Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-11
I. u seful
/. Hints
| he NJ orning tory
'ONGS AND THE SOLDIERS.
ny dorothy Douglas.

IN f'H'u sniieO sOtIN 10 Neitel Nnlie
she labored over the task OF selecting
"a number OF songs preparatory to
sjourneyins across the ocean she was
going over 10 do her mite in the great
war crisis by singing at numerous
dement's and concerts and in the hos
p'tals for wounded soldiers and s0il-
ors.
The sorting process VAS diNlcult.
As the weli-worn songs turned up it
seemed in each case 20 be III. ono
song that Enid could no; leave behind.
Already the ones selected would I'LL
the tray % her stcamcr trunk and tho
music cabine; was only half empty.
~ want TO he I'm position TO sins
anything that May he called for, and
goodness knows what songs the poor
wounded bows viii not ask for"
II was not until she had reached the
lowest shelf OF he; music cabinet that
Enid found the old, old song that
Captain Cyril Rlahcr had given her.
rho irresponsible fasCins'ins Young
scnpegrccc Of Tie British army had
been In New York Just long enough 10
capture few foolishly feminine
hearts. TO borrow money from every
ono who Was uuwjse enough TO give
i, 10 him. and 10 disappear into fu
turci no less vague than the past from
which he had come
F,lII SlGnfi Lll'lS NlStiuIil q flt
reminiscertly. The image o. Captain
lilaker came clearly before her Ills
eyes we're a. blue as tho sea, and UNI
fortunatcly as restless his hair gold
as tho sun Itself
"Why. Oh why, are ali tho scape
Sraccs 80 blessed with charm" Enid
wondered rs she ga, among her scat
the gentle fattcry with which the
Young officer had presented this old
song. together wi.h two others OF less
Importance.
My mother used to sing this TO
me-" he had said softly. viii YOU. too.
sing It TO me- want TO hear YOU
now The effect OF the dainty homage
10 Enid came vivdly back 10 her as
she sat three years later looking over
the song. A nush crcpt into her cheeks
even as II had on that other day, and
Enid wondered II she would ever see
The naufrinr Young n"'er-do- we'll
again
II. as he had said ne was in reality
captain in the British army and had
gone through the Roer War, the
chances We're more than likely that
he would be seeing service q second
time. There was chance, il he chose
to take il. for him to redeem himself
on the field OF battle.
Enid nu, the heautiful little song
called Ruby into her ovcrburdcued
folio with hope that its donor would
find that salvation hcld out 10 so many
men in times OF war.
She realized that when she reached
London. Paris. or any other az The
cities In which she would he singing
her eyes would he constantly on the
alert. Perhaps among the thousands
of khakiclad figures she would see
Captain Rlaker. She was curously,
and without much reason. Interested
in tho career OF the handsome, ire
sponsible officer
Enid had nnver contemplated tho
frightful ordeal il would he TO sing
for the entertainment OF those wound
adj soldiers who had returned from The
battlefield manned and suffering from
tho horrors OF war. The fact that they
smiled SO bra"ely while trying to con
time the light brought Il sickening
wave Of emotion over Enid She had not
reckoned on the vast control she would
be compelled 70 exercise If she were
10 cling happily before those pain
rscked men AND fus 4 sunbeam in
their midst. II N:s her duty TO cheer
them and not 20 cxhibi, any seusc Of
her oun suffering ~ sight OF them.
Enid swallowed hard 10 Dut down
the lump in her throat and burst into
song Perhaps she had never sung so
we'll II her life The emoiiors and
warm t'rh-e ~ Ne- voice were as
sured!y ,rebled ~ tie ihrchb!nc sym
partly uitNiu hcr oan breast, and she
gave unto ihcSe vou-ded men all ,ha,
ser soul possessed 20 give She Lad
ihe jog - seeing 2 snail" u content
mcnt o. ,orsc,fuluess settle softly on
the faces ~ her listeners
Tnc nnr., had hecu brought into 'h.
big sun rat,o. - IN" hosmtal som.
carried 81 on s;rctc!iers others in
chairs. and some Of them could linn
in on the arms OF their nurses Enid
her musical career, 10 s!nG before so
completely wrecked AT ASSEMBLE OF
living men War, IN ali It's ghas,ly
tragedy, vas funE before her vision.
and she prayed that her strength
might last out long enough TO st!ll
more OF that human suffering
She was standing quietly after a
storm OF applause when one o, the
nurses approached the platform.
Have you, by any chance. song
called Ruby the nUree asked Enid
one Of my patients IL longing for ii"
Enid smiled and glanced swiftly
over III" mass ot up,urned faces
1T is not n very cheerful gong she
said. But ! will be glad 10 siup il
Her hurried glance had failed 10 ma
familiar golden head that somehow
she had expected with tho request FOR
the song. Her accompanis, lcf, ,h~
platform. and Enid sat down at me-.
piano and PLAYED the daint> ripping
melody
In So "a as she could watch ner
audience Enid watched :or ono SOL
der among them who was NOR. than
interested IN The song. she was curl
Gus 10 sse WHO II was that was ia
miliar with the old time tavorit-
When she had finished The lnelan-
choly hu, eXQuisitely lovely song.
there vas silence ~ tic room In the
far corner a man 50 wound with ban
dages as to be unrecoeui2ablo. vas
leaning forwari. Enid fclt instiuct
lively that he was tho soldier who lad
asked for The song. ana shc determined
10 seek him out after she had sun.
cheering. rousing and stimulating air
that brought au immediate burst %,
applause.
But when she had finished. The officer
who had been leaning forward had
been wheeled away. Enid searched for
the nurse who had spokeu With her.
but she. too, had disappeared
Out In the corridor Enid vas s,oDn.d
by one Of The surgeon.
Il am going 10 hold YOU rcspora,hl4
for the sudden desire on IA. ,art Of
one OF my patients 20 live