Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-09
THE LITTLE: REFUGEE.
Chapter Y

~ t"f iFomlhrl Land.
ne next day sped by awif,lv
vera Was very happy. win her Ii,,i.
"c"'i"d face smiling In her mon n,
c"f.s she had not old Mrs. Enhcu-
son whether b would go TO Au.ri-
Gu win her or not, but the wnu,.,
enc had grown To love NOR. tn,n
guessed h, by tho unusually FOND
pressure Of the warm Ii,,,c HIND
anu the warm mouth on her cheoks
una the softnsss with which Vern
called her mother"
Little did they kno. II. but ,hc
NO had grown 10 love each Other
dearly. An a moth is attracted 10 a
Hanc. 70 Vera WAS drawn TO ..mo,b-
CT tHc minute she saw those moth.
CITY eyes Ain!i!nS a welcome. and
=" u wa with Mrs. Robertson. Tho
instant shc siw thnt li,,lc carncs,
80" or The refugee from Russia, tn.
thic". long curls on he. head. and
tn" sca-blu. charming .y.s IN.
'kh"" that h had At last FOUND on.
whom she could owe and cherish. n
g!ri who would call he. mother"
Great was n", disappointment.
sorrow. and chaErin OF the people
AZ camp wien they found that their
'!''i. guardian angel was Ia leave
them on tho morrow. For who wa
to cheer their lonely hearts. and
comfort them n. Vera IId.
And Vera. likewise. hated to leave
shem. The people she had grown to
10Y" $" dear. Even though the lure
OF America was Irresistible. sh.
knew mat she would hate the tim.
hon she l"f; the camp. 'Somc OF IN.
people we're old invalids with gray
ha!r. some were young girls. and
atiil some were young soldiers, help
less by tho loss OF ;hcir legs or arms,
Shr loved them all. Al night she
".s n sweetheart Of N group. II
made "a picturesque picture. her
sweet face, lovely in TIE t twilight.
ana the circle OF old and young
faces around her. and as she though;
OF leaving them, she began TO cry.
That night she went Ia sleep TO
dream OF America, the land Of nope
and JOY. and the great city Of Neg
York wher" she was to I've. on,
she was so happy,
She woke W In the morning as
sick bird, who Mad come bach 10 his
old Nest.
she was to go 10 America Was
there ever such heavenly Joy? And
Vera lifted up hcr voice and sang.
IL was i sweet and simple song, but
when sung by Vera everything Was
2til!.
one minu;e 1t Was the rumblinG
OF the waves on the shore, buhhling
aud ioarning. n next the cell OF the
sHylaTk as he sang his soft. sweet
Wild song Of the woods.
And to think nat such n creature
ans TO leave them. They had grown
accustomed to her chcory voice, and
~ An elm nil tIa,- t"l ,-.gt-
90.
Grca; preparations were being made
and Vera WAS ia fever excitement.
Her eye We're shining like the starr.
and the words hammered tuncfully
in her brain. Tn going to America.
going to America, going to America.
today" Al ncr clothes were packed
and every thing was ready. AS oon
a tho! lad eaten their dinner. of
they. would go Leaving her child
hood homo they would embark on a
ship OF coiorful romance to the land
she loved. her future home. America.
What a glad and JOYOUS future was
in store for her. No cloud would
appear on the calm sky. and evcrya
thing would be well and happy with
the little refugee.
Vera ha dly ate anything. but just
w. ~ ~ ''' - so'N N'oAA
told her to cat something. what is
wrong. dcar?" she asked.
Its joy. JOY" said Vera. happily.
as she rose from her chair and put
her hands around Mrs. Eobertson's
neck, "anI I'm 90 happy. Mother
dca-."
TIN glad I've made one little girl
happy" said Mrs. Robertson. simply.
aS she. too. arose and put her arms
around Vera.
When Vera and Mrs. Robertson FIN
ally emerged from tho tent, prepara-
tory to leaving for America. IL was
10 see the whole camp. nurses. ser
wants. occupants and all lined UP ut
greeted by a thunderous burst OF
applause.
How wonderful and unreal il
sounds" Vera thought, "to be pro-
claimed. heroine and greeted with a1-
~plauSCi"
Vera went along the whole linz o.
people. and she shook their hands
til! her own ached. Nearly every one
in the camp %presented her with n
present, with dresses, knicknacks and
fancy work.
I'll have 90 hire an extra truck
for my presents Vera remarked az
she passed hy Mrs. Robertson.
II was a terrible parting for the
old folks. and they could hardly be-
licve that che WAS to leave them. To
leave them. their little heroine? I'M
possible!
l:mt IL was so. and with tho tears
streaming down her face. Vera kissed
and comfortcd the ones who wcra
ioath for her TO leave them.
MANY Young girls were fhpra ,irje
who, bofo.c Vera came 10 the camp
were %broodins and silent, but after
many days tho roses ame In their
checks. and thcyyIook more interest
In life. Vera, vefa." ono girl soSbed,
what shall ] do without your II
was better u had not come at all.
n 10 leave me now whom ! need
you ac--so!'' And sho bowed her
head. weeping on Vora's shoulder.
Cant you hope-and trust?" Vora
asked huskily. Just believe that II