The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-10-31
CHAPTER v.
No France For Me.

H>HE rest or the trip was unOer
guard. think II was the fifth
day we were under way they got
me. could hear the men singing and
drilling. The routine Of the army was
going on as II nothing had happened
How I longed to be back In my old
had now were the clothes, just MEN,
cries of my soldering. | had to stick
to them because there was nothing else
on board for me to wear.
I did not see my husband for two
days. 1t was hard to know he was on
the ship. only few feet away. and
yet could not even speak to him.
begged so hard to see him that they
finally let him up, and after that he
was allowed to come to me when he
was of duty.
He told me the men were getting
anxious to land. They had recovered
from their scasickncss and wanted to
see what 1t was like lover there" All
were I'm the best of health. As their
appetites returned they complained
more and more about their rations,
which is to be expected. At mess one
evening homesick Sammy talked
about the deep dish huckleberry pie
his mother used to make. He almost
caused riot.
"You'll he pickin' berries out of the
air soon. boy. lead ones" said Sam
my, who had eaten his pie mostly off
OF lunch counters all his life.
For the most part those were dreary
days for me. as | saw my husband
only for n short time when he did get
up to my prison. Outside could hear
all the noises of the troops-nOiscs that
had sounded so sweet in my ears be-
fore. There were the calls of the crap
players. the plaintivc music Of the
ukclcle. no longer soothing to me now.
and the harmonizinG of the old sad
tunes. Previously the accomplished
player of the luke" had been the most
popular man on board. and he was yet
for all | know, but not with me. |
would have liked to kill him when he
tuned up.
Much time was on my hands for
thinking was proud Of the respect
these soldiers of Uncle sam had shown
me-a girl-when they had every op
portunity to take advantage of me with
me living among them as one Of the
gang. | am speaking Of those who
were aware of my presence on board.
They ought to make a fine record In
France. both in and out Of the trench
es. | was also proud | hadn't been
seasick, although ! had never been on
the ocean before. had shown ND
some Of the rockies in this respect any.
way, for they had been a seasick crowd.
Neither had | had any fear Of SUBJ
marines. even though ] cannot swim a
stroke. This was more than some Of
Me recruits could say Several Of them
aad been very open pored MS they broke
into sweats OF pure fear with each
felt, perhaps, would fit better In the
trenches than they would.
About noon one day | heard great
commotion ON board. Men were run
ming backward and forward, shouting
and calling to one another. Things
were being moved in a hurry. The
whole ship throbbed with new life.
tried to discover the cause of the ex-
element by peeplng through my single
portfolio, but could see nothing A
guard came TO my door and knocked.
Land Is Sighted.
LAND to starboardr' he shouted. He /
was a nice fellow and couldn't hold |
out such startling information from me.
There was a lump in my throat the
size of an apple Would ever set foot |
In France? The officers had promised |
they would do all they could TO get the
authorities to let me stay. The army |
officers were especially nice to me. ] |
believe they sincerely wanted to see
me win ont after the chances ] had
taken.
Some of them | know openly urged | |
be permitted to land. 1t was the ships
captain. technically In charge of me,
who killed all my prospects. as found
out later.
IL was on Saturday we came into |
port We were not sure Of the name of
fair Idea what II was.
Extra guards were stationed to |
watch me The quartermaster captain
was taking no chances on my sneaking |
ashore. Once he passed my cabin.
Watch that portfolio" he ordered.
"She's as slippery as an eel. We don't |
want any more OF this foolishness."
BY and by the ship came to anchor
could hear the men going ashore
Was my husband with them? did
not know. The thought that he might |
he ordered or without so much as
gOodby drove me nearly crazy. guess
] was quite mad for time. ] was no
longer soldier facing fate with
smile. was woman deprived Of one
Of the sacred rights Of love.