Queens University of Charlotte - Coronet / Edelweiss Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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with a young officer. I was just bowing my thanks to him when Dad rushed madly up to me, and carried me out of the ball room. His face was very white and strained, and his eyes were very serious. Helen ! Our province has declared war on Von. It is my place and my duty to be in Bours tonight. It will be very hard and very dangerous for me to try to cross the line tonight. I hate to leave you here alone, but CiOd will take care of you. Come tomorrow. He gathered me in his arms lor a second, and then I saw him rush down the steps, spring into a carriage and rush away into the darkess. I felt as though some one had struck me a blow on the head. My heart skipped a beat, and all the lights went out. How I ever got back to my rooms was more than I ever knew. I went out on the balcony to think. Bours had declared war on Von. I was alone in a nest of enemies. I knew my father loved me better than his own life. Nothing but some big cause, the greatest cause on earth, could have made him leave me alone. My heart was beating so I could not breathe. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream; I was afraid. Then something happened; a wave of warm blood seemed to flow from my heart out to all parts of my body. I drew myself up to my full height. My father was a man, and soldier — he had done his duty, and he expected me to do mine. I raised my hands above my head in a gesture of prayer. The breeze caught my handkerchief and carried it over the balcony. I looked down to see where it had gone, and to my surpries saw the young officer with it in his hand. I drew back, but not in time, he had seen me. It took only a second for him to climb up that thick vine. Allow me, please? Oh, thanks. But instead of my handkerchief his fingers closed over my wrist. ' ' Please, please, lady, tell me your name? I am your enemy, sir. 1 closed the door, and left him. I heard him drop to the ground, and I peeped out just in time to see him kiss my hand- kerchief, and put it in his inside pocket. Then I am sure mv heart did something it had never done before. I ran across the room to the window, put the shade up, and — my ey ' i foil on a very beautiful woman sitting on the arm of a large chair. ' in which was seated an officer. There was something about that scene that held me. Was it the way she was dressed, or was it the fact that he was drinking? I could not say just what it was. I tried to turn away, but 1 was held as by the charm of a snake.. Suddenly it dawned on me that I had seen her somewhere before. She was certamly like, — my gracious, vu ' turned to look in the mirror. Yes, she looked like me. When I looked again the shade was down. I was very glad; and I .set to Work to oack, and get ready to leave the next morning. Oh, if I had known then who she was, how good she was, and yet how (2.0

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The Sacrifice HE soft, sweet April air, filled with the odor of roses, blew against my face. I was very happy in my home. Dad and I had lived there ever since I was born. Mother died when I was born, and for a long time Dad almost forgot that I had a claim on his heart. One day he found me out in the yard playing. I looked so much like mother that he gathered me up in his strong arms, and opened his big heart to me, and I have been there ever since. My Dad was a very busy man. You see he worked for our govern- ment. That meant that he had very little time for me. Because over here in this little province we were always having trouble. We were so small that some of our fond neighbors were always trying to make war on us, or get money or land from us. One morning at breakfast Dad said to me: Daughter, would you like to go to Von with me? Would I like it? ' Well, I am obliged to go on some state business. There is to be a military ball on Tuesday, and you can go to that. You can lounge around the hotel and amuse yourself by reading and thinking while I am work- ing. There is just one thing, dear, don ' t tell who youare. I flashed a quick look at him, but he went on smiling, — You will enjoy yourself more if everybody does not know that you are my daughter. You see my business is very important. Very, very import- ant, and if we are known, it will cause quite a bit of notoriety. He kissed me and went out. I was wild with excitement at the thought of the military ball. I flew around getting ready like a girl of sixteen. As a matter of fact I was twenty-two, but I had never had a serious thought in my life. I was quite tired when we landed in Von, but very happy. Dad engaged some large rooms on the front of the hotel. My room opened on a small balcony, which was covered with thick vines. It took me all of the next day to get settled, because I had left Netta at home, and I did not know how to do things very well. I was so taken up with myself that it was almost time to dress for the ball before I realized that I had not met any one. In fact, I had not been out of my rooms except for my meals. I had quite a picnic dressing, but at last I got ready. When Dad came in for me he said I was beautiful, but love is blind you know. I had noticed that Dad was quiet, and looked a little tired ; but I thought that the light and gayety of that ball room enough to a bring a dead man t o life. The music was intoxicating, and I had just had a most wonderful dance (22) I

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bad! I did not know until long after, when Dad told me all about it; nf how that very night she shot that officer in order to get the papers that saved our province from ruin ; of how, when she heard her country ' s call, the same wave of patriotism that later came over me, came over her. The authorities sent her word that that officer had maps of our forts, plans of all our defenses, which meant absolute ruin to us. They told her rhat she was the only person that had any chance in the world of getting those papers. She had planned to make the officer drunk, and then get the little book, out of his inside pocket, that had the combination of the vault, where the plans and maps could be found. She thought he was asleep when she took the book out of his pocket. She had the vault open and her hand almost on the papers when something caused her to look around. He had risen and was standing with a gun leveled on her. She made one cat-like spring at him. In the struggle the gun went off. He was killed. He fell in the door of the vault. She pulled him inside, banged the door shut, pnd fled with the papers. His body was not found until twelve-thirty that night. That gave her several hours before the law was put on her track. Officers were soon after her. They wanted her not only for the murder, but also as a spy. I had gone down very early to see about getting my passport. There was a long line of waiting people ; I had to wait my turn. I told them my name, and they gave me my papers without any trouble. I had gone into a little side room to wait. I was surprised to see the beautiful woman of the night before come in. Her face was a study; it had disappointment and fear mingled on it. She looked up and saw me. She came right upto me and said : Have you got your passports? Yes. ■ Do you love your country? Very much. Enough to make a big sacrifice for it, perhaps d ' e for it? Gladly! Then give me your passport. I have been turned down. They know me too well here. Give you my passnort, why? 0, iDlease quick, I haven ' t time for words, but it means defeat or victory to your country whether I get there tonight or not. I have given my word of honor not to trust any one with my message. 0, you must, you must. I closed my eyes for a moment and th ' iUQ-ht. I could see my dear home in smoking ruins. A feeling of love for it came over me that T had never had before. I wanted to do something big for my land. A sob shook me from head to foot, my frivolous girlhood dropped from me like a (24)