The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-05-29
BY GRACE ooULoER.
with the American Y. W. c. A. over.
aeaal

March % (By Mail)
II happened right here In Coblenz.
A big corporal came into the Y. w.
@. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director, Miss Ruth woodsmall, who
comes from Colorado springs, Colo.
"Could my mother stay heref he
began ut once, trying his best TO cover
his excitement.
"Your motheri" gnsped Miss Wood.
small. "How did your mother ever get
heref"
"well, she Isn't here yet, but II she
comes will you keep herf'
"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 a run.
The corporal's visit remained o mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
Just at dusk little white haired wo.
man dressed exqulsltely In black ap.
penred In the sitting room OF the Host.
ess House, and the corporal was hover.
Ing behind her, trying 10 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 corporn'
They tried TO keep IN the background
but 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. Nrl
here was n woman In civilian clothes
Mothers are unheard OF with the army.
But this was a mother, everyone knew
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been lnterned During War.
She and her husband. who were
Torn In Germany, but had been nat.
urallzed, lived In San Francisco, be
fore the war they left for welsbaden.
Germany. that their Invalid lauchier
might have treatment ut 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 10 America. because
he was OF military age, and they did
not want him 90 light for the kaiser,
Then America entered the war.
Mrs Stepp-Mrs. Anna stepp she IL
told this part OF the story:
"Untll month ago l hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and half
even before America got IN the war
mall was held up. didn't know
whether he was In the army or not
hut | was sure he was, because-well.
because he is an American" Here
she stopped a minute 20 smile up al
him.
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 Ave years
since have seen him
"Of. course II was awfully hard-l
couldn't get word 10 him and he
couldn't TO me. My husband used to
tell me Il 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
ne worried about Ralph, so ! used
to ry TO keep up before them.
Last January my husband came TO
Coblenz about his citizen papers. An
American soldier 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.
lie didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn't
believe their eyes
Ever since then l have been trying
% see Ralph. He couldn't come to
Welsbaden because II was out OF tho
American area, and 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 Is 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 a baby-I kept seeing
him as a baby end remembering the
way he felt when he was little. Isn't
that queeri And now look at hint"
And the corporal tried not to see the
alteration In her eyes.
"Fiye years Is long time 10 walt
10 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 / ask d you II you could
keep my mother. Miss WoOdsmall. l
didn't want her 20 come unless she
had a good place TO stay. All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
And that Is the story Of how the
Hostess House happened TO entertain
the only known A. Il. +. mother who
has visited the Army OF Occupation