Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-01-02

DHD moaoeenous whir.whir Of the
sewing ssAaAine that had been
the only oosNd In tho little room
stopped suddenly, and Nan Aarraby
leaned her elbows On the table before
her 90 ran her 2sseers through her
rough hAir WITH . weary gesture.
Esd up. fed an ed upr' she said
iercaay. Then aE 1t once she
laughed. looking o~~csa At the girl
who 81 h . now CHAIR By tho fre,
with . eewspanee spread on her
knees.
Nan watsAed her for Q moment In
silence, . uttle erown bending her
level bcows; then she said gently:
Leave that old casualty list clone,
lear. What - tho good Of worrying
yOu1ee&. when you know quite well
hat Tn = al right. It's no Use
,rossinG IN imaginary bridge before
YOU como 70 It." She pushed back
her chair. and. rising, went over TO
her erisnd and. STOPPING. drew the
newspapse gently away from her.
II don't believe tn meeting trouble
inore than halfway. she said brisk.
~. "Heavenal what . sight lbokr'
Why In the world didn't q kind
Provtdeace present mo With q sleek
head tike yoars1's 90 dsmanded. She
glanced down at tho smooth. fair
hair of The CHI hest6a hse-vith envy.
don't bsaisve 3ou're pAying the
east attention" she complained az.
srievsdly.
Joan Enaaceee raised Der eyes. II
was pereeetlV sveosat that stse bad
not been cs1e0An9.
There ars only three casualties In
,he-the Niddlssex today" she said.
TIVE wounded end one nninsing. Oh.
Man." ~
Il absolutely decline % Aiscuss tho
ryar.' Nan broke tn. CURLY. though
her syeG were very tender. FOR
heavens saks lets pretand To be
: ',eerful. even ie we're not! Eaand
rs almost finished
She took Joan's hand. draSgtng
der to her feet.
L should never smile At all II It
yasn't for you," Joan said And
hen she added:
From all accounts Peter must be
wonderful man"
Nan laughed.
lie ian,t--not q little bit! don't
,uppose you'd even call him good
qoking. He's big-if you like a big
'''st struck me about him were his
yes and the size Of his boots" She
ghed again, q tender little laugh
.. "reminiscences, as she thought OF
- day when she had first met Peter
Lyster: Of the queer feeling that had
''rncd 70 shoot through every vein
ner body: OF tho way that-for nc
.rthly reason at all--she had tci
'le color rising In her face as shs
* the whimsical smile In his gre.
yes.
1t was not often Nan allowed he,
ioughts to stray like this; she real
ed how necessary 1t was to keep &
IN hand on herself during these
rs. for her own sake and also 20
l,e girl with whom she was sha RIM
o"mes--the poor little wife OF tive
-.sYpy years. who was wearing her
ia.t to shadow for the sake OF {
IN with q Jolly laugh and hear
- lion, who was facing dealt
r'Jndreds OF times q day out II
.';ance.
Ana It he'd been to Nan tina
!, able had come figst.
Peter Lystac had been wounded
Sr.ous,y. Afterwards better new
lowed. and Nan drew q breath o
ri,.cl and the strained look ie2S he
little. till now when she knew
at he was out Of danger and com
.as home.
II 1t had been me I should hav
gone to France IL I had had to wall
very step OF the way and swim tn
Channel" Joan said after a momen,
her thoughts still with that fatefu
night when the yellow envelope ha
been put into Mans hands.
Nan made q grimace.
All. but then you're Tins wife.
che said ruefully. And tho Wa
Office don't recognize q sweethea q
the Same, way. suppose It's q
''Sht, but :" She shrugged he
ehonlders. "Anywa-. shall see hir
lER