Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17

had been crushed out of his manhood
seemed to have revived under the
magic of a subtle tone, an indescriba-
BILE, indefinable echo. 1t was a resur-
rection of something that had died
hard within him.
"You do not like my singing" she
said, disappointed, when, waiting for
his praise, she found him silent and
thoughtful.
your singing? Yes. But a MEM
ory! 60 to sleep now. Make yourself
comfortable and leave me to keep
watch. Yet stay; will you not sing
over those lines again? To me they
are inexpressibly beautiful"
Standing In the doorway of her
dressing room, she sang the verso
through again softly without accom-
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, and
then passed thoughtfully within.
When she came forth. arrayed in her
wrapper, she paused beside him, puz-
xled over his change of mood.
Il am afraid you are going to be
lonely" she said.
Sleep, my child, sleep; / shall not
be lonely-knowing you are there"
Perhaps 1 am keeping you awaken"
Yes That is it; you are keeping
me awakei"
We'll, L am holding out my hands
and saying good night" she said.
de found and pressed his lips upon
them. He held them SO tightly and
trembled so violently she bent down
over him confused. One of her curls.
loosened, dropped upon his neck, and
another across his cheek. The mingled
odor of her hair and the rose filed
him with strange intoxication.
Il am -orry if / have distressed you
In any way" she said; you have been
kind, oh, so kind to me. Good night"
he still held her hands, his face
bowed upon them, his form shaking
with strange emotion. Good night"
she said again. IF / do fall asleep
and you are lonely-oh, sir, you hurt
my hands"
Good night" he whispered, hoarse-
Iy recovering himself and releasing
them. She crossed the room, and he
saw her, dimly, standing by the bed,
as though in doubt. And then she
sank softly to her knees and laid her
head upon her arms, child-wise, in
prayer. He arose and stood until he
saw her head lifted.
Wait" he said, earnestly; "will you
not pray also for me?"
Il have prayed for you already" she
answered.
'Will you tell me the prayer?''
"Some time, perhaps, when it has
been answered"
He thought then that she had fallen
asleep, but after awhile she spoke
again.
Twill you let me ask you question
of yourself again?''
Yes, if you wish"
DIR. Brodnar said that YOU had
never had but one ambition in life,
and that you had been disappointed.
What did he mean?'
ST once had ambition to be n great
soldier. That is ALL"
Were you ever soldier?"
Yes, an officer in the regular
army"
"And nowP"
81 am a wanderer. A gentleman
only"
''Why did you leave the army?,
Il struck my superior officer. They
heard my defense and-let me resign"
"And the other-what became of
him %
HE cheated at cards, was publicly
insulted-and cashiered."
why did you strike him?"
rs this asking "a question:"
"Oh, forgive mel Good night"
1T is very short" he said, repent-
antly. There was a woman in the
case; the card incident was but a pre-
text" A low cry escaped the girl.
Then she said, half rising:
"You loved her?"
Eyes" He heard her sink SLOWLY
back upon her pillow. AZ thought so.
at least-until now. 1 was mistaken
in her; my pride was wounded" He
arose and paced the room.
Tell me of her, please?''
"She lived not far from Washington
with relative, her parents both
dead. She had some means of her
own and frequently came into the
city, where she had friends. We met,
and 1 believed in her; but this officer
came between us. She thought him
rich, and l was deserted for him. She
belonged to that class of women who
esteem wealth the foremost object of
life, women who go deliberately to
men they, do not, cannot love, or even
respect, and say in effect: Here, we
have beauty, youth, freshness, for sale.
Take us, dress us, give us Jewels and
fine clothes to wear, carriages to ride
in; give us a chance to command the
homage of men, and all that we have
is yours Watch for them upon your
streets; all men know them at SIGHT.
God, but they pay at lasti Look in
when the excitement has passed and
see upon their faces the frozen de-
spair; see in the heaviness of their
step the weight of dead youth, and
in their eyes eternal hopelessness.
Child, child, be not deceived; love is
the only gold that pays woman.
Shun them, these wretched advertise
ments of dishonor. Let no man come
int o the holiness Of vCr. lifa -