The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1919-05-24

BY GRACE coULpER.
with the American Y. w. c. A. Over
ssaa)
Coblenx, Germany.
March % (By Mail.)
It happened right here In Coblenx
A big corporal came into the Y. w.
c. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director, Miss Ruth Woodsmall. who
comes from Colorado springs. Colo.
"Could my mother stay heref" he
began at once. trying his best to cover
his excitement
"Your mother!" gasped Miss Wood
small "How did your mother ever get
here7"
"well, she isn't here yet. but II she
comes will you keep herr"
"Of course viii. but"
She didn't finish, for the boy had
smashed his cap back on his head and
was out Of the door on q run.
The corporal's visit remained mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
just at dusk q little white haired wo-
man dressed exquisitely in black APP
peared In the sitting room Of the Host
ess House. and the corporal was hover
Ing behind her. trying to be beside her
and back Of her and In front Of her
all at once. He was carrying her
coat--a big fur one. With them were
three doughboys, pals Of the corporal.
They tried to keep In the background.
but their eyes were glued on her face.
Everyone in the sitting room sat at
attention. There are no English
speaking men or women out Of uni
form In the Third Army area. Yet
here was q woman In civilian clothes.
Mothers are unheard Of with the army.
But this was mother. everyone knew.
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been lntsrnsd During War.
She and her husband, who were
born In Germany. but had been nat
aralized, lived In San Francisco. Be
.ore the war they left for Weisbaden,
Germany, that their invalid daughter
night have treatment at this famous
aealth resort
They brought their other children
With them. One was Walter, q small
soy. and the other was Ralph, now
Corporal Stepp Of the American Army.
When the war was declared they
yent Ralph back to America, because
se was Of military age, and they did
aot want him to fight for the kaiser.
Then America entered the war.
Mrs Stepp-Mrs. Anna stepp she b
told this part of the story:
until a month ago I hadn't heard
rom Ralph for two years and half
wen before America got in the war
nail was held up. I didn't know
whether he was In the army or not
cut was sure he was. because-well.
because he 10 an American" Here
she stopped q minute to smile up at
aim. -
"After awhile we heard from some
friends that he was in the army-and
that he had come over here. That was
all ever knew. It's nearly i've years
since have seen himl
"Of course It was awfully hard-I
couldn't get word to him and he
couldn't to me. My husband used to
tell me It wouldn't help Ralph any for
ne to cry. tried not to-befo-e the
rest of them anyway. My daughter
got worse steadily-she IL no better.
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile. And she hated to
see me worried about Ralph, 90 used
to try to keep up before them.
last January my husband came to
Coblenx about his citizen papers. An
American soldier in Ralph's company
who was in the ONCE heard his name
and asked him II he was any relation
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
was in Coblenz. but went after Ralph.
He didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn't
believe their eyes.
Ever since then have been trying
to see Ralph. He couldn't come to
Weisbaden because It was out Of the
American area, and I couldn't get
through until today-more than two
month";"
They asked her II her Ralph had
changed much In all that time.
"Oh, yes-very much. But do you
know. I think It Is because all that
long time when I didn't know where
he was or how he was-I got In the
habit Of thinking Of him as he was
when he was q baby-I kept seeing
him as a baby and remembering the
way he felt when he was little. Isn't
that Queerf And now look at himi"
And the corporal tried not to see the |
alteration In her eyes.
Five years II . long time to walt |
to nee your boy" she murmured. and
kept her eyes on him. Again she had |
forgotten the people around her.
The corporal cleared his throat.
This 10 why ask you II you could |
keep my mother. Miss woodsmaIl. /
didn't want her 10 come unless she
had . good place to stay. All, e-s-r-i
thanka aWfully"