Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-09
dered how God could stand it +.

old human question that wonders
how God a stand the great agonies
of life that'have to come to cure the
world of its sin. and lev wonders
how God can stand the sin! She felt
as If she must somehow find God and
again there came hat longing to her
soul, if she only knew God intimate
~! Cameron's question REQUIRED to
her thoughts. Could anyone on this
earth know God? Had anyone ever
known Him Would the Bible say
anything about it?" She resolved to
read it through and find out.
The brief ride brought them sud
j., denly into a new-and to Ruth some
what startling environment.
AS they followed the grassy path
from the station to their abiding
place two little boys in full military
uniform appeared out of the tall
grass of the meadows. one as a pri-
vatc. the other Ii an officer. The
small private saluted' the. officer with
precision n marched on, turning
after a few steps too call back,
Mother said we might sleep in the
tent tonight! The room are all
full" The older boy gave a whoop
the building with a most unoficer-
like walk. and both disappeared in
side the door. A tiny khaki dog.tent
vas set up in the grass by the back
door,. and in a moment more the stwo
young soldiers emerged from the
back door with blankets and disap-
peared under the brown roof with a
zest that showed it waN no hardship
to them to camp out for the night.
! There were lights in the long pleas
ant room, and people. Two soldiers
with their girls-were eating ice cream
at the little tables. and around the
piano a group Of officers and their
wives vas gathered singing ragtime.
Ruth's quick glance told her they
were not the kind-she cared. for, and
how could people who were about
to part. perhaps forever, stand there
and sing such abominable nonsense!
Yet-perhaps it was their way of be-
ing brave to the last. But she wish
ed they would go.
; The sweet-faced woman of the
morning was busy behind the coun-
/ ter and presently she saw them and
came forward: Z 1
I'm sorry! 1 hoped there would
be a room but that woman from
Boston came. I a only give you
cots out here, if you don't mind
Mrs. Cameron looked around in a
half-frightened n but Ruth
smiled airily and said that would be
all right.
They settled down in the corner
between the yriting table and book
case and began to read. for it was
obvious that they could not retire at
present.
The little boys Dame running
through n the officers. corralIed
them and clarnored for them to sing.
Without any coaxing they stood up
together and sang, and their voices
/ were sweet as birds as they piped put
singing alto. the little one taking the
high soprano. Ruth put down her
book and listened, Wondering at f4he
lovely expressions on thes9two. small
faces. They made her think OF the
baby-seraphs In Michael Angelo
pictures. Presently they burst into q
religious song with as much gusto v
they had sung the ragtime. They
were utterly without ss~lf-eonscious-
preacher. Yet they were regular
boys, for, presently when they were
springs and had a rough and tumble
acunle In the corner till thetEt mother
! called them to order.
In a few minutes more the tnoisy
officers ant their wives parted, the
men striding of into the night with q
last word about the possibility Of un-
Use to wink q lash Light out Of tho
car window as the troop train went
by in case they went ont that night.
n wives went into 0m1 ofthe little
stall-roonns and acompared notes
about their Own feelings and the
probability OF the Nth Division
leeyinE before Monday.