Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1909-11-18
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE BROOKFIELD CASE.

nat the serious-faced young woman &
who acted as guide was the rich MISS is
NIoultaire. NJ
To Brookfield. wandering among the
ANTIQUES on the lower floor. lriha h
Nioultaire looked teacher conduCuhs
her fashionable charges on one OF 1nelI e
educational tours. To him 4
tbe snerv Of the girls was real and (,
che costly. tailored gown OF their SELF n
anpointed guide a simple and UMPIRE p
tentious garment. Q
This was the regular SATURDAY OuN-
ing OF the Settlement Club. and lrma
look great delight in plotting the girls I
TO the museums and galleries, Nnere I
she hoped real works OF art In time
would give them truer sense OF ar
tistic values.
r,erv week she planned something
for the girls. winding up with little
luncheon at her home. For the sake
81 the luncheon the girls endured the
art lectures; so both they and lrna
were happy.
They passed before a case contain
i ing an Aztec collection. The LABELS .
were on the opposite side OF the case
\ where BrOokfeld-who did not require
+ labels-was standing.
Antiquities were not Irma Moul-
I taire's forte, and when she innOcently
ascribed the collection TO the Egyptian
section. Brookfeld interrupted with
correction.
Miss Moultaire, seeing that enthu-
3 siasm and not desire 20 open hirta-
81 zion with her charges was his motive,
Z courteously acknowledged the corTec-
e ton. and Brookfeld. mounting his
hobby. rode IL hard and fast.
He had the trick of interesting his
hearers. and Miss Moultaire, finding
-frf- M Ia i .
~ lis little lecture thankfully retreated
q into the background.
g She. too. found the chat interesting.
y and was very sorry when the last case
= vas reached and they found them
dives az the foot OF the stairway lead
90. .u- to the art galleries
nj -Hero Ifs where I shall prove use
l- less DE said 90 Irma with smile.
b. thank yCu very much for letting me
o. run uu as you have. ] love the col
lection ] was One of the exploration
81 party that dug 30 up.'
ro -Ne should-aud do-thauk you.
ty ffsclaimed lrma. 81 ann sorry that ou
3d. schedule does not permit as NOR
time 4 should De glad 90 hear th
--- reStr
.. -Why note" DE suggested. 81 au
81. here almost every afternoon.
ga Irua slCCk her head. smulnEly, q
iu fle Itle party went mp the stalr'
his leaving Brookfeld looking after them
ee rut couple Of weeks later She loun
'H- herself iu the vicinity %. tne muscui
- and with a little spare time on he
81. hands.
,-- Brookheld was leaning over one
me cases which ara attendant Pa
.ly opened for him. hut at lrwa's approa'
BON he closed the case and hurried q
ne You did find time 10 come"
cried.
eve ID have half an hour 90 spare W
Net the smiling explanation. u thong
so YOU might De- here. I wanted to "a
rnt ,ou III YOU could give a lecture 20 q
lty. class GA the exploration work
-Nith pleasure. was the prom
answer. "If you viii give me tce
c dress and name the day, ] shall COZ
D. with pleasure.
p Irma named am evening and ga
the address Cf the settlement hou
m Then they looked over the collect
- and the girl maryeled az the Orea'
-y of his information.
- His specially was the AZtccs
knew the entire field and there "
81 "a genuine enthusiasm about T
~ Brookfeld which compelled reciprc
interest.
Almost before she realized f.
49,, closing time had come and she
.-I-b -uent two hours in his company.
- had sent away her carriage. Intend
4 b, 90 walk home from the museum,
con she permitted him 20 walk beside b
arm From taking an interest in Bro
iem- fields fad she was beginning 20
mart. IN interest in Tom Brookheld himi
loen' .la admired action, and tho
- Brookleld had only just passed %
u n had been a worker for half his ltet
: re- He had not become a monoma
n re- on his hobby. but he was good Ia
and though they met only at the
clement house or in the museuI
real friendship soon sprang up
TAY tween them. Irma had feeling
4 ~ 20 invite him 70 her home would
10 all. and his dense ignorance OF
al. - fashionable and afiiuent Miss y
~ az taire was not lifted.
4 the He believed her 20 be teach'
49,, a fashionable school who gave a
OF her time 10 settlement work,
they met on a plane OF equality
-U was refreshing.
'n One afternoon late in the 81
Brookneld came 20 meet the class
on 20 escort them 10 a private view
800 college collection. They had acc
ug in- some of his enthusiasm and he ha
lthln tanned private views Of many e
tions for them.
49, Today he came with beaming
"a ~ and all The afternoon his high 81
sSioner were apparent He detained
derived MoultaiTe for q moment
q over There Is something ! would J
i reiie' say" he pleaded May / walk
Es -, with you. or do you have TO e'