New-York tribune., 1919-04-20

Tours. y have never been there, al
though they have always talked of TAX
;nc me over TO see my grandparents. But
we could never afford it. I know the
country well, from my mothers stories
and her picture cards. Of course, love
r hut to myself l am an American. My
father is a music teacher. l know that
bs came over here to make his name. but
be has never done anything but give
lessons and play Accomplishments. He
and my mother speak French at home,
as my mother does not know English
very well, but ! always use English to
her, for she understands it perfectly.
Ny dearest friend is Elizabeth, We
have lived next door TO each other ever
since We first began TO so 70 school Her
father Is not living but she has a moth
ar and an older brother-Karl. She and
Karl were born in Germanyl che cannot
remember tho country. as she was too
little when her mother came over with
tho children. hut Kari remembered. and
once he went back. He has an uncle
there who paid his way through school,
and who wanted Karl to come over and
90 into business with him.
Elizabeth and | were always together
Il
church on Sundays. No, madame, l am
not a Catholic; my parents are ibre-
penseurs, But they did not mind it
when l went to church with Elizabeth.
We went to the Episcopal; it is nearest,
and there is beautiful music. The win
dows with the light through them make
you want to pray.
Elizabeth is the prettiest girl I know.
She has blue eyes, and her hair is curly,
and so fair-so very fair, madame, Karl
called US Day and Night, for mine is
SO dark. love Elizabeth as my sister
And how could I help but love Karl?
He is so big and fnel He is quiet and
his voice is deep and kind. When Eliza
beth and l were little girls he watched
out for US, and he was always gentle
had a hot temper. One day I was
angry at dog that barked at me, and
was going to throw stone at it. Karl
put his hand over mine until the dog ran
away. Then I threw the stone at Karl.
It struck him on the forehead and made
red cut
1T did not hurt me, Germaine," he
said. Tomorrow you will be glad of
that And then I was ashamed.
How could we help loving each other
when we were grown? And Elizabeth
vas glad. Now we would be really Sis
ters.
Ny father does not like Germans but
he was fond Of Karl. He had known
rim since he was little boy, and they
we're friends. He said that to him Karl
vas not a German, but just Karl.
We were to have been married this
spring. Elizabeth and | were sewing;
my mother was making beautiful en-
0rolderies, learned at the convent school
IN Tours. Karl was working out of
town; he was doing very we'll and wrote
oten. I was more happy than can
Tell you.
And then it came-the war. My
father scarcely spoke at table, and my
mother cried At first I did not think
much about it. | was so happy and it
seemed so far away What had a war
IN Europe 10 do with me?
Then my father SAID he must go.
vent through torment. | could not be-
"eVe that my father would 20 off to a
war. The night he left slept with my
mother; she sobbed till morning and
ae'd her in my arms. did not cry; my
eyes burned me.
oae morning had letter from Karl
"e mad gone 1t was his country, the
"ha OF his father, calling him. He could
~ come even for n goodhy; he knew,
u course, we could never he married
''~ lie sen; me his farewell. he would
'o'e ne alwaya
Hmzabcth and do not sce each other
"'en' She works in n millinery shop,
saa comes home tired We cannot talk;
!, ~ can only kiss each other goodnight.
~y mother was i'll at first, and | could
n.', ~. leave her My father had saved a
''e' and We lived on that. Now that
= nearly gone and must work. want
work. ! must work.
zee It always, day and night, but the
,'' s"'S are the worst. hear the ter
.D'e guns and the shells bursting. The
-, .s' are IN the trenches, in cold and rain
,ss s Snow. Ny father is frail and he
s~'sfs; there is not enough warm food
!. o0t that IL not the worst. Mon Djeu.
vat Ia not the worst!