The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-10

and went to the Farringford last
night. Picture to yourself my aston.
ishment on seeing you. BY jingo, you
make rafting good actress, Frances
! waited for the end of the show, and
followed you home, determining to call
upon You the next day, and here am.
Kiss me-"
"Don't come near mel" she exclaimed,
shrinking from him.
"No mock heroics-we are not acting
now-sit down, and I'll tell you all my
adventures since left you. As you are
aware, was convicted, and received a
light sentence of three years for that
little piece of forgery. l served it out
like a man, and crossed the ocean to
America. found the country plunged
in civil war; / enlisted in the Federal
army under the assumed name of
George Graham, as my letter informed
you, and after the battle of Chancel-
louisville my name appeared on the dead
list. Did you not see it?"
EYES,"
ut was incorrect. 1 was taken pris-
oner by the Confederates, and. being
cosmopolitan in my tastes, became an
ardent supporter of the lost cause.
After leading q somewhat nomadic and
checkered existence, have turned up
all right ready to claim my wife and
commence life anew" a mrt
"You have no claim upon me. 1 was
but girl of Is when we were
married. l eloped from my boarding
school with you, and it broke a fond
mothers heart to see her darling we'd
ded to villain. For you / forsook
home, friends and brilliant career.
How did you repay all these sacrifices?
Ere your love VOWS were cold You base
ly fled and left me all alone, unprotcct.
ed and friendless. Shall 1 ever forget
that unmanly act? Not while breath
of life remains with me. / was too
proud to make my wants known to my
father, who would have succored me
willingly. must have means of liveli-
hood, so adopted the stage more from
necessity than conviction, and it was a
good friend to me when starvation
stared me in the face. 1 thought we
should never meet again upon this
earth, but Heaven has decreed it other
wise. Take care, sir, 1 owe you moth
ing. Do not attempt to press your fan
cied authority. Remember that self
defense is a desperate woman's first
law"
Frances eyes flashed fire, and her
swelling bosom heaved convulsively.
forgot to mention the fact" said
Jennings, apparently unnoticing her
last words, that / Lad quite a CONVEX
sation with the garrulous old doorkeep-
er at the Farringford. He told me that
you were shortly to be married to an
actor named Maurice CORTLAND. re-
greet to interfere with these arrange
ments, but the law, madame, does not
permit bigamy."
Don't pollute his name with your
lips. If he only knew the events of
the past hour might be widow"
"Pshaw! I'm sick of all this talk.
Let me have some money"
"Give You my hard earnings to squan-
der? l have no money for such as
you"
THAT ring on your finger will an
swer."
"Maurice's gift" murmured Frances,
tenderly. mo; I will never part
with it,"
Come, I can't stay here all day. Do
you hesitate to give your lovers
trinket?" he said, in sneering tones.
stake this" she replied, handing hira
her purse. leave my house! Iloathe
and despise you'll"
Don't get insolent, my beauty, or 1
may be compelled to clip your wings"
Il am accursed!" moaned Frances,
after his departure. ooh, Maurice, the
thought of losing yeu will drive me
mad. Heaven pity mel I have been
Justly punished. I looked forward to
so much JOY, and the cup of bliss has
been dashed from my lips and shattered
to atoms. Why don't I die? There is
nothing left to live for now"
Hello, Francesl' greeted Maurice,
bursting into the room. "Why, you
are crying. What is the matter? Has
the Major been scolding you?"
Maurice, my poor boy, be brave for
my sake. l have something to tell
which you should have known before"
1NCoiiAho oOiAOuo.
We can never be married"
Frances, you are jesting"
She confessed everything; how she
had married a scoundrel when she was
l6; his cruel desertion, and his subse-
Iuent career.
This is, indeed, heavy blow" said
The young man, in dazed way. II
ian hardly realize it. I cannot stand
quietly by and see the woman love
wrested from me. Frances, will never
Yield you to this man. 1 will kill him |
irst."
NO, Maurice; for the love you bear
ne, do not stain your hands with his
blood. Leave him to higher Judge"
The law shall break your chains"
Il must go to your arms free, un-
Uttered woman. I prefer lifetime of
private sorrow to one hour of public
Ihame."
You are my own true Frances. For
yive my wild words. Good-by. When
lext we meet parting will never come
gain"
Good-by, dear; be patient. We
'annot read the future. We only know
hat duty, with its stern, intlexible fin
ger, points out our different paths"
DO you remember that song,
frances, you sang when first we metz
o. L