The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-08-05

to call, he was compelled for the present
| to do as Christine asked him-wai
patiently for their return.
At first he got few short tender
notes, but they were evidently writer
in such sorrow that he was almost be-
side himself with grief and anger
When these ceased he went 10 Boston
and without difficulty found the house
where Christine was staying. He was
received at first very shyly by Mrs
Stromberg, but when Franz poured Out
his love and misery, the poor old lady
wept bitterly and moaned out that she
could not help it, and Christine could
not help it, and that they were all very
miserable,
Finally she was persuaded to let bin
see Christine, "just for five minutes.
The poor girl came to him, shadow oi
her gay self, and weeping in his arms
told him he must bid her goodbye for
ever. The five minutes were heightened
into long, terrible hour, and Franz
went back to New York with the knowl.
edge that in that hour his life had been
broken in two for this life.
One night toward the close of Novem.
Der his friend Louis called. Franz, y
he said, "have you heard that Christine
Stromberg is to marry old ClarkeP"
eyes"
"No one can trust woman. 1t is q
shame of Christine"
Louis, speak of what you know.
Christine is an angel. If woman ap-
pears to do wrong, there is probably
some brute of man behind her forcing
her to do it."
"I thought she was to be your wife,"
"She is my wife in soul and feeling.
No one, thank God. can help that. If l
was Clarke / would as willingly marry
3 corpse as Christine Stromberg. Do
not speak of her again, Louis. The
poor innocent child! God bless her!'
and he burst into passion of weeping
that alarmed his friend for his reason,
but which was probably its salvation.
In week Franz had left for Europe,
and the next Christmas Christine and
James Barker Clarke were married, and
began housekeeping in style of ex-
travagant splendor. People wondered
and exclaimed at Christine's reckless
expenditure, her parents advised, her
husband scolded; but though she never
disputed them, she quietly ignored all
their suggestions. She went to Paris,
and lived like a princess; Rome, Vienna,
and London wondered over her beauty
and her splendor; and wherever she
went, Franz followed her quietly,
haunting her magnificent salons like a
wretched specter.
They rarely or never spoke Beyond
a grave inclination of tile head, or a
look whose profound misery he only
understood, she gave him no recogni-
tion. The world held her name above
reproach, and considered that she had
done very well to herself.
Ten years passed away, but the
changes they brought were such as the
world regards rs natural and inevitable
Christine's mother died, and her father
married again and Christine had son
and daughter. Franz watched anXiously
to see it this new love would break UP
the icy coldness Of her manners. Some.
times he was conscious of feeling angrily
jealous of the children, but he always
crushed down the wretched passion.
If Christine loved n flower, would ]
not love 1t also?" he asked himself;
land these little ones, what have they
done?" So at last he got TO separate
them entirely frCm every one but Chris
tine. and to regard them as part and
portion OF his love.
But at the end of ten years q change
came, neither natural or expected.
Franz was walking moodily about his
library one night, when Louis came to
tell him of it. Louis was no longer
young, and was married now, for be had
found out that the beaten track is safest.
Franz" he Sid, "have you heard
about ClarkeP His affairs.are frighttul'y
wrong, and he shot himself an hour
ago"
g And Christine? Does she know P
Who has gone to herP"
my wife is with her. Clarke shot
himselfin his own room. Christine was
the first to reach him. He left letter
saying lie was absolutely ruined"
'Where will Christine and the child
ren go!"
81 suppose to her fathers. Not q
pleasant place for her now. Christine's
step-mother dislikes both her and the
children"
Franz said no more. and Louis went
away with feeling of disappointment.
thought he would have done some
thing for her." he said 10 his wife
g Poor Christine will be very poor and
dependent"
Ten days after he came home with q
different story. There never was a
woman as lucky about money as Cousin
Christine" he said. Hardy 81 Ball
sent her notice to-day that the property
at Ryebeach settled on her before her
marriage by Mr.. Clarke was now at her
disposal. 1t seems the old gentleman
anticipated the result of his wild specu-
lations, and in order to provide for his
wife, quietly bought and placed in
Hardy's charge two beautifully fur.
nished cottages. There is sometime
like an accumulation of sixteen thous-
and dollars of rentage; and as one is
luckily empty, Christine and the child.
rem are going there at once. | always
thought the property was Hardy's own
before. Very thoughtful in Clarke"
1t is not like Clarke one bit. don't
believe lie ever did it. 1t is some ar.
rangement of Franz Muller's."
"For goodness sake don't hint such 0
thing, Lizzie! Christine would not 90
and we should have her here very soon
Besides, don't believe it. Franz took
the news very coolly, and he has kept
ouY of my way since"
The next day Louis was more thar
ever of his wife's opinion. what dc
you think, LizzieP" he said. "Fran5
came to me to-day and asked il Clarke
did not once loan me two thousand
dollars. l told him Clarke gave me
two thousand about the time we were
married."
essay loaned, Louis he answered
to oblige me. Here is two thousand
and the interest for six years. Go anC
pay it to Christine; she must neeC
money So went"
us she settled comfortablyP"
"Oh, very. Go and see her often
Franz is sure to marry her, and he Fl
growing richer every day."