Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-12

| fightcr as he WIS a nurse promotion
would fo,,ow; then he came less often.
Twice before size had been unable to
resist the temptation to touch the raw
| place; once she had asked him directly
how it was that man could keep out of
war in which other men were win
ming fame; and once, in reply to his
question: will you ever like me,
Frances?" she said: "a Virginia
woman should not be expected to like
civilians overmuch when Virginia soil
is invaded At length, to avoid him,
she gave more of her time to the hos
pital, yielding the care of those in the
home to her stepmother and the
(, trained nurses. Mrs. Brookin won
golden opinions in those days. A week
seldom passed without the appearance
of her name in print coupled with Law
ish commentator.
DR.. Brodnar, busy every hour of the
twenty-four in which his giant
strength could sustain him awake, had
but little time to spare for Frances;
but one day in the hospital he got a
brief report of the girls new expert
ence.
IF had not discovered that am
better at saving OFF legs than fighting
sohsming women, my child, l should
say that you have never been in so
much danger as now; but have re-
tired as an adviser Of young women.
BY the way. have you decided that you
will come out and keep US company at
home? My wife sends an invitation not
less than once week"
mo" she said, "lt would seem like
running. But tell Mrs. Brodnar am
very grateful for her kindness"
"lAll right. Come when you please;
and, Frances, cali fas q tool as often as
you wish, but bs eateful What you eat
IN your stepWothsf's house-and take
DO med.6ine thefsl How have you sat-
.aaed them abeYt the night when a
frlehd 81 ours got his wound9"
afhty have newer been satisfied, ]
think. They tell me am full of
*hinas, and perhaps they class that
ndght among them. You have not
heard"
"Not word. Good-by!" DR.. Brod-
mar in the brief meetings with Frances
would never discuss Somers. 1t is
likely that his friends choice of sides
had been an immense disappointment.
Frances was bound to receive Brod-
mars hint unfavorabiy when she con-
sidered the new and continued kind
ness of her stepmother. Often the lat
ter said:
When it is all over, my child, this
cruel war, these scenes of suffering.
we will take our trunks and go abroad
somewhere for year of rest" The
idea seemed to be favorite one with
her; she told all of her acquaintances
| that she and poor dear Frances"
were going abroad as soon as hostili-
| ties closed; that the child was simply
| worked down. And in the face of this
tender solictude and the old lady's de-
votion to confederate sufferers, peo-
pie shook their heads and ackpowl-
edged that one should not always be-
lieve the unkind things whispered of a
| neighbor. From the isolation of a sus-
pected person, in year Mrs. Brookin
achieved immense popularity and won
| the confidence of even the highest of
| ficiais, in whose home circles she was
as welcome as they were in hers. How
welcome they were might be estimated
from certain government records, if
the records were accessible and posi-
BILE of translation now.
Holbin had heard of Frances latest
whim. the union soldier. He had not
interested himself in the latter's well
fare, but he made his appearance in
the wingroom on the day after Louise
, had been pacitied, and. finding only
NANNY there with the wounded man,
he entered and engaged him in cheer
full conversation. He gave him the
latest news from the front, and sup
piled him with cigars. Responding to
these attentions, the soldier readily
told his story. When the name of Rich
ard Somers, his former enemy, was
reached. Holbin was vsibly excited.
Still, not for one instant did it occur
to him to connect the presence of the
wounded man in that room with the
fact that Somers was his captain; and
the soldier himself naturally took it
for granted that the cause of his pres
ence was well understood by all.
Frances found Holbin there, and
stood silently resentful upon the
threshold until he had explained his
visit.
II am told by the clerk in the de-
partment," he said that you had
secured pass for your protege, and l
was repentant that you had been
forced to ge there in person. / have
called now to offer my assistance.