The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-01
EVENING STORY
In the Dust.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

peringS, hurried Screenings I0r tEedAe
ures and hasty donnipg OF coats ana
hats. The German soldiers vera on
their way thru Belgium and n. and
Nine. Victor de Paepe felt that home
would. be safe no longer for their
beautiful young daughter. MARIA
Hence they had ordered her to flee.
with two of her brothers to protect
her, to London. II possible. The
brothers were too young for service,
but they were old enough to. take care
of their sister on the contemplated
trip.
"Just one moment. father" Maria
said, impatiently: II am coming She
sakes in the dust pit underneath the
fireplace. Surely no German raiders
would find it there, and II they did
what good. to them. q withered rose
a crumpled dance order. a worn Latin
grammar with uniformed handwriting
on its inner cover? And yet to Maria
these things seemed to be the dearest
of all her possessions: 1t was to this
treasure box that she flew instead OF
to her jewel case or to her WARDROBE
when the signal came that the enemy
was close upon the town OF Alost.
Paul Nys. her. playmate since early
childhood, had given her the rose at
her first dance. Only yesterday Paul
had fled along the seashore to escape
the raiders. He was OF military age,
but having served for a weeks in his
own Belgian army had been found not
strong enough for service and had
been exempted. But, being OF military
age, he was the more desirable as a
prisoner in the hands of the approach
ing Germans. What cared they that
he was physically unfit?
Marie wondered, even as she hur-
ried to obey her father, where Paul
had gone. Would she ever see him
-, ~ f~x Anta ola nvAt,Id
be on her way to England. a refugee.
And Paul, who had chosen the sea-
shore. where would he eventually find
himself? Perhaps in faroff America,
thought Maria.
After several days of travel by foot
and by truck Maria and her two
brothers found themselves crossing
the channel into England. At last
they found the London boarding place
of which they had an address from
their father.
One night when she ard her broth
ers were preparing for the evening
meal she looked out of the window.
The brothers rushed to the window.
Its PAUL." they exclaimed together.
How tired and Ill he looks" Maria
said. her voice trembling.
"And hungry" aided, Leon.
rHunsry." Gustave said wistf July
he 3 come 10 Il line place AOI q nun
| CRY man, Ell, Maria?"
Maria looked thoughtful. ''It isn't
| strange.>after all. that he should have
| come here, is it? Father and his IA
Their both knew of this place. I re-
member"
| So at dinner the dusty traveller,
Paul. sat by his piaymates and neigh
Maria looked to him! He had never
realized how pretty was the sister OF
| his school friends.
| "But-where are you going, Paul?"
asked Maria at length. s6er1.~s -
| ITO. America. shall ffrd work in
some linen mills. for that is all I
know about"
when do you sail?" asked Leon.
Tomorrow. I have letters to a
! firm in New York. They will meet
me. and then / am to go on to Phila-
delphia, wherever and whatever that
may mean. B1t-I am thankful to be
gofng.''
Maria's face fell. Are you. really.
Paul." she asked.
Paul looked at her strangely for a
moment. N"Why-certainly Maria.
Why not?"
Il was thinking how very far it
seems from-from Alost, Paul"
will you write to me, Maria?"
Maria nodded. She had pushed, she
| knew not why.
| And that night. while Maria's two
brothers were out trying to supple
ment their society boarding house din
| ner by means OF food purchased at a
bakery Maria. quite untrue to the
bringing up of a proper Belgian girl.
sat alone on the steps Of a big London
stone house and talked for an hour
| with young man.
In that stolen hour Maria learned
much and Paul felt much that he had
| hoped he would not be compelled ITO
feel. knowing that he must go far
away.
''One day you will come to America,
| Maria ?" he half asked, half stated.
| "Oh, the war will be over and you
| will come home, Paul"
l. Paul shook his head. He had talked
| with many a wise man since coming
| to England, and he knew that the war
would not soon be over.
|. He pulled off his signet ring-a big.
rather clumsy old gold circle-and
keep this-until 1 do come homer"
IF you will keep this" Maria said.
handing him her tiny ring. It barely
went over the knuckle of his smallest
finger.
That was all. Paul sailed for
America next day. Maria went down
| to the south of England to live with
some family friends in Bournemouth.
Often the little Belgian refugee sat
and wound the big signet ring round
and round on her slender finger and
thought of Paul in far-off America
America now at war with the COMMON
| enefny-and she wondered when she
would see him again. She thought OF
her treasure box back in the dust pit
in Alost. She was sentimental.
One day she had a letter from her
father. He had ventured to- return to
Belgium<from Holland. whence he and
his wife had fled. He had visited the
wreck OF their old home and had
found it in unspeakable condition.
Curiosity or fate had prompted him ia
look in the dust pit from which spot
ne had had such difficulty in moving
his daughter nearly two years ago.
Il found your silly little box of with
cred rose leaves and your school book
with the name of Paul Nys written all
over 1t, Maria" he wrote her. Leon
tells me, you are corresponding with
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