_The Rainbow Bridge_
ONE afternoon in May, Sonya Clark was entertaining a number of friends
among the American officers and soldiers in Coblenz in the garden back
of the American Red Cross hospital.
During the early spring the Red Cross girls had devoted many leisure
hours to digging and planting flower seed on the level space just behind
the old building and overlooking the banks of the Rhine.
This afternoon this spot was gay with spring flowers, also there were
old rose vines climbing high on the grey stone walls, now a delicate
green but promising a rich bloom in June.
These were troubled days in Germany, the most troubled since the arrival
of the American Army of Occupation. A short time before the allied peace
terms had been presented to the German delegates in Versailles; since
then all Germany had been crying aloud protests against a just
retribution. Germany was in official mourning.
Yet the Americans in Coblenz, soldiers and civilians alike, were
undisturbed, knowing Germany would sign the terms when the final moment
arrived.
Today something of greater importance was taking place among Sonya
Clark's and Dr. David Clark's friends. This little reception was their
farewell. In a short time they were returning to New York taking with
them a number of their staff of Red Cross nurses. Several days before a
new unit of Red Cross workers had arrived in Coblenz, relieving former
members who desired to return home.
The afternoon was a lovely one, now and then occasional light clouds
showed in the sky, but away off on the opposite bank of the Rhine there
were lines of blue hills, then purple, fading at last to a dim grey.
Sonya and Dr. Clark were standing among a little group of friends. Nona
Davis and Mildred Thornton were beside them. Both of the original Red
Cross girls were wearing decorations which they had lately received from
the French government and the United States government in recognition of
their four years of war nursing among the allied armies of Europe.
They were leaving with Sonya and Dr. Clark for the United States and
were expecting to be married soon after their arrival. Colonel Winfield,
who was an old friend, was congratulating them and at the same time
lamenting their departure from Coblenz.
"I wonder if you will tell me just what members of Dr. Clark's staff are
going with him?" he inquired. "I fear I shall feel a stranger and an
outsider at the American Red Cross hospital when so many of you sail for
home who were with me in the neighborhood of Chateau-Thierry, caring for
our wounded American boys. May your married life be as happy as you
deserve."
Slipping one hand through the elderly Colonel's arm, Nona Davis
suggested to him and to Mildred Thornton:
"Suppose we take a little walk; no one is noticing us with Sonya and Dr.
Clark the centre of attention. Whatever I may dislike about Germany, I
shall never forget the fascination of many of the views along the Rhine
during this winter and spring in Coblenz.
"As for the members of Dr. Clark's staff who are going home with him,
there are no nurses who will not remain except a Miss Thompson. Bianca
Zoli, Mrs. Clark's ward, is leaving with her of course. Then I suppose
you know that the little Luxemburg Countess Charlotta Scherin and her
governess are to accompany us, I believe with the consent of her
father."
As the little group moved away in the direction of the river bank,
Mildred smiled.
"See, Colonel, there are the three girls we have been discussing! The
little Countess Charlotta and your pet officer, Major Hersey, are
probably saying farewell. Further on is Theodosia Thompson and Dr. Hugh
Raymond. Dr. Raymond is to be in charge of our American Red Cross
hospital in Coblenz after Dr. Clark's departure. It is a good deal of
responsibility for so young a physician, but Dr. Clark seems to think he
is equal to it. And there perched up in the branches of that old tree is
Bianca Zoli. How pretty she looks in her delicate blue dress against
such a background!"
"And who is that romantic young soldier standing beneath her?" the
Colonel demanded.
"Oh, yes, I remember now, he is the soldier-singer, who I believe is
also going back to the States, as I secured an honorable discharge for
him a short time ago. Odd name his for an American, what is it?"
"Carlo Navara," Nona replied, "and an old friend of ours."
Then they continued on their walk.
At the same moment Theodosia Thompson and Dr. Raymond were slipping out
of sight of the guests along a little path which ended in a group of
shrubs a few yards down the hill.
"I can't see why you wish to renew what we were discussing a few days
ago, Dr. Raymond," Thea argued a little plaintively, her red hair
shining in the warm light, her pale cheeks showing two spots of bright
color. "I think I said to you then all I could say. I do appreciate the
honor of your believing that you care for me, although I think you will
soon find out your mistake. You will see then as plainly as I do now
that we are not suited to each other. I told you I did not wish to marry
any one. I know it seems ridiculous and perhaps wicked to you that I
should prefer to learn folk dancing as a profession rather than to
continue as a nurse. But people cannot always understand each other's
dreams and desires and I only undertook the Red Cross nursing because I
wanted to help nurse our soldiers, not because I wanted to be a nurse
always. But Ruth Carroll believes as you do and never intends giving up
her work, not unless she marries which I hope she may some day. She is
so splendid and restful, just the kind of girl I should think an
ambitious man would care for. She would be such a pillar of strength.
Alas, that I shall never be to any one, not even to myself I am
afraid!" Thea ended. Then she put out her hand.
"Don't let us argue on this lovely day, Dr. Raymond, just shake hands
with me, and let us wish each other good luck."
Under the circumstances, since there was nothing else to do and also
because he was partly convinced of the truth of Thea's speech, Dr.
Raymond agreed with her request. A few moments later, climbing up the
hill, they rejoined the other guests.
From the ground, smiling up at her in a teasing fashion usual in their
relation to each other, Carlo at the same time was saying to Bianca
Zoli:
"Sure you are not especially glad to be going home, Bianca, chiefly
because I am so soon to follow you? I've an idea you would be very
unhappy if we were parting for any length of time. Nicht war?"
Bianca shook her head, smiling and at the same time frowning.
"Under those circumstances, I should simply have tried to bear my
departure bravely, Carlo, as one who has been through a good many
experiences as a Red Cross girl in time of war. But don't speak German
even in fun. Some day I may learn to dislike the language less, but not
at present. Moreover, I do not look forward to seeing a great deal of
Mr. Carlo Navara even if we are both again to be in the United States.
You will be very busy with your career and will probably soon be a more
famous person than you were before you entered the United States army,
while I, well I shall work hard in my way, although I shall continue to
remain an obscure person."
"I don't know, Bianca, suppose some day you condescended to marry me.
Wouldn't you like to share my fame?"
Bianca shook her head.
"I think not, Carlo. Besides, you must not say things of that kind to
me. You know Sonya would be angry."
Carlo looked a little annoyed, then laughed.
Since her illness it seemed to him that Bianca had changed in some
subtle fashion. One was no longer so sure of getting the best of her in
an argument.
Besides, after all, would it be so unpleasant to share one's future with
Bianca? She looked oddly pretty and ethereal high up in the branches of
the tree where he had lifted her a few moments before.
But at this moment there could be no further discussion between them, a
message arriving from Sonya saying that she wished Bianca to come and
assist her in pouring tea.
After he helped her down to the ground, Carlo made Bianca pause for a
moment while he pointed across the river.
"See that curious effect, Bianca! There is a rainbow over the Rhine. It
comes sometimes in the late afternoon light even when there has been no
storm. Let us hope the world will find peace at the end of the rainbow,
and more especially Germany. I won't come with you now, as I hate having
to serve tea. Ask some of your soldier friends who are cleverer at it
than I. I want to watch the sunset on the Rhine."
And Carlo and Bianca parted for a short time, yet thereafter many
experiences and a number of years were to roll between them before
Carlo and Bianca at last found happiness in each other.
At the same time Major Hersey and Charlotta were observing the curious
effect of light over the river.
They had gone together to the edge of one of the cliffs and were gazing
across at the great fortress of Ehrenbreitstein from whose tower the
stars and stripes were floating. To them the rainbow seemed to dip down
into the depth of this ancient fortress and lose itself in the shadows.
"Whenever I am homesick to return to my own country, Countess Charlotta,
I simply stare across at the flag on that old German fortress and think
what it represents," Major Hersey declared. "Then I am content to remain
in Germany for as long as I am needed. A little thing, isn't it, to give
a few months, or a few years, or whatever length of time may be
necessary to teach Germany her lesson, when so many other men have given
their lives that our flag be the flag of victory and a just peace!"
The young girl's face softened.
"I think you are a good soldier, Major Hersey. There is something I want
to confide to you. I did write my father as you suggested and told him I
would come home if he wished, only he must allow me to keep my freedom.
His answer was what I expected. He does not desire to see me at present
and says I am free to travel in the United States if I like. Only he
adds that when I have seen more of the world perhaps I shall be more
content to do my duty to my father. Not very clear, but I think I
understand. My father really wishes to become reconciled with me, only
not to seem to give in too readily. So I shall return home in a few
months perhaps. Then if you are still in Coblenz and I write you, won't
you come to Luxemburg? We have been such good friends and I hate saying
goodby forever to people I like."
Major Jimmie Hersey shook his head, his brown eyes were steady and
although the old boyish color had diffused his face, there was the firm
line about his mouth and chin which his soldiers knew and respected.
"No, Countess Charlotta, I shall not come to see you in Luxemburg or
elsewhere and this must be our goodby. I have no idea of leaving the
United States army so long as I am allowed to remain in it. This means I
will have nothing to offer you in the future, save what I have now, I
believe you understand."
The Countess Charlotta nodded.
"Yes, I understand. Goodby, yet nevertheless I shall look forward to our
meeting again."
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.
Page 35, "amunition" changed to "ammunition" (long road ammunition)
Page 76, "occured" changed to "occurred" (must have occurred)
Page 88, "Sherin" changed to "Scherin" (Scherin dropped back)
Page 138, "that" changed to "than" (older than she was)
Page 143, "windoes" changed to "windows" (windows one could)
Page 151, "refuse" changed to "refused" (parents refused to pay)
Page 153, "her's" changed to "hers" (hand in hers)
Page 153, "Hacket" changed to "Hackett" (Donald Hackett went over)
Page 166, "goodbye" changed to "goodby" to match rest of usage (when we
said goodby)
Page 167, "embarassing" changed to "embarrassaing" (asked no
embarrassing)
Page 173, "noticably" changed to "noticeably" (noticeably pink)
Page 174, "Faulein" changed to "Fraulein" (to bring Fraulein Jamison)
Page 179, "aggreeable" changed to "agreeable" (could not be agreeable)
Page 190, "embarass" changed to "embarrass" (embarrass the American)
Page 196, "prefering" changed to "preferring" (the interior, preferring)
Page 199, "Sherin's" changed to "Scherin's" (what the Count Scherin's)
Page 258, "Thronton" changed to "Thornton" (and to Mildred Thornton)
Page 260, "states" changed to "States" (back to the States)