Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-15

Il was mistaken ! saw, honestly.
For 1 thought that the woman who
would retreat from her dying husbs nd
appealing to her with his heart in his
eyes, who would link an orphan girl
to ibertine, might easily pull trig-
ger to remove a lesser obstacle" The
woman rushed up TO him with hands
clenched.
"Scoundrel! III had the weapon
now L would prove your Judgment!
Out of my housei'' Dr. Brodnar smiled
wickedly.
Il was mistaken" he continued,
eoolly; 1.-The woman who shot this I'M
known gentleman lies, half delirious,
In room % at TIE Spotswood, and her
name is Louise. And, madam, / will
| do her full Justice; she erred in, her in
formation and her aim. For the man
she hoped to destroy was this liber-
! tine, cashiereds swindling, cheating
son of yours. Denounce me, but
breathe a word against the fame of
| Frances Brookin, and i shall go before
Richmond with my cause. Good even
! ing"
he bowed .kingly, and was turn
ing away W Ae portiere was flung
| violently l~s md Holbn rushed on
him from ehind. A keen knife in his
hand fash in the gas light and fell,
but once only. Maddened with the
pain and enraged at the cowardly at
tack, Brodnar lifted his assailant from
the floor and hurled him across the
room. He fell in a heap against the
wall, the knife rolling to the feet of
the frantic woman, To snatch it up
and throw herself upon the athlete
was an instant's action; but he was
impotent to harm him then. e seized
her wrists and turned the right one
slowly but remorselessly. Her pale
lips uttered no sound, but the long
white fingers relaxed at length under
the terrific ordeal and the knife fell
to the floor. Kicking it across the
room, he pushed the woman away, and
stepping outside the dor, closed it be-
hind him. He heard the furious ring
ing of the buffers bell, and soon be-
held William running clumsily
through the hall. He had opened the
front door, but the servant having
passed, he changed his mind, and hav-
ing slammed the door made his way
: down and back to the wing occupied
by Frances. She had retired, but arose
at once.
Bring your key and let me out at
the gate" he said, "and quickly" She
threw on her wrapper and wondering
ly obeyed. Il have found the other
woman in the case" he continued hur-
riedly as they traversed the garden.
"It is all very sad, my child, and too
late now to be remedied." He could
he irlf. ,
that there was room for any miscon-
struction of his statement; that her
, mind was occupied With Richard Som
. ers, as his had heen with Holbin.
Frances felt hough the blood was
freezing in b sins.
/, What wor 2" 49,, -
'rrbo ~ ala the .s,orinr,s
"Why-wha nat was her motive a'
e jealousy he replied, briefly.
1 What want 10 say to you is this:
e something has happened tonight that
s will prevent my returning here. You
t must come to see me occa sionally. and
!, always when needing advice or help.
In the meantime keep up your courage.
: Nobody can disturb the big fact in our
case. We have the law on our side. !
s shall explain IL all some time. And
: our wounded friend-you don't ask of
Z him-is better and impatient. He will
y leave Richmond tonight. Good by"
y "Oh, wait!" cried the girl in an
r guish. "The woman-where is she?"
q AT the Spotswood and ILL.," He felt
n the blood running from a stab in his
= shoulder down his arm, and, fearful OF
: the effect should the excited girl dis
S cover that he was wounded, he hurried
= away to his assistant. Frances waited
/ at the gate, her face in her hands. her
Y heart aching. With sudden and de-
spairing resolution she went back to
, her room
Quick, nanny, help me to dress;
! 1 must go to the hoteli"
1. Lord "a mussy. chile, what de mat
ter?"
= Help me, mammy-quicki Don't
{ ask any questions"
i Frances started away, wringing her
hands and sobbing, but in the crowded
4 streets, where men were cheering and
r cannon firing over the announcement
that Virginia had seeded, and thou
? sands of torch-lights blazed the way.
2 She grew firmer. The general excite
L
\ tached Importance to her visit. She
E | reached and entered the sick woman's
e room, and, motioning away the hired
D nudse, dropped upon her knees by the
j bedside. Louise, calmer under the OPT
ates administered by the doctor, re-
garded her as she might have one de-
, scended from the clouds. Something
5 like spasm of fear passed over her, for
I in the lovely face beside her she seemed
: to see the image of her own youth re-
: ! peated.
Who are you?" she asked, wildly.
? Your friend. Don't excite your
r self"
Your name? your name?"
Frances Brookinl And, oh, am so
: sorry for you, SO very sorry!" Louise
seemed to have heard only the name,
which she repeated softly, wonder
ingly.
| Frances Brookini And your father