Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-08

despair, When the heart OF the world
was appalled, by the cataclysn of
horror that was transpiring in the
shamblers and charnel houses Of
beautiful Belgium the heart of the
girl bled not only for the sufferings
of those of her own kin, but for all
the stricken ones of her motllerland.
She knew from the daily history
of the great tragedy that not stone
would be left of the cottage in
which she was born. She knew that
the sacred hearth where, at her
mothers knee, she sat in sanctuary
in the twilight of a busy day and
listened to the folklore of her pro-
vince, tales of the golden age, of
days of chivalrous knights and ladies
fair or hummed the melodies of al
most medieval folk song, was as
voiceless dust-as temple that is
profaned and desecrated.
Once Bells, Now Cannons.
The carrillion from the ancient
bell tower, which rang sacred
song at the vesper hour, she knew
was muted of its power to give to
God, and hands of devil-inspired
Huns had stolen the brass and cop
per and bronze of the sweet-toned
bells and had wrought them into
cannon or shrapnel to spread death
and chorus a vertible diaphason of
hate to fill with dread all liberty
loving people, even to the remotest
corner of the earth.
All this time she received no
word, no message from her people
in the vortex of war, destruction
and suffering. The SAVIOR of life
had gone for her and she could only
live and suffer.
Then came the glorious day Of
November II, 1918!
The Hun was crushed and the
principle for which Belgium had
fought, had triumphed.
All the world rejoiced and she
Joined in with those whose hearts
were filled with the gladstone song
Of. victory, but her voice was faint
with sorrow and her eyes filled with
tears. She felt none of her family
could have survived the awful hor-
ror of the war
Then came glorious news!
A letter arrived stating that her
mother, her brother and her sisters
were alive The brother had done a
hero's work for their country in the
war and was unblemished of shot,
shell. bayonet, gas or fame.
All were in the old town, sadly
bereft of fortune, shelter, or COM
forts, but healthy, and thank God!
happy over their own delivery and
the delivery of Flanders from the
furnace of he'll.
Will Leave for Home.
They asked her to return to the
family circle and she needed no urg-
ing. She procured her passport and
IS now awaiting June "a, almost as
a BRIDE waits for the happiest day
of a woman's life. 1t is then she
will leave Omaha, where she arrived
in 1909, and which she has grown to
love, and go to New York to sail on
the steamer Royal George for Liver
pool, England. on the first lap of
her journey to her homeland and
kin.
She would have gone before but
for romantic interruption. At
Kansas City is a girl friend who
came to America with her and who
is to return to Belgium, there to
a sweetheart who emerged
from the war hero.
The girl is Mile. Aline Letam,
who has received letter from her
soldier sweetheart, Gustave Vande
quite, that he is we'll and is waiting
for her. Aline lives at Kansas City
and has not yet received her pass,
port, but will get it in time to leav"
for Belgium with her Omaha friend
Then she will marry Gustave and
they will start life anew and live to
help Belgium return to her former
greatness and happiness.
Mile. Emma Amelia Demedts will
leave Omaha an Americanized girl.
Her costume will be as smart as
that Of any Yankee lass and the
love that she will carry in her heart
for the land of the Stars and Stripes
will make this country always seem
very near.
VIII you return?" she was asked.
Perhaps, if I find a sweetheart
who has borne the brunt of war,
and whom I can make happy, and
whom l can convince of Omaha's
wonderful kindness. and opportuni-
ties, may persuade him to let me
come back with him.
But now l am going to Bel
gium!"
And the sound of it in her voice
was like a paen of joy.
Three Women Arrested
m chnnli{&;no fhorroc