The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1919-06-20
HOSTESS HOUSE REUNION
BY GRACE oouLDER.
(Nith the American Y. W. C. A. Over.
seas.l
Coblenz. Germany.

A big corporal came into the Y. w
q. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director. Miss Ruth woodsmall. who
comes from Colorado springs. Colo.
Gould my mother stay hereT' he
began at once. trying his best TO cover
his excitement
"Your mOther" gasped Miss Wood
small. "Iiow did your mother ever get
heref"
well. she isn't here yet, but IL she
comes VIII you keep herr"
"Of course 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 a mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
just at dusk little white haired wo-
man dressed exGulsitely In black ap-
peared In the sitting room Of the Host
css House, and the corporal was hover
Ing behind her. trying TO be beside her
and back of her and in front Of her
oil Mt once. He was carrying her
coat--a big fur one. With them were
three doughboys, pals Of the corporal.
They tried 10 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 . woman in civilian clothes.
Mothers arc unheArd of with the army.
But this was mother, everyone knew.
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been Interned During War.
She and her husband, who were
born in Germany. but had been mt.
urallzed, lived In San Francisco. Be
fore the war they left for welsbaden,
Germany, that their invalid daughter
might have treatment at this famous
health resort.
They brought their other children
with them. One was Walter. a small
boy, and the other was Ralph, now
Corporal Stepp Of the American Army.
When the war 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:
"Untfl a month ago I 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 was sure he was, because-well.
because he is an American" Here
she stopped a minute to smile up at
him.
after awhile we heard from some
friends that he was In the army-and
that he had come over here. That was
NIL ever knew. It's nearly five years
since have seen him!
"0f course II was awfuily hard--T
couldn't get word to him and he
to me. My husband used to
tell me It wouldn't help Ralph any for
me to cry. tried not to-before the
rest of them anyway. My daughter
,ot worse steadily-she is no better.
We couldn't get the proper food for
Ter after awhile. And she hated to
ne worried about Ralph, so used
o ~ 10 keep up before them.
Last January my husband came 10
1oblenz about his citizen papers. An
American soldier in Ralph's company
vho was In the Office heard his name
md asked him II he was any relation
o Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
vas In Cohlenx, but went after Ralph.
lie didn't tell Ralph his father was
ere. When they met they couldn't
elleve their eyes.
Ever since then have been trying
0 see Ralph. He couldn't come to [
veisbaden because It was out of the
american area, and I couldn't get /,
trough until today-more than two !;
lonths."
They asked her II her Ralph had
hanged much in all that time.
"oh, yes-very much. But do you !
now, think 1t Is because all that
ing time when I didn't know where
e was or how he was-f got In the
ablt of thinking of him as he was
hen he was baby--1 kept seeing a
i'm as baby and remembering the :
ay he felt when he wns little. isn't !,
iat queer? And now look at him p =
And the corporal tried not to see the Z
iorution In her eyes. IL
"Five yenrs is long time to whit 81
see your boy" she murmured md N
apt her eyes on him. Again she had
'rrotten the people around her. IL
The corporal cleared his throat. :.
rhis is why I ask d you II you could
aep my mother. Miss woodsmall. II
dn't want her to come unless she W
nd good place to stay. All. e-e-r-- W
anks awfully." pl
And that Is the story of how the tc
osteSs House happened to entertain CO
e only known A. f. f. mother who -
Is visited the Army Of Occupation.
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