The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-23
By GRACE COULDER.
with the American Y. w. C. A. Over.
seas.)


March 2S {By Mail.)
It happened right here in Coblenz.
A 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.
Gould my mother stay here?" he
began at once, trying his best to cover
his excitement.
Your mother." gasped Miss Wood
small. "Ffow did your mother ever get
herey"
"Well, she isn't here yet, but if she
will you keep her?"
"Of curse 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 a run.
The corporal's visit remained a mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
just at dusk a little white haired wo-
Ia dressed exQuisitely 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 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 a 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 informed During War.
She and her husband, who we're
born in Germany, but had been nat
uralized, lived in San Francisco. Be
fore the war they left for Weisbaden,
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 vas 81 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 a month ago l hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and a half
V e. before America got in the war
mail was held up. l 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 q 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
all | ever knew. It's nearly Ave years
since l have seen him!
"Of course it was awfully hard-I
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. 7 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 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 If he was any relation
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
He didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn't
believe their eyes.
Ever since then l have been trying
to see Ralph. He couldn't come to
( Weisbaden because 1t was out Of the
American area, and l 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, l 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 10 a baby and remembering the
way he felt when he was little. Isn't
that queer? And now look at him r.
And the corporal tried not to see the
alteration in her eyes,.
Five years Is q long time to wait
to Q your boy" she murmured, and
kept her eyes on him. Again she had
forgotten the people around her.
The corporal cleared his throat.
'.This ID why I ask d you II you could
keep my mother, Miss Woodsmall. I
didn't want her to come unless she
had . sood place to stay. All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
And thae = he story Of how the
Hostess Houss happened to entertain
The ealy known 4. =. ,. mother Who
be- visltsl ~ Army q 0esupstiea.