South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-30
Cupid; A War Orphan
By Catherine Battle

Don't mix up those files which I'm
away" said Margaret Bailey as she
closed up the desk for her annual
vacation.
I'll leave the check for the Fa-
I therless Children Of France society,
with you, Miss Marshall. Just mail
IL in as usual I'm not going to
leave. my address because 1 do not
know just where / am going to stay.
! However, If any matter of great i'm
pOrtance comes in and you must get
in touch with me, a note TO Quebec,
will probably reach me-"
! Margaret Bailey held a very exact
ing position in a brokers' Office. Since
her fathers death eight years before.
! she had practically supported her
mother and little sister and brother.
/, Some of the younger ones We're
/ now able TO work and for the first
/ time in her life. Margaret Bailey felt
/ she could afford to take her vacation
| far away from home. She had de-
cided on Canada
A week or so before she stopped
| into a tourist agency TO ask about a
/ trip. Large placards about the Of
Lice advised the tourist to Summer
/ in Canada, nearest OF our Allies"
! spend her vacation in Quebec.
The train was pulling into Mon
/ treal before Margaret realized that
/ for the first time in her life, she,
| Margaret Bailey, had set foot upon
foreign soil She was on the boat
bound for Quebec before she began
1 TO notice a decided change in man
ners and customs.
A dear old lady, a passenger on
| the boat, stood near Margaret look
| ing silently into the water. Sudden
| " she exclaimed. 20 man dieu, mon
dieu-how dreadful IL must be to
be attacked by a submarine"
Miss Margaret looked at her and
| said very sweetly, Don't worry. No
submarines can get into the st. Law
| renee"
IT can scarcely wait to get home"
said the old lady. You, too, are
going to Quebec?"
"You live in Quebec, presume"
said Margaret, a quizzical expression
on her pleasant face.
"I call Ii home I've been down
in the States since the war broke out.
I am going TO visit my sister on the
outskirts Of Quebec. And how happy
1 shall be when get there. jacques,
Jacques, he is there. Just back
dead! We mourned him. But he
lives, mon dieu, he lives!"
Margaret led the old lady, now
shaking with emotion, TO a steamer
chair and tried 10 soothe her.
The deck steward was serving af-
ternoon tea before the old lady offer
ed any further comment.
I'VE lived in France. My son,
Jacques. was so happy He lived
for his little child. She never knew
a mothers care. but her father law
ished enough affection on her for
both. Then the cruel war came. |
Jacques Joined the colors. He placed
his child with neighbors. We never
have heard a word, D mon dieu,
pray for her always that she may be
safe from the Hunsl"
Margaret was listening intently
"But how did your son get to Can
ada ?" she eagerly asked.
He was reported dead, but later |
he was found in one Of the hospitals. |
He has been discharged. He had a |
nervous breakdown, He is with my |
sister. near Quebec"
Perhaps you could tell me of |
some quiet place where I could get |
board at reasonable rate" Mar
garet found herself saying.
Come with me. I shall try to ar |
range It"
A summer day was nearing its end /
when a carriage bearing Margaret |
and the old lady drove up to the |
portico door of a quaint little white |
farmhouse. Honeysuckle scented the |
air. Ripe apples dangled from heavy |
laden boughs of the trees. Flaming |
firecracker flowers nestled at the /
base of the tiny white cottage.
Presently the old lady's sister, /
wearing the queer bonnet of the /
Normandy peasant, appeared in the
doorway. She clutched her sister
tremendously. They kissed each other
again and again.
jacques, Jacques, come quick!"
she called. she is herel She is
here!"
The old lady was introducing Mar
garet to her sister. Madam Marland,
when a handsome soldier, wearing
the uniform of his beloved France,
stepped out on the veranda. His
bronzed skin attested trench life.
His ink black hair seemed even
blacker against the white back
ground afforded by the cottage. In
another moment he had gathered his
fraiI little mother in his powerful
a rroc and as tears Of iOy ran down