Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-29

volved. In these meetings and the
presence OF great events she after
awhile learned, if not to like her stem
mother, at least to suspend Judgment
upon her; indeed, sometimes she had
been tempted to doubt the correct
ness OF her former Judgment for
when tho city began to be crowded
with wounded Mrs. Brookin threw
open her house to them and gave
much OF her time to their care. The
gentteness with which the elder wom-
an entered into this work, her gem
crosby and her universal courtesy
were bound to impress such a girl
rs Frances Once, as though yielding
to noble impulse, she placed her
arm about the girl and said:
MY child, you have surprised and
gratified me of late. II l had known
you years ago we should never have
been less than friends. Try to forget
the days when seemed unkind, please,
and do not cherish anger towards an
old woman" Frances tried to forget,
but always in the presence of Mrs.
Brookin She felt a constraint. She
seemed ever to have entered an atmos-
phere that had been stripped of its cleo
trlolty. Try as she might, it had been
impossible to respond unreservedly to
her advances; the best she could do
was to meet them with courtesy.
The presence of wounded men in the
house gave Raymond for a short time
an opportunity to see something of
Frances, and he, too, became a famous
nurse. But one day Frances assured
him that if he should prove as good a
lighter as he was a nurse promotion
would follow; then he came less often.
Twice before she 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
a 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.
DIR. 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
brief report of the girls new expert
ence.
"If I had not discovered that am
better at saving off legs than fighting
seheming women, my child, 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? Ny wife sends an invitation not
less than once a week"
"No," she said, cit would seem like
running. But tell Mrs. Brodnar am
very grateful for her kindness"
"All right. Come when you please;
you wish, but be careful what you eat
in your stepmother's house-and take
no medicine there, How have you sat
isfied them about the night when q
friend of ours got his wound?"
"They have never been satisfied,
think. They tell me am full OF
whims. and perhaps they class that
might among them. You have no,
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 uufavorab,y 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 acquaintance
that she and poor dear Frances"
We're going abroad rs soon as hostili-
ties closed; that the child was simply
worked down. And in the face of this
tender solicitude and the old lady's de-
votion to confederate sufferers, peo-
pie shook their heads and acknowl-
edged that one should not always be-
lieve the unldnd things whispered of a
neighbor. From the isolation of a sus-
pected person, in a year Mrs. Broolin
achieved immense popularity and won
the confidence of even the highest Of
ficials, in whose home circles she was
as welcome as they were in hers. How
welcome they were might be estimated
from certain government records, il
the records were accessible and posi-
bic of translation now.
Holbin had heard of Frances latest
within, the union soldier. He had not
interested himself in the latter'S well
fare, but he made his appearances in
the wingroom on the day after Louise
had been pacified, 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