The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1919-06-04
BY GRACE eoULoER.
with the American Y. w. C. A. Over.
seas.)

Coblenz, Germany,
March % (By Mail.)
II happened right here IN Coblenz
A big corporal came into the Y. w.
G. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director, Miss Ruth Woodsmall, who
comes from Colorado springs, Colo.
could my mother stay here?" he
began ut once. trying his hest to cover
his excitement.
"Your mother!" gasped Mss Wood
small. How did your mother ever get
here?"
"Well, she isn't here yet, but II she
comes will you keep her?" -
"Of course I will. but"
She didn't finish for the boy had
smashed his cap back on his head and
was out of the door on run.
The corporal's visit remained n mys-
terry for two days Then one evening
just at dusk little white hare wO-
man dressed exclusively in black ap-
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 n the background
hut their eyes were glued on her face.
Everyone in the sitting room sat NJ
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 a mother. everyone knew.
Atter awhile someone found ont
about this mother.
Had Been informed During War.
She and her husband. who were
born in Germany, but had been nat
uraliZed, lived in San Francisco. Be
fore the war they left for Weishaden.
Germany. that their invalid daughter
might have treatment at this famous
health resort.
They brought their other children
with them One was Walter, small
hay. and the other was Ralph. now
WI lOid ptVll vi thC ~
When the wa" was declared they
sent Ralph back to America. because
he was of military age, and they did
not want him to fight for the kaiser
Then America entered the war.
Mrs. Stepp-Mrs Anna Stepp she Is
told this part Of the story:
"Until month ago l hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and a half
even before America got In the war
mail was held up. didn't know
whether he was In the army or not
but l was sure he was. because-well.
because he Is an American" Here
she stopped minute to smile up at
him
"After awhile we heard from some
friends 'hat he was In the army-and
that he lad come over here. That was
all ! ever knew. It's nearly FIVE years
since I have seen himl
"Of course II was awfully hard
couldn't get word to him and he
couldn't to me. My husband used to
tell me 1t wouldn't help Ralph any for
me to cry. tried not tO-before the
rest of them anyway. My daughter
got worse steadily-she Is no better.
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile And she hated to
see me worried about Ralph, so used
to try to keep up befors them.
LAST January my husband came to
Coblenz about his citizen papers. An
American sOldic- In Ralph's company
who was In the Office 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 II was out of the
American area, and I couldn't get
through until today-more than two
months"
They asked her II her Ralph had
changed much In all that time.
~Oh, yes-very much. But do you
know, think 1t ia because all that
long time when ! 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 baby-I kept seeing
hin. hahu end wa..o..Ao-t~- ~. !.