She hurried to his desk with her second case which she
had kept outside in the corridor until the time to enter.
A young mother walked timidly in, smiling apologetically. She carried a
three-months-old baby in her arms. She was evidently not in mourning,
though her eyes were red from weeping.
"What's the matter now?" the President laughed, nodding to Betty.
"Tell him," she whispered.
"If you please, sir," the woman began timidly, "we ain't been married
but a little over a year. My husband has never seen the baby. He's in
the army. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I come down to Washington
to get a pass to take the baby to him. But they wouldn't let me have it.
I've been wandering 'round the streets all day crying till I met this
sweet young lady and she brought me to you, sir----"
The President turned to his secretary:
"Let's send her down!"
The Colonel smiled and shook his head:
"The strictest orders have been given to allow no more women to go to
the front----"
The big gentle hand stroked the shaggy beard.
"Well, I'll tell you what we can do," he cried joyfully, "give her
husband a leave of absence and let him come to see them here!"
The secretary left at once for the Adjutant General's office and the
President turned to the laughing young mother, who was trying to thank
Betty through her tears:
"And where are you stopping, Madam?"
"Nowhere yet, sir.
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