And so, a week later, she went home, and came nervously to Ramsey’s mother and found how to direct the letter she wanted to write.  He was in France.

As the old phrase went, she poured out her heart.  It seems to apply to her letter.

She wrote: 

Don’t misunderstand me.  I felt that my bitter speech to you had driven you to take the step you did.  I felt that I had sent you to be killed, and that I ought to be killed for doing it, but I knew that you had other motives, too.  I knew, of course, that you thought of the country more than you did of me, or of any mad thing I would say—­but I thought that what I said might have been the prompting thing, the word that threw you into it so hastily and before you were ready, perhaps.  I dreaded to bear that terrible responsibility.  I hope you understand.

My great mistake has been—­I thought I sas so “logical”—­it’s been in my starting everything with a thought I’d never proven; that war is the worst thing, and all other evils were lesser.  I was wrong.  I was wrong, because war isn’t the worst evil.  Slavery is the worse evil, and now I want to tell you I have come to see that you are making war on those that make slavery.  Yes, you are fighting those that make both war and slavery, and you are right, and I humbly reverence and honour all of you who are in this right war.  I have come home to work in the Red Cross here; I work there all day, and all day I keep saying to myself—­but I really mean to you—­it’s what I pray, and oh, how I pray it:  “God be with you and grant you the victory!” For you must win and you will win.

Forgive me, oh, please—­and if you will, could you write to me?  I know you have things to do more important than “girls”—­but oh, couldn’t you, please?

This letter, which she had taken care not to dampen, as she wrote, went in slow course to the “American Expeditionary Forces in France,” and finally found him whom it patiently sought.  He delayed not long to answer, and in time she held in a shaking hand the pencilled missive he had sent her.

You forget all that comic talk about me enlisting because of your telling me to.  I’d written my father I was going at the first chance a month and a half before that day when you said it.  My mind was made up at the first time there was any talk of war, and you had about as much responsibility for my going as some little sparrow or something.  Of course I don’t mean I didn’t pay any attention to the different things you said, because I always did, and I used to worry over it because I was afraid some day it would get you in trouble, and I’m mighty glad you’ve cut it out.  That’s right; you be a regular girl now.  You always were one, and I knew it all right.  I’m not as scared to write to you as I was to talk to you, so I guess you know I was mighty tickled to get your letter.  It sounded blue, but I was glad to get it.  You bet I’ll write to you!  I don’t suppose you could have any