Nina Rhoades

“ Douaine made flying trips between Washington and the cottage by the sea. As Gretel’s strength returned her nerves grew calmer, and those weeks by the sea had been very restful and pleasant. It was only a week since they had returned to Washington, and Gretel, although improving a little each day, was still far from strong, and found lying in a steamer-chair under the trees more agreeable than any more active occupation. The very thought of tennis or long walks made her head ache, but she was very happy, and as she lay there, gazing out over the wide river, she smiled contentedly to herself. ”

“ Gretel’s sister-in-law answered, with so much decision that Geraldine’s face brightened perceptibly.
“I knew you didn’t,” she said in a tone of relief, “but it’s ever so comforting to hear you say it.”
“It is all a great mystery,” said Mrs. Douaine, sadly, “but of one thing Percy and I are absolutely certain, and that is that Gretel was not to blame in any way. She is as true as steel, and devoted to us all. Something terrible must have happened, but it was through no fault of hers.” ”

“ For had not Barbara gone to the station to meet Jerry and Geraldine, who were coming for their long promised visit to Washington?
It was all so quiet and peaceful; it seemed impossible to realize that only a few miles away the fate of nations was being discussed,311 and that in France guns were booming, and men dying by thousands every day. The American boys were fighting for their country, and to save civilization, and at that moment Gretel’s heart swelled with pride. She knew now, more than ever before in her life, what it meant to love one’s country. ”

“ My mother was an American, and I was born in New York.”
Fräulein began to cry again.
“You need not fly at me,” she sobbed. “Your father was a German.”
“I know he was,” said Gretel, unsteadily, “and he was one of the best men who ever lived. If he were alive now, I know he would not approve of the dreadful things the Germans have done. He was always kind and good to everybody.”
“So was my cousin Rudolph,” murmured Fräulein, “but when war comes what can one do? One must obey one’s superiors.” ”

“ Gretel’s tone was cordial, but she was conscious of a sudden sinking of her heart. She was glad to see her old friend, she told herself, of course she was very glad indeed, and yet—and yet—she could not help wishing Fräulein had not come quite so soon.
“How delightfully cool it is in here!” exclaimed the German woman, sinking wearily down upon the sofa. “The streets are like an oven. This American heat is frightful.” ”

“ Gretel and Geraldine looked rather grave, and Gretel said gently:
“It isn’t all just excitement and adventure, Jerry. Peter Grubb has been wounded. He has lost his left arm. His family only heard it this week, and poor Dora is so upset.”
A shadow crossed Jerry’s bright face.
“Poor chap,” he said, regretfully; “it’s pretty tough to lose an arm, but to lose a leg would be worse. Anyhow, he’s fought for his country, and that’s something.”
“Yes, it is something,” Gretel agreed, “and Peter is such a clever boy I am sure he will get on. But it is all very sad. I wish this dreadful war would end.” ”

“ With a sharp cry, Gretel started up. They must not think dreadful things about her. They must learn the truth. It was only a wicked newspaper story, of course, but how had people learned of her meeting with Fritz? Some one she knew must have seen them talking together, but she could not remember meeting any one that afternoon until she rejoined Mrs. Chester, and then there was Jimmy Fairfax. Could Jimmy have seen her talking with Fritz? Fritz certainly did look like a German, but if Jimmy had seen them together, why had he not questioned her about it? ”

“ Didn’t you like him, Gretel?”
“Very much, indeed,” responded Gretel, with a vivid recollection of the kind, understanding look Stephen Cranston had given her as he helped her out of the motor-boat.
“And the best of it is,” continued Molly, “Steve is just as nice as he looks. He takes after his mother. Wait till you see Aunt Dulcie.”
“She’s a widow, isn’t she?” inquired Geraldine, who had heard something of Molly’s literary aunt.
“Yes; Stephen is her only child. Her husband died when Steve was a little boy, and he and his mother are everything to each other. ”

“ We must not keep anything back that may prove a possible clue. Of course, it is possible that Gretel might have met some old German friend of her father’s, and not mentioned the fact to any one, but I don’t for a moment believe it had the slightest connection with what has happened.”
“I suppose we shall have to tell everything,” sighed Geraldine, “but I can’t bear to have people saying and thinking horrid things about Gretel.”
“My dear,” said Mrs. Douaine, gently, “when we know a thing to be untrue ourselves, why should we mind what foolish people may say? ”

“ The words were courteous, but the tone reminded Gretel of Ada Godfrey’s. She opened her lips to speak, but before she could utter a word Jerry’s clear treble had broken in on the conversation.
“Gretel isn’t any more German than you are, even if she has got a German name,” he declared. “She’s just as good an American as any of us; aren’t you, Gretel?” ”

“ Gretel smiled faintly as she dropped into the chair Stephen pushed forward for her, and, turning to Ada, asked what the lecture was about.
“I’m not delivering a lecture at all,” said Ada, rather crossly. “I was only saying something that every one knows. We were talking about spies, and Kitty said she wondered what a person would do who found out some one she knew was a suspicious character. I said of course a loyal American would inform at once. It’s the only thing to do in war time.” ”

“ I have a message from my niece, Anna Sieling.”
Gretel gave a little gasp of relief. It was only Fräulein, after all, not Fritz.
“Is Fräulein there?” she asked. “Does she want to speak to me?”
“She is here, but she cannot come to the telephone. She is very ill.”
“Very ill!” repeated Gretel, in a tone of real distress. “Oh, I am so sorry! Is there anything I can do for her?”
“If you could come to see her this afternoon? She is most anxious to see you. She is to undergo a serious operation, and fears she may never recover.”
“I’ll come, of course; I’ll come right away,” cried Gretel. ”

“ Otherwise, nothing will persuade me to believe the daughter of a German patriot would turn her back on the Fatherland in her hour of need. Listen, and I will try to explain the truth to you. Germany is fighting for her existence. She has been cheated, deceived—do you understand?”
Mr. Becker talked on steadily for the next ten minutes, but Gretel scarcely heard a word he said. Her eyes were on the clock, and her sole thought was of making her escape. Oh, why had she ever come here, even for Fräulein’s sake? Would that dreadful man never stop talking, and let her go home? ”

“ Marsh and her daughter, and Percy made everything so wonderful and beautiful for me. Now he is married to one of the dearest women in the world, and I am just as happy as I can be—or would be if it were not for this terrible war.”
“Oh, yes, the war; the war has changed many things,” said Fritz Lippheim, with a sigh. “I am sometimes glad to think the little Mother did not live to see these sad days. I suppose you are quite an American now.”
“Oh, yes,” said Gretel; “we are all good Americans, of course. ”

“ If you can’t be a gentleman, you had better go back to the rabbits.”
“Well, I like that!” cried Archie, indignantly. “You’re a nice one to scold me, after saying——”
“Archie Davenport, stop this very minute. If you say another word I’ll tell Aunt Agnes, and you will be severely punished.” Ada’s cheeks were crimson, and she was looking decidedly uncomfortable.
“Don’t mind him, please, Ada,” pleaded Gretel. “It really isn’t worth while to let a boy like that spoil Molly’s tea-party. Let’s give him some cake, and perhaps it will keep him quiet.” ”

“ Did you ever see any one with such a long face as Fräulein has worn ever since war was declared?”
“I’m sorry for her,” said Molly, sympathetically. “She must hate to feel how everybody dislikes her country. I should have a long face, too, if I were in her place.”
“You wouldn’t if you were loyal to America,”36 declared Ada. “You would be glad your old country was getting what she deserved.”
“There are some good, loyal Germans in this country,” put in Angel. “Gretel knew ever so many when her father was alive, and some of them were lovely; weren’t they, Gretel?” ”

“ Cranston, holding her hand, as if finding comfort in the mere fact of being near one so kind and sensible as Stephen’s mother. Paul and Frank were sent to bed, but Jerry refused to go and sat on the steps at his twin sister’s feet, perhaps finding more comfort there than he would have cared to admit. Jerry was not a demonstrative boy, but he loved Geraldine better than any one else in the world, and Gretel also held a very warm place in his heart. Molly and Kitty whispered together in the hammock and Stephen and his aunt walked up and down the piazza, arm in arm. ”

“ How do you think you will enjoy spending a summer in Washington?”
“I shall love it, I am sure,” said Gretel, enthusiastically. “And, oh, Barbara, I want to do some war work, too. It seems as if every one ought to do something to help just a little.”
“Every one is doing something to help,”59 said Mrs. Douaine. “You have no idea what the women had done already. Two of my best friends have gone over to nurse in Paris hospitals, and three more have joined the woman’s motor corps, and are learning to drive ambulances. ”

“ There isn’t a soul in your family to go.”
“It wouldn’t make any difference if I had only one man relative in the world,” declared Ada, heroically. “I should be proud to send him to the war, even if I knew positively he would be killed the next month. We ought to glory in making sacrifices. Think what the English and French have done. My aunt, who is doing war work in England, says there is scarcely a family that hasn’t lost at least one member. Oh, I wish those horrid Germans were all——” Ada checked herself abruptly, for Miss Minton was still within hearing distance. ”

“ Aunt Dulcie is coming on the Boston train that gets here at half-past five. She’s been staying with Aunt Maud in Magnolia. I’ll tell Mother you’ll be ready to go with her,” and Molly hurried away.
“You really are a very broad-minded person, Gretel,” remarked Geraldine when Molly had left the room. “Things don’t seem to make you angry, as they do other people, and you always make allowances.”
“I often feel angry inside,” Gretel admitted, honestly, “but I try not to let people see it. After all, every one has a right to express an opinion, and it’s only natural Ada should hate the Germans.” ”

“ Gretel and Geraldine both laughed heartily, and Gretel declared Stephen might call her “Miss Pumpernickel” as often as he liked, because she was sure he didn’t mean anything unkind.
“It’s different when people say things in a disagreeable way,” she added, growing grave again.
“I know what you mean,” said Molly, understanding. “I think Ada Godfrey was perfectly disgusting the way she spoke to those girls yesterday afternoon, when we were over at her place playing tennis. It sounded as if she were apologizing for your name being German. Kitty and I both noticed it.” ”

“ Oh, Gretel, Gretel, it’s too dreadful!” And poor Geraldine broke down completely, and sobbed on Molly’s shoulder.
Mrs. Cranston left her sister and her son and put a protecting arm round the trembling girl.
“Don’t, dear,” she said, soothingly. “Things may not be as bad as you think; Gretel may soon be found. We must all try to have a little patience. Mr. Douaine and Mr. Chester are doing all they can.”
“Does any one know what happened?” Jimmy Fairfax asked Stephen, in a low voice.
“Nothing beyond the fact that Gretel went out alone early in the afternoon, and has not come home since. ”

“ Barlow was a pale, nervous little woman, and when Gretel and her sister-in-law arrived, she was in the midst of a long list of admonitions to the twins, who, truth to tell, were not paying very much attention to their mother’s warnings.
“You will be careful about bathing, won’t you, Jerry?” she pleaded, “and promise me not to swim out too far? I am so afraid of those motor-boats, too. I know the Chesters must have one, so many people do. I wish you would promise not to go in it, but I suppose there isn’t any use asking you to. Aren’t you afraid of motor-boats, Barbara?” ”

“ Do you think it’s wicked to want to dance in war time, Mrs. Cranston?”
“Not in the least,” Mrs. Cranston assured her, smilingly. “Young people should enjoy themselves while they can. Ah, here comes Steve. I was sure he would be looking for us.”
Stephen was looking for them, and so were Jimmy Fairfax and several other young sailors, whose acquaintance the girls had made since coming to New London, and in a very few minutes they had all made their way to the ballroom, and even Geraldine had been provided with a partner.
Gretel was fond of dancing, and moreover, she danced exceedingly well. ”

“ They would always believe it; not Percy and Barbara, perhaps, or even the Barlows, her oldest friends, but other people—Miss Minton, and the girls at school, and Mrs. Cranston and Stephen. It was Stephen who had vouched for her loyalty the day they went to visit the submarine base. She must get away somehow, and let them know she had not done that dreadful thing. She sprang to her feet, and beat against the door, with a wild, desperate hope of making some one hear. But the only sound she heard was Mr. Becker’s heavy tread coming down the hall. ”

“ If I had only one drop of German blood in my veins I should bow my head in shame.”
“It is pretty rough on Miss Gretel,” said Jimmy, “especially if she has German relatives. The Government is getting more severe on German-Americans every day.”
“Oh, Gretel hasn’t any German relatives; at least none in this country,” Ada explained. “You see, her mother was an American, and she lives with her half-brother, Mr. Douaine. He’s doing Government work in Washington, and Gretel is going there when she leaves here. I have heard her say she doesn’t even know any Germans except our teacher at school.” ”

“ The young lady was seen talking with a Boche—I mean a German—one day about a week before she was lost. It was in New London. Those Germans will stop at nothing that is wicked.”
Geraldine stamped her foot impatiently.
“That little wretch Archie Davenport made up the story,” she said, indignantly. “There isn’t a word of truth in it. Gretel didn’t know any Germans, and if one had spoken to her, she would have told me about it. We always tell each other everything. ”

“ That speech was delivered more than ten years ago, but I am convinced that Hermann never wavered in his love and allegiance to the Fatherland. I hope his daughter loves her country as well.”
“I hope I do,” said Gretel, blushing. “I would love to help my country, but there isn’t much a girl of my age can do, except knit for the soldiers, and make bandages and surgical dressings for the Red Cross.”
Mr. Becker’s face was fairly beaming at her across the table.
“You cannot be sure about that,” he said. “In these days there is work for all to do. No one is too young or too ignorant to help. ”

“ I don’t suppose any American approves of the dreadful things Germany has done, but we don’t think it necessary to be rude to every one who happens to have a German name. She’s got a boy cousin staying with her now, and Jerry and Paul say he’s an awful kid;152 spoiled to death, by his mother, and thinks he’s of more importance than anybody else, because his father was lost on the Lusitania.”
“Poor boy,” said Gretel, with a sigh; “I don’t blame him for hating the Germans. Oh, Geraldine, I think I realize more and more every day how horribly cruel war is!” ”

“ Mr. Douaine is out most of the time, working with the police, and she hardly sees any one. Those newspaper reporters keep calling up on the telephone about every hour, and Mrs. Douaine always answers them so patiently. Do go up and see her, Miss Geraldine. Maybe you can cheer her up a little.”
Leaving Eugenie in the hall with Dora, Geraldine hurried up-stairs to the library, where she and Gretel had spent so many pleasant hours together. Mrs. Douaine was writing at her desk, but on the visitor’s entrance she laid down her pen, and rose. ”

“ She knew that Percy was taking a much-needed holiday from the war office, and had been playing golf all the afternoon.
“Feeling pretty fit to-day, little girl?” Mr. Douaine asked, kindly, as he threw himself into the empty chair by Gretel’s side.
“Oh, yes,” his sister assured him, cheerfully. “I am ever so much stronger. I am sure I shall be able to go back to school the first of October.” ”

“ Some of the girls’ brothers are going, and it seems so dreadful. Ada Godfrey says we ought to be glad to give our fathers and brothers to the country, but Molly Chester says it’s easy for Ada to talk about giving up, when she hasn’t any one to give herself.”
60 Mrs. Douaine laughed.
“I am afraid that is the way with a good many people,” she said, “but I was willing to let Percy go, though the thought of parting from him almost broke my heart. It must be a wonderful thing to die for one’s country, Gretel.”
“I think I could die for my country if I were a man,” said Gretel, with kindling eyes. ”