Cleveland County herald., 1919-06-05
By GRACE BOULDER. {vNlth the American Y. W. c. A Over.
 seas.)

NObtChL,
 March 2s (By Mnii)
 It happened right here in Coblenx+
 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 hereT he began at once, trying his best to cover his excitement
 "Your mother!" gasped Miss Wood small. How did your mother ever get here?'
 -Well, she isn't here yet but if she cores will you keep herr"
 "Of course l 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 corporafs visit remained mys- tery for two days. Then one evening just at dusk little white haired wo- man dressed exGuisitely 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--n 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 wns woman in civilian clothes. Mothers are unhenrd of with the army Hut this was mother, everyone knew.
 After awhile someone found out about thls mother.
 Had Been lnterned During War.
 She and her husband, who were born in Germany, but had been mt urniized, lived in San Francisco. Be fore the war they left for Wcisbaden, Germany. thnt their invalid daughter might have treatment at this famous health resort.
 They brought their other children with them. One was Walter, n small boy, and the other wus Ralph. now Corporal Stepp of the American Army.
 When the wnr wns declared they sent Ralph back to America, because he was of military nge. 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 I hadn't heard from Ralph for two years and half even before America got in the war mail was held up. didn't know whether he was in the army or not hut was sure he was. because-well. because he is m American" Here she stopped q minute to smile up at him.
 After awhile we heard from some friends that he was in the armyz-and that he had come over here. That was all ever knew. It's nearly five years since I have seen him
 "Of course 1t was awfully hard-I couldn't get word 10 him md he couldn't to me My husband used to me 10 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 I used to try to keep up before them.
 Hast January my husband came to Coblcnz about his citizen papers. An American soldier fin Ralphs company who was iN the office heard his name and asked him if he was any relation 10 Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph was In COb1enz. but went after Ralph. He didn't tell Ralph his father wns here When they met they couldn't believe their eyes.
 "Ever since then have been trying to see Ralph. He couldn't come to lWeisbnden because it was out of tho American area, and I couldn't get through until today-more than two months"
 They asked her if her Ralph had changed much in ali that time.
 "Oh, yes-very much. But do you know, think 1t 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 a baby-I kept seeing him as a baby snd remembering the way he felt when he was little. Isn't that queer? And now look at him."
 And the corporal tried not to see the ,adoration in her eyes.
 Five years is a long time to wait lto see your boy" she murmured, and kept her eyes on him. Again she had forgotten the people around her.
 The corporal cleared his throat. -''This is why I ask q you If you could keep my mother. Miss Woodsmall. 1 didn't want her to come unless she had . good place to stay. An, e-e-r- thanks awfuliy."
 And that is the story of bow the Hostess House happened to entertain fine only known A. E. r. mother who has visited tbs Army 0t occupstie& r-v