh.
II was not aware" said, still speak
ing In French, that peasants were
artists
You have caught us in the act"
said one Of the girls, land we may as
well confess. We are not indigenous
to France any more than you are, nor
are We peasants. We are Americans
studying art. We spent the winter in
Paris, and when summer opened we
came to this region, which is famous
among artists, to get practical out of
door experience in our profession. To
avoid being stared at or questioned We
donned this dress and find it q service
able outing costume. But were we not
lucky in getting out of Paris before
the war storm broker
Il think" replied Jim, "that your i'm.
position was kept up as long as it
would be possible to maintain it. NV
friend and have suspected you were
not what you purported to be. The
luncheon you brought us was a dead
giveaway. You should have brought |
us coarse bread and some cold pork on
q tin dish"
"YOu should have done no such
thing" I protested THAT luncheon |
was delicious. shall always remem-
Der 1t, especially when am hungry"
This Is rather the beginning of a
story than the story itself Jim and |
remained where we were till news came
of the battle Of the Marne and the saw
ing Of Paris. Then we bade our artist
friends goodby and made our way back
to the capital, from which point we
were enabled to join our corps and
AouiN Jul CSiNSo again eIISdSeu Ill res
cuing the wounded.
Jim and I were both engaged in the
fighting that followed the battle of |
the Marne. the effort to take Calais
and subsequently the gigantic attempt
of the central allies to capture Yer
dun. So active were we that we had
no time to think Of the girls who had
brought us that delicious supper. New !
ertheless, when temporarily off duty
and together, We would speak Of them
and the way they had concealed from
US their identity. We wondered what
they were doing, but had little doubt
they were still studying art-that is,
II they had not returned to America.
A year passed, when one day while
I was driving my ambulance I was
wounded by piece Of shrapnel. Twas
carried to the rear Jim found me and
took me to hospital farther from the
firing line. In nurse passing my cot
I recognized one of the peasant artists
I had met during the summer before.
She had not forgotten me and showed
great concern at seeing me in my for
fnrp nap1if;1p