“Mother, as I have told you, objected to it.”
“Was it because he was a German?”
“No,” he replied; “she married him knowing that, but there was something she didn’t know. She had very strong prejudices, or convictions you may call them; and I have the same myself. She was heart and soul a Union woman.”
“Was he a Southerner?” I said. “Was that the trouble?”
He did not answer me, but looked with a far-off glance as though into the future, rather than the past.
We at last arrived at our destination and separated. So we left the sunshine for the clouds of war.
CHAPTER XVI
A STRANGE DESERTION
Upon my return to the front I found that our forces had been reinforced by new regiments. American troops, we were told, were arriving in great numbers. This information was hailed with satisfaction by French soldiers as well as by ourselves; for, while we did not doubt our ability to meet any equal numbers of the enemy, we wanted the backing given by superior numbers on our side; especially as the enemy were attacking from interior lines with the advantage of quicker concentration at the point of attack.
Reporting for duty, I was cordially received by my comrades.