nce my arrival in Coblenz, if I should go back home and ask
my father's forgiveness, making him understand that I shall never marry
any one for whom I do not care. But my problem is, would he accept an
apology which did not include obedience? You see that is what my new
American friends cannot understand in my father's and my attitude to
each other. Besides, I do so want to go to the United States when Mrs.
Clark and Bianca and several of her Red Cross nurses return home. Mrs.
Clark tells me that she and Dr. Clark only intend remaining in Coblenz
until after the Germans have signed the treaty of peace. Dr. Clark then
feels that he must go back to his New York city practice and be relieved
by a younger man. Three or four of the American Red Cross nurses will be
sailing at the same time. You simply cannot guess how I long to travel.
Think of being as restless a person as I am and shut up in a tiny
country like Luxemburg! I have never been anywhere else except just into
Germany in all my life."

"Hard luck of course, and you would enjoy the United States! You are
just the kind of girl to appreciate it. You must do what you think is
right yourself since after all another fellow's judgment is not worth
much," Major Hersey replied, not altogether pleased with the idea of his
new friends vanishing from Coblenz when his own duties might keep him
there an indefinite time.

Later that afternoon, at about dusk, on his way toward home, Major James
Hersey was considering a number of matters somewhat seriously. He was a
United States officer with nothing to live upon save his pay. Up to the
present his one desire had been to continue to serve his country.

In Germany at this time there was a good deal of intensely bitter
feeling. With the delay in the presentation of the peace terms a less
friendly attitude toward America and the Americans was developing than
during the weeks first following the German defeat.

In the interior the poorer people were said to be hungry, war weary and
anxious to resume their normal business life.

In Coblenz there was especial dissatisfaction with the present German
government, Coblenz having been a centre of pan-Germanism and
pro-Kaiserism.

Carefully concealed as such ideas were supposed to be from the members
of the American Army of Occupation, there were United States officers
who appreciated that there were groups of prominent Germans at this time
desiring the return of the Kaiser and some fo