Major Hersey had not come into contact with him but once since his own arrival in Coblenz several months before.
The old German Colonel, wearing civilian clothes, was standing examining an American rifle, which the young American army officer had carelessly left propped up against the wall in one corner of his room.
The older man wheeled sharply at the younger one"s entrance.
Colonel Liedermann had the typical German face, broad, with heavy, overhanging brows, small, stern blue eyes, and drooping jaws.
His face reddened at the present moment, but he said courteously: "I owe you an apology for entering your room when you were not present. I came to ask you if you would do me the favor of permitting me to look over some of your American newspapers. Germany is not being informed of all that is taking place in the world these days and I should like very much to know. But it is not for myself alone that I make this request. I am an old man and may not live long enough to see the new Germany if it is ever possible for Germany to arise out of the ashes of the past. But my son, as you know, has never recovered from his last and most serious wound. To lie always in bed after so active a life, grows exceedingly irksome. I find it difficult to keep him even fairly content. It was for him I was asking the loan of your newspapers. I presume the fact that we have so recently been enemies will not preclude your doing me this kindness. If so, I regret my intrusion."
A little overcome by the old German officer"s haughty manner and set speech, Major Jimmie only murmured that he would be very glad of course to permit his American newspapers to be read, if Colonel Liedermann and his son did not feel that they would too greatly resent the American point of view.
As he made this statement, although not pleased by the German officer"s request, Major Hersey was searching diligently for the latest bundle of American papers which he had received.
As he handed them to the former German Colonel, the old officer said, speaking in a more human fashion,
"I was interested in looking at this American rifle of yours. Naturally as an old soldier I remain interested in firearms, although I shall not live to see another war, however little I believe in a permanent world peace. Clever piece of mechanism! I am told the American rifle is the finest in the world!"
Not feeling called upon to reply to this speech and anxious that the old officer should depart, Major Hersey made no response.
A little later, when he had finally gone, with an unusual expression upon his boyish countenance, Major Jimmie Hersey sank down into his arm chair.
Was it singular that one could not recover from the sensation of acute distrust in the presence of a German? Among them there must be certain individuals who were truthful and straightforward. Yet after a century of training that the end justified the means, among German army officers one could not expect to find any other standard, than the standard which regarded the treaty of Belgium as a "sc.r.a.p of paper." Betray any friend, any cause, any country to accomplish one"s purpose. And tonight, although a member of Colonel Liedermann"s household, Major Jimmie Hersey knew he would always remain their foe, no matter with what appearance of courtesy he might be treated.
It was an actual fact that never since his casual conversation with little Gretchen, the baby of the family, had he the same sense of untroubled serenity in the midst of this German military home.
Was it true that Captain Ludwig Liedermann was still unable to move from his bed? If so why had little Gretchen told so ingenious a falsehood?
One would scarcely expect a little girl of six to make up so useless a story. But if Captain Liedermann were well why should he continue to make a pretence of illness? There were no penalties attached to the fact that he had been a German officer. Could it be possible that he so intensely disliked the idea of coming into contact with the troops General Pershing had led to victory, that he preferred invalidism to this other form of martyrdom?
There was just one point upon which Major Jimmie Hersey was able to make up his mind during this one evening"s meditation.
He would suggest to Miss Jamison that she make no more visits to the Liedermann home. He had been surprised to find her returning not once but several times of late. She must understand that the Red Cross nurses were not supposed to make friends with the families of Germans until after peace was declared.
The little Freia had not been seriously hurt, having entirely recovered from her fright and injury by the next day. Nevertheless, Miss Jamison had made not one, but four or five other calls since her introduction to Frau Liedermann.
Of course, as he knew Miss Jamison but slightly, advice from him might prove embarra.s.sing. She was in reality more Hackett"s friend than his, although Sergeant Hackett would deny this fact. He had tried being friendly with Nora Jamison as she attracted him, but she did not seem to care for other interests than her Red Cross nursing and the children who surrounded her like tiny golden bees about a honey pot.
Her ride this afternoon had been her one concession; however, after reaching the Red Cross hospital, she had said it would be impossible for her to ride again, although she had greatly enjoyed it. In the future nursing and other work she had recently undertaken would occupy all her time.
It might be difficult to see Nora Jamison alone in order to warn her against any too great intimacy with the Liedermann family. Yet as a fellow American Major Hersey intended making the effort.
He would watch and if she came again to the Liedermann house, join her on her way back to the American Red Cross hospital.
CHAPTER XVIII
_Reconciliation_
"I AM so sorry you have been ill, Bianca."
Carlo Navara had come into Bianca"s room a few moments before with Mrs.
Clark and now Sonya had gone out again leaving them for a few moments alone.
It was a fairly warm spring day and yet there was a little fire in Bianca"s room, for the rooms in the old Rhine castle were big and bare and cold, with stone floors.
Bianca wore a little tea-gown of a warm blue woolen material and had a tea table with a tray upon it just in front of her.
She was pouring tea for her guest at the moment he made his last speech.
"Oh, there has been nothing serious the matter with me, Carlo," she returned. "I was simply tired and have been having a delightful rest. I believe when I arrived I said that I should hate to be ill in this dreary old building, but since things so seldom turn out as one expects I have really enjoyed it. Besides, I have promised Sonya that as soon as it is possible I shall go back to the United States and to school. The Red Cross experience in Europe has been a wonderful one, but now, as I am no longer useful here I must take up the duty, I turned my back upon.
It is not going to be easy, Carlo, to settle down to a school girl"s life after the excitement of war work in Europe. Yet I have the consolation of realizing that I am only going to do what many of our soldiers will do. Lots of the younger men have told me that if their families can afford to send them to college on their return they feel the need of education as they never felt it before coming abroad."
Bianca extended a tea cup to her visitor.
"Is this the way you like your tea, Carlo? Perhaps your taste has changed, but I remember this is the way you liked it in the past."
"But my tastes don"t change, Bianca. It is your mistake to believe they do, neither my tastes in tea nor in friends ever alter."
At this Carlo and Bianca both laughed, although with a slight embarra.s.sment.
"I am going back home too, Bee, very soon," the young man added. "This is one of the many things I wanted to tell you this afternoon, besides finding out that you were all right again. I talked things over with Colonel Winfield weeks ago and told him I was getting pretty restless and anxious to return to my work in the United States. I explained to him that a singer can"t wait for his career as well as other men, since a voice does not always last a long time. However, I think this argument did not make much of an impression upon the old Colonel, but something or other must have, because he asked for an honorable discharge for me and I"m to go home when it arrives. I think the Colonel"s chief reason was that I am not much good as a soldier here in Coblenz. He needs men like Major Hersey and Sergeant Hackett. Hackett is soon to be a first lieutenant, he should have been one long ago."
"I don"t see why you have not also been given a commission, Carlo,"
Bianca replied, a little jealous for her friend.
Carlo laughed.
"I haven"t the stuff in me for an officer, Bee. No one knows this better than I do. I am a fair soldier when there is something doing, but a poor one in routine. That is the real test. Don"t mind, Bianca, and don"t look aggrieved. I have simply tried to do my military duty like millions of other better men, but now I am going back to the thing I am made for.
I was only a soldier for the time I felt myself needed.
"By the way I have been learning to sing "Siegfried," Bianca, studying with my old German singing master. He says I sing the music very poorly, but it has been fun trying to learn.
"I know one who lies Fast in slumber deep Sleeping age long sleep, Waiting for thy waking."
Carlo"s voice sounded clear and beautiful in the big room.
"If your hair were unbound and you were older you might look like Brunhilde some day, Bianca."
"You are singing better than ever, Carlo, I am so glad!" Bianca murmured, forgetful of herself.
She looked a little paler and more fragile after her illness, yet with her light yellow hair, her delicate features and large dark eyes prettier perhaps than her companion ever remembered seeing her.
"And the dancing, Bee, I gave that up soon after our talk. I did not need it for diversion after I began my music lessons. Besides, Miss Thompson has taught so many of the soldiers folk dancing and some of them are now so good at it that she no longer wishes me for her partner."
Bianca colored.
"I am sorry I told you I did not like Thea Thompson, Carlo. It is foolish to be prejudiced against people, isn"t it? She has been extremely kind to me during my illness and both Sonya and I have learned to understand her better. Besides, I was prejudiced perhaps because of you," Bianca ended frankly.