The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-05-02

| ~"~oNiaAS oAo d Gull mon cause, out
by strange paradox this bitterness
excluded every stained and bloody
blue uniform or haggard northern face
Out of the fight, these were ever out of
the sweep OF southern woman's ven
geance. Upon the suffering prisoners
Frances delighted to lavish the tender
ness OF her nature, now broadened and
deepened by its own ministry; and
something touchingly human carried
her among them, although she was not
conscious of it.
For this had come to pass: within
the heart OF Frances Brookin there
lived fiction. the Richard! Somers OF
her girlish dreams: Richard somers as
She had seen him face to face one night
under the burning match, his voice
ringing strong and true and tender
upon her hearing. Before him, shut
ting him into the sanctity of her room,
she had dropped veil of iridescent
gossamer, and within that room. seen
only through the veil, the man lived
and reigned and had his kingdom.
Through this veil, too, stirred by the
breath of the suffering and the dying
OF his own country, he spoke gently,
tenderly to her in the lonely hours OF
her vigils. The other Richard had
been dismissed, not harshly or hastily,
not in anger, but sadly-a man un-
worthy; man at war with the truth
and nobleness of her nature and at war
with her people. No one knows how
such tictlons come about, but the
hearts OF. most women carry them.
And time had helped Frances, for
looking back she re-esta blished many
vital facts that lessened the sadness of
memory; the man must once have been
noble-hls deeds of mercy and gentle
ness proved that; innately noble he
must have been when she met him. for
IN the face OF great temptation he
had kept his promise to his friend. even
to the extent of shutting his eyes
against the girl whose arms had been
about him. whose lips breathed love for
him. And somewhere, despite all the
| trlckery, there was still nobility. for
silently he had ridden away, faithful
to his friend. He had lain under her
hands wounded by the pistol shot, and
no woman ever hated helpless, suffer-
ing man. AS for his receptions, his
plots, some fearful necessity must have
compelled him. The other woman?
She had been too base for him-she had
| been at heart a murderess. She it was
who had dragged him down. And was
ne not caring for the child? Frances
| would not have admitted it to herself
had she realized it, but in the depths
OF that heart she had forgiven Richard
Somers. Her heart was big enough to
hold him and all his weakness. Was
there a loss of something from her ma
| ture? Or was there gain?
No message had ever come to her
from Somers, no good or evil report.
None? Yes, just a scrap soon after the
war began. From some one, Brodnar,
probably since his name was upon it,
she had received a northern paper Civ
ing in its war gossip information that
Richard Somers had been reinstated in
the army and promoted to be captain
of artillery.
But one day early in the spring of
1862, when the great federal movement
against Richmond was beginning and
when every train was bringing in
bloody harvest, she leaned above a
wounded enemy. The question so often
asked, ITO what command do you be-
long?' drew forth an answer that
filled her with excitement. She felt
her heart begin to beat madly and her
limbs yielding to sudden excitement
Your captain! What is his name?''
Richard Somers, miss" How
strangely thrilling sounded the name
that morning! 1t was the first time
she had heard it spoken since its bear
err had said among the Pickering shad-
oWs of her room: IF to carry in men,
DRY the living record of one face will
help you, take mine, and with it. right
or wrong, the love Of Richard Somers."
The scene, never dimmed in ali the
months that had passed. stood forth
again, illumined like some strong pic
ture under the swift magic of the light
ming. The wounded man saw in her
face the glow Of it's reflection. Tri-
umph shone in her eloquent eyes,
sudden agitation locked the soft white
hands.
DO you know him, miss?''
Il? Yes, yes! Is he well-is he safe o.
The man read more than she suspected,
and turned his eyes away embarrassed
He was singularly helpless from his
wounds, and she had his face at her
mercy. Her woman's instinct dis
cerned his thought; her lips moved
without sound, but her soul was in the
appealing look riveted upon him.
Il think-not," he said, reluctantly,
at last. In fact, I know that he's
wounded"
'Dead!-you meant" she gasped in
the struggle to conceal her anguish.
mo, miss-not exactly that; but bad
~ wounded-very badly, I am afraid''
Where is hep" She made ne effort
then to conceal the truth She was on
her knees, her eyes close to his. I'm
Gods name, my friend, tell me-tell
me all! Can't you see? can't you see?'