Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-02
Chapter ~.

1naptSr ~.
y week has passed. aud Vera is
fresh In the bloom OF girlhood She
soon recovered from her shock and
has gotten back her original bloom
OF beauty.
The woman who had befricndcd
her. she found cut her name was
AIRS. Luther Robertson. :. rich Amcri-
can woman. living in New York. who
had come TO France To take UP nurs-
ing.
The loss of her father was not
mentioned between them. but every
night long would Vera sit by her
window. with his picture in her
hand. rccollccting every line in his
dear face and dreaming Of him.
The camp was situated on great
opcn space. The tent was very big.
with every comfort Imaginable in 1t.
In cold weather every one would
20 into the large room they mad for
a living room. and cheer each other
up by the stories they told to each
other. and the warmth of the fire In
til" fireplace.
Sometimes Vera would forge, her
father. and was the living angel of
the invalids In the camp.
Her nimhie hands worked soft.
d"wny sofa pillows for them. aud she
iltu' lntiN lnlSk IUr coats nnL hlan-
kcts for the winter.
Ever one ~ camp loved her. She
brought sunshine into their lie and
heart. comforting the eic,> aud sooth-
INK the dying.
ON" old soldier. who was expect
ing To die OF a shrapnel wound. was
brought back To- life by Vera.
He was formerly hroodins and
less. never giving thought 10 his
life, till little Vera came. The day
after she came he was in the large
bedroom muttcrinG, when Vera
walked in. Ills eyes were blurred on
account OF slccplcGs nights. and h.
though; he saw II little angel. with
long. flowing curls. tripping lightly
ON the ground. coming to see him.
He felt Il cool. soft little hand laid
on his forehead and n small. little
voice crooncd to him II sweet lullaby.
The nurses pe"p"d In. but drew
hack instantly. some with tears in
their eyes. for expecting Ia see Il
dark, unsmiling face on the pillow
they saw a dear old man with a
smile on his face. And near him
stood Vera. her blue eyes fitted
dr"amily upward her voice uncon-
*ciuuSly soaring higher ana higher.
Sh" kept on UNDECIDED, and many an
old. dishcartcu"i soul felt chccrci
as they listened To N"ra'S sweet voice.
When Vera finally emerged from
the sick ro"m. tears we're in her
eyes She went TO her room. aud
wondered what her daddy was doing
was hG~ thinking Of her? How often
had she longcd for his strong arms
around her. To again sit ON his knee.
and listen, wid"-cycd Ia his tales OF
the sea ana land
That might sh" fell asleep. la dream
that she saw her father in Siberia
hut he was not the same father she
had parted with. for his face was
ont-Up. and he looked like Il crazy
tram'I and worst O! ALL he no longer
loved her.
liz came With sharp knife to
XIII h"r and sh" screamed aloud.
waking. 10 50" Mr.. Robertson press
ing cold cloths or her hot fnrhcrd.
all the while murnurinE soothing
words so her
Save M" mother" she said clasp
ing Ecr so't hands around the WOO
mans neck MI OF her rirl-lihc
craving for love swept oyer her like
knife. Ana then she realized that
she loved this woman. IN, quiet
mothcrly woman who was 81 Kind
Then she told Mrs Robertson h"r
dream. but IL met with a laugh. and
the woman. looking softly at Ncra's
face. whispered:
Vera. dear. bad dreams have dis
turbcd your peace. our daddy could
never be like that; ne IS So noble.
so good, that no amount OF suffering
could change him" Nud she gath
cred Vera Ia her strong arms saying
as she did so: Vera YOU do not
know how I've grown To love YOU
Forget your father and mother aud
let me be both TO YOU WIZ y"G.
can YOU
Il love you TOO" Vera said sweet
~. mo ono could rca!st YOU, FOR YOU
are :" sweet. so good
THANK YOU dear. Shall | tcll vow
my history: Mrs. Robertson asked,
and maybe We can make some plans
for where you can So.''
So. as Vera nodded assent, she told