Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER XIV

  FOUND AT LAST

  The pretty city of Charleroi had suffered little damage from the Germaninvasion, yet many of the townspeople had gone away since the occupationand those who remained kept well within their houses or huddled inanxious groups upon the streets. The civic affairs were stilladministered by the Belgian burgomaster, but the martial law of theGermans prevailed over all.

  When Patsy Doyle, escorted by Uncle John and accompanied by CaptainCarg, Lieutenant von Holtz and Monsieur Rondel, arrived in the earlymorning, the streets were comparatively deserted. The Hotel Royalreceived them hospitably and the landlord and his daughters preparedthem an excellent breakfast.

  While eating, Patsy chatted with the Belgian girls, who were neat,modest and intelligent. She found that Henderson and Rondel had notstopped at this hotel while in Charleroi, but at a smaller inn at theother end of the town. The girls remembered hearing of their visit andof their inquiries for a Mrs. Denton, but did not know whether they hadsucceeded in their quest or not.

  "We have lived here all our lives," said the eldest of the landlord'sthree daughters, "but we have not known, during that time, any family ofDentons in Charleroi."

  Patsy reflected.

  "They were married only five months ago, these Dentons," said she, "andthe young man may have come from some other town. Do you remember thatany of your young girls were married about five months ago?"

  Yes; there was Hildegarde Bentel, but she had married Anthony Mattison,who was not a soldier. Could the American mamselle remember what thegirl's first name was?

  "Oh, yes!" exclaimed Patsy. "She signed her letters 'Elizabeth.'"

  They shook their heads.

  "My name is also Elizabeth," said one. "We have many Elizabeths inCharleroi, but none has lately married."

  "And her husband told me that she was now living here with her mother."

  "Ah, let us see, then," responded another. "Could she have been a ladyof rank, think you?"

  "I--I do not know."

  "Is her husband an officer?"

  "No; a private, I believe."

  "Then we are on the wrong scent," laughed the girl. "I had in mind thedaughter of the Countess Voig, whose name chances to be Elizabeth. Shewas educated at a convent in Antwerp, and the countess has lived in thatcity for several years, in order to be nearer her daughter. There wassome gossip here that the young lady had married in Antwerp, just afterleaving the convent; but we know little of the life of the Voigs becausethey are very reserved. Two or three months ago they returned to theircastle, which is four miles to the north of Charleroi, and there theyare still living in retirement. Every day the old steward drives intotown to visit the post office, but we have not seen the countess norher daughter since they came back."

  Patsy related this news to Uncle John, who did not understand French.

  "Let us drive over to Castle Voig the first thing," she said.

  "But, my dear, it's unreasonable," he objected. "Do you suppose ahigh-born young lady would marry a common soldier? In America, where wehave no caste, it would be quite probable, but here--"

  "He wasn't a soldier five months ago," said Patsy. "He's just avolunteer, who joined the army when his country needed him, as many ofthe wealthy and aristocratic Belgians did. He may be high-born himself,for all we know. At any rate I mean to visit that castle. Tell Rondel tobring around the automobile."

  They had no trouble in passing the guards, owing to the presence of vonHoltz, and in half an hour they were rolling through a charming,peaceful country that as yet had suffered no blemish through the Germanconquest.

  At Castle Voig they were received by an aged retainer who was visiblynervous at their arrival. He eyed the uniform of young von Holtz withill-concealed terror and hurried away to carry their cards to thecountess. After a long wait they learned that the countess would receivethe Americans, but it was a full half hour after that when they wereushered into a reception room where a lady sat in solitary state.

  Under other circumstances Patsy could have spent a day in admiring thequaint, old-fashioned furniture and pictures and the wonderful carvingsof the beamed ceiling, but now she was so excited that she looked onlyat the countess. The lady was not very imposing in form or dress but herfeatures were calm and dignified and she met her guests with a gravecourtesy that was impressive if rather chilly. Before Patsy had summonedcourage to explain her errand a younger woman--almost a girl--hurriedlyentered the room and took a position beside the other.

  "Oh, it's Elizabeth--it really is!" cried Patsy, clapping her handstogether joyfully.

  Mother and daughter regarded the American girl wonderingly and somewhathaughtily, but Patsy was not in the least dismayed.

  "Isn't this Mrs. Denton?" she asked, stepping forward to lay a hand uponthe other girl's arm.

  "Yes," was the quiet reply.

  Patsy's great eyes regarded her a moment with so sad and sympathetic alook that Mrs. Denton shrank away. Then she noticed for the first timethe Red Cross uniform, and her hand went swiftly to her heart as shefaltered:

  "You--you have brought bad news of Andrew--of my husband?"

  "Yes, I am sorry to admit that it is bad news," answered Patsy soberly."He has been wounded and is now lying ill in our hospital ship atDunkirk. We came here to find you, and to take you to him."

  Mrs. Denton turned to her mother, a passionate appeal in her eyes. Butit was some moments before the hard, set look on the face of thecountess softened. It did soften at last, however, and she turned toPatsy and said simply:

  "We will prepare for the journey at once. Pray excuse us; Niklas willserve refreshments. We will not detain you long."

  As they turned to leave the room Elizabeth Denton suddenly seizedPatsy's hand.

  "He will live?" she whispered. "Tell me he will live!"

  Patsy's heart sank, but she summoned her wits by an effort.

  "I am not a surgeon, my dear, and do not know how serious the wound maybe," she answered, "but I assure you it will gladden his heart to seeyou again. He thinks and speaks only of you."

  The girl-wife studied her face a moment and then dropped her hand andhurried after her mother.

  "I fibbed, Uncle," said Patsy despondently. "I fibbed willfully.But--how could I help it when she looked at me that way?"