Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-08

looked befvildered about them at the
swarms Of uniforms and boyish faces.
searching for their me-. They walk
ed through the long lane lined with
soldiers, held back by the great rope
and guarded by Military Police. Each
~crowding age soldier had an air OF
expectancy pom him, a silence upon
him that showed the realization of
the parting that was soon to be. In
growing as the expected ones did not
arrive. Ruth's throat was filled with
oppression and ears as h looked
about and suddenly felt the grip of
war, and realized that all these thou
sands were bearing this bitterness of
parting, perhaps forever. Death
stalking up Inc down a battlefield.
waiting to take his pick Of them!
This was the picture that flashed be-
fore her shrinking eyes:
1t was almost like u solemn cere-
mony, this walking down the lane of
silent waiting soldiers, to be claimed
by their one. 1t seemed to bring the
two young people nearer in heart
than they had ever been before, when
at h end of the line Cameron me-
Them with a salute. kissed his moth
er, and then turned to Ruth and took
her hand with an earnest grave look
of deep pleasure in his eyes.
He led them up under the big trees
in front of the Hostess House while
all around We're hushed voices, and
teary eyes,. That first moment of
mceting was the ,saddest and the
except the last parting hour when
mute grief sat unchecked upon every
face, and no m stopped to notice if
any man were watching, but just
lived out his real heart self, and
showed his mother or his sister or his
sweetheart how much he loved and
That was a day which all the lit
tie painted butterflies Of temptation
should have been made to witness.
There were no painted ladies coming
through the gates that day. This
was no time for friendships like that.
Death Was calling; and the deep
realities Of life stood out and de-
handed attention.
The whole thing was unlike any,
thing Ruth had ever witnessed be-
fore. 1T was 4 new world. 1t was.
as if he old conventions which had
heretofore hedged her life were
dropped like a garment revealing life,
as 1t really was. and every one walk
cd unashamed, because the great sor-
row and need of all had oLliteratcd
the little petty rules Of life, and
small passions were laid aside, While
hearts throbbed in a common cause.
He waited on them like a prince.
seeming to anticipate. every need, and
smooth every annoyance. He led
them away from the throng to the
quiet hillside above the camp where
spring had set her dainty Footprint.
He spread down his thick army
7 hlankat Ynt thar, a. r;x --- - !, .
'he!d sweet converse for an hour or
two. He told them of camp life and
what was expected to be when they
started over, and when thcy Reached
ithe other side.
His mother was brave and sensible.
Sometimes the tears would brim over
at some suggestion OF what her. iboy
was soon to bcaf or do. but she wore
a smile as courageous and sweet az
any saint could wear. .fhk boy saw
and grew tender oye it. A bird cam.
moment was sweet with springinp
things and quiet with the brooding
tenderness Of parting hat hung over
the busy camp. Ruth had one awful
moment OF adjustment when she
tried to think how her aunt Rhoda
would look if she could see her now:
then h threw h whole thing ID
it1c WINDS ana resolved to enjOy tn,
day. She<sa that while the on
ventions by which she had been rear.
ed were a good thing in general 9
haps. they certainly were not meant
to hamper or hinder the true and ma.
tural life Of the heart, or. IL they
We're. they were not good things: and
she entered into the wifi
her full sympathy. Perhaps Aunt
Rhoda would not understand. but tins
girl she had brought up knew thar Il
was good to be here. Her aunt wa
away from home with an Invalid
friend on a short trip = 3.here had
been no one to question Rutli's rove.
! ments when she decided to run down
to Washington with a friend from
the Red Cross and incidentally yisii
the camp q little while.
He had them over, the camp .by Ind
by. TO the tfenches and dummies. an
All the paraphernalta Of war prepara.
ton. Then they went back to mo
Hostess Rouse 0ud fell into Inc h
Eet dinner. Al Cameron stood look.
ing down at Ruth In the crowded
line In the demOcrattc,w way which VA