'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