The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-09-26

missing me IN tne uarknesS III he hiSu'
or stay where / was. 1t was foggy
as we'll as dark, and although i knew
the sentry was only few feet away
from me / decided to stand, or rather
lie, pat. / think my heart made almost
as much noise as the rattllng OF the
wire in the first place. and 1t was a
tense few moments to me.
heard the German say few words
to himself, but didn't understand them,
OF course, and then he made a sound
as II to call dog, and | realized that
his theory Of the noise he had heard
was that dog. had made Its way
through the fence.
For perhaps five minutes / didn't
stir. and then figuring that the German
had probably continued on his beat l
crept quietly under the wire again,
this time being mighty careful to hug
the ground 80 close that / wouldn't
touch the wire, and made Off In diff
ferent direction. Evidently the barbed
wire fence had been thrown around an
ammunition depot or something OF the
kind, nnd II was not field at all that
| had tried to get into.
l figured that other sentrles were
probably In the nelghborhood and l
proceeded very glngerly.
After | had got about mile away
from this spot | came to an humble
Belgian house and l knocked at the
door and applied for food In my usual
way, pointing to my mouth to indi-
cate was hungry and to my ears and
mouth to imply that was deaf and
dumb. The Belgian woman who lived
In the house brought me u piece OF
bread and two cold potatoes and as
sat there eating them she eyed me
very keenly.
I haven't the slightest doubt that
she realized was n fugitive. She lived
SO near the border that 1t was more
for that reason. appreciated more
fully the extent of the risk she ran. for
no doubt the Germans were constantly
watching the conduct OF these Bel
CLANS who lived near the line.
My theory that she realized that
, was not a Belgian at all. but prob
/ aby some English fugitive, was con
llrmed moment later, when, as
made ready to go, she touched me on
, the arm and indicated that / was tC
I walt moment. She went to n bureau
: and brought out two pieces OF fancy
: Belgian lace which she Insisted upor
/ my taking away, although at that par
Y tlcular moment / had as much use fol
0 Belgian lace us an elephant for
! safety razor, but l was touched viii
e her thoughtfulness and pressed he
4 hand to show my gratitude. She woul'
: not accept the money / offered her.
carried the lace through my sub
y sequent experiences, feeling that
$ would be fine souvenir for m,
d mother, although as matter of fact |
8 | had known that II was going to de
r lay my final escape for even singh
Q moment, us 1t did, | am quite sur
= she would rather had not seen 1t.
= On one piece Of lace was the Elem
n ish word "Charlte" and on the othe
It the word "Esperage." At the time
a took these words to mean CHARITY
y and Experience" and all / hoped wa
that would get as much Of the on
n as was getting of the other before
n finally got through. l learned subs'
It uuently that what the words reall
IS stood for were Charity" and "Hope,
d and then was sure that my kind BE
n glan friend had indeed realized IN
t. plight and that her thoughtful sol
&C venir was intended to encourage me j
le the trials she must have known wer
s. before me.