Connecticut western news., 1917-12-06
CHAPTER VI.
Home Again, but Not Glad of It.


 RJOW all the troops were ashore.
 IN spent most of the time allowed
 me on deck daily for exercise. watching and hoping for glimpse of my husband, eyes glued to the spot where I knew the camp to be. The boys must have been kept pretty close. 1ecause I did not see them again.
 My husband had promised he would do everything in his power to get them a0. permit me to land. knew he would Keep his word. still hoped they would xeIcnt and l could go and join the Red Gross, even if I coslld not be a regula" soldier.
 Every time a boat put out from the pier I held my breath and prayed il was some one bringing good news for me Then when it didn't was so dis appointed I would start crying all fresh again.
 Maybe you can imagine just how I felt There was the shore, only a Etone,s throw away. I had braved all Kinds Of hardships and dangers to reach it. My husband, the truest and best Eann1ie that ever wore khaki, was there: And here I was prisoner.
 d hundred times at night walked to the porthole and watched the lights twinlding in the town. It seemed closer some way at night. One even h1g the officer of the ship was walk ing by with soldier. My light was cut, and they could not see me. He was apparently, questioning the pri- vate. T did not recognize the silhou- cite, so took him for rookie.
 'CaIter said he tried to get her to go Rack, but she wouldn't do it." said the efficers ''She's one of those babies who aIways havestheir own way. I wish she had been my wife for about a minute. What he should have done was to Knock her cold. call an ambulance and sake her tt the hospital. Maybe after that she'd listen to reason"
 ~Yes? After that there would have 6een two of us in the hospital" called through the porthole. And Uncle Sam would have been minus one per fectlys good soldier for awhile"
 The officer wheeled around. He looked as if he would sell himself for a Riugged penny. He started to beg my pardon, but I tucked back into the stateroom in the dark and left him flat.
 My husband went ashore on Mon day. Wednesday one of the boys told me he had been back on board the day before, but the captain had refused Him permission to see me.
 That night I kept my eyes on the saflOrs on watch. If one of them had fallen asleep or gone inside after some lining l made up my mind I would go ever, take a chance and swim for 1t. If I had to wait for one of them to weaken would die of old age You've ROt to hand it to them for that.
 Soldiers Get Great Welcome.
 They told me the boys were having h great time ashore. The people had KIven them the keys of the town and were doing nothing but showing the Bammies around. Trance was turning Nself upside down to welcome them. The French girls were bombarding 4hem with kisses and good things to Gat, and the men. were skipping them an the back and calling them comrade md more in French as best they could, which was none too good
 Don't it get your goat to think may ke one of them French dolls is plant Ing kiss on your old mans browY' said the guard who brought me the news. knew he was trying to tease 0e.
 Goat nothing" I laughed. Let AAem go to it. A soldier deserves all The kisses he can collect"
 The fifth day after I said goodby to my husband 1 was up on deck watch Ing, as usual, for any sign of some one coming to get me when a transport farther along the line of ships began to move out. In few minutes it was fol- lowed by another. That meant we were 0bOut to start our voyage back. My Aeart sank into my shoes. I would not zee my husband again. was not to go with the Red Cross and take care of Ahe boys when they were wounded. EOming over the ocean did not seem so wide. Now it looked like a million NnIles across to me.
 sfOur orders are to take you to your 4uarters and keep you there until we are safe outside" said one of my guards. don't remember how I got Ahere. guess they half led me and naif carried me. heard bugle blow Ing somewhere over in the town. It was manned by an American. Every note came clear across the water. The next thing 1 knew l was on my berth with my fingers stuck tightly in my ears and my face buried in a pillow. The boat was moving. ont