being one of the youngest majors in the United
States army, and to his own regret was not only less than twenty-five
years old but looked even younger.

"I am so awfully glad to see you, Mrs. Clark," he began, blushing
furiously without apparent reason, as he spoke, which was an
uncomfortable habit.

"I want you to congratulate me. We have just had a telephone message
from headquarters saying that we are to form a part of the first big
unit of the American army occupational force. We are to begin to move
toward Germany at half past five o'clock Sunday morning, and I am
tremendously pleased. Our orders are to march two days and rest three
and our troops will move on a front of fifty miles for two weeks when we
expect to reach the Rhine. But forgive my enthusiasm, Mrs. Clark. You
are the first person to whom I have told the good news. Even the men
don't know yet. You'll say hurrah with me." Major Hersey ended boyishly,
forgetting military etiquette in his enthusiasm. He had a round,
youthful face, curly light brown hair and eyes of nearly the same shade.

Later, when Sonya had offered her congratulations, insisting, however,
that she was not surprised by the news if military accomplishment had
been considered, she and Major Hersey led the way into the American camp
in the neighborhood of Chateau-Thierry followed by the six American
girls.

Half an hour afterwards the same information had been disseminated
throughout the camp. Lieutenant-Colonel Townsend had also arrived to
award the citations and the Distinguished Service Crosses to the
officers and soldiers who had merited the distinction.

Never were Sonya Clark and the six Red Cross nurses to forget this,
their last picture of an American camp in France before the great
movement of the victorious army toward the Rhine.

The clouds of the earlier afternoon had grown heavier and more snow was
falling in larger flakes, so that the earth was covered with a thin
white carpet.

A cold wind was blowing across the winter fields.

The American soldiers stood in long, even lines, erect, rugged and
efficient.

Sonya and her group of Red Cross nurses managed to protect themselves a
little from the cold by standing behind a group of officers and near one
of the officer's tents, not far from Lieutenant-Colonel Townsend and
Major Hersey. They were the only women in the camp at the present time.

Therefore the only feminine applause emanated from them when the first
youn