The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-08-18

or look whose profound misery he
understood, she gave him no recog-
milton. 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 in
evitabie. Christine's mother died,
and her father married again and
Christine had son and daughter.
Franz watched anxiously to see if
this new love would break up the
lev coldness of her manners. Some
times he was conscious of feeling
angrily jealous of the children, but
he always crushed down the wretch
ed passion. If Christine loved a
flower would | not love it also ?"
he asked himself; 'and these little
ones, what have they done?" So at
last he got to separate them entire
" from every one but Christine,
and to regard them rs part and por-
ton of his love,
But at the end of ten years a
change came, neither natural or ex-
pected. Franz was walking moodily
about his library one night, when
Louis came to tell him Of it. Louis
was no longer young, and was mar
ried now, for he had found out that
the beaten track is safest.
Franz" he said, have you heard
about Clarke? His affairs are fright
fully wrong, and he shot himself an
hour ago.
And Christine? Docs she know ?
Who has gone to her ?"
Ny wife is with her. Clarke shot
himself in his own room. Christine
was the first to reach him, He left
a letter saving he was absolutely ru-
inedn
Where will Christine and the
children go?"
i suppose to her fathers. Not a
/ pleasant place for her now. Chris
tines step-mother dislikes both her
and the children"
Franz said no more, and Louis
went away with feeling of disap-
pointment
- thought he would have done
/ something for her" he said to his
wife. Poor Christine will be very
poor and dependent"
Ten days after he came home with
a different story.
There never was a woman as
lucky about money as Cousin Chris
tine he said. Hardy q Ball sent
her notice to-day that the property
ut Rvebcach 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 speculations, and in order
to provide for his wife, quietly
bought and placed in Hardy's charge
two beautifully furnished cottages.
/ There Is something like an accumu-
lation of sixteen thousand dollars OF
rcntage; and as one is luckily emp
". Christine and the children are
going there at once. ! always
thought the property was Hardy 5
own before. Very thoughtful in
Clarke"
1t is not like Clarke one bit. |
don't believe he ever did it. 1t is
/ some arrangement Of Franz Null
lcr's.
For goodness sake don't hint
such a thing, Lizzie! Christine
would not 90, and we should have
her here very soon. Besides | don't
believeit Franz took the news very
coolly, and he has kept out Of my
way since"
The next day Louis was more than
ever Of his wife's opinion.
What do you think, Lizzie ?" he
said. Franz came to me to-day
and asked if Clarke did not once loan
me two thousand dollars about the
time we were married.
Say loaned, Louis, he answered,
to oblige me. Here is two thous-
and, and the interest for six years.
Go and pay it to Christine; she must
need money SO | went"
Is she settled comfortably ?'
"Oh, very. Go and see her often.
Franz is sure to marry her, and he is
growing richer every day
1t seemed as if Louis prediction
would come true.
Franz began to drive out to Rye |
beach every afternoon. At first he
contented himself with just passing
Christincs gate. But he soon began
to stop for the children, and having
taken them to a drive, TO rest awhile
on the lawn, or in the parlor, while |
Christine made him cup of tea.
For Franz tired very easily now, |
and Christine saw what few others
noticed; he had become pale and
emaciatcd, and the least exertion
left him weary and breathless. She |
knew in her heart that it was the
last summer he would be with her.
Alas what a pitiful shadow of their
first one! 1t was hard to contrast the
ardent, handsome lover Of ten years
ago with the white, silently happy |
man who, when October came, had
only strength to sit and hold her
hand, and gaze with eager, loving
eyes into her face.
One day his physician met LOUIS
on Broadway i
Mr.. Curtin" he said, your friend
Muller is very i'll. | consider his
life measured by days, perhaps
hours. He has long had organic
disease Of the heart. 1t Is near thel
last.
Docs he know it ?"
YES. he has known it long Bet
ter see him ut once"
So Louis went at once. He found
Franz calmly making his last prep
arations for the great event Il am
clad YOU are come, Louis" j" he said
Il was going tosend foryou. Seethis
cabinet full of letters. | have not
strength left to destroy them; burn
them for me when-when am gone.
This small packet is Christine's dear
little notes bury them with me i
there are ten of them, every one ten
years old