The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-08-05
FRANZ MULLER'S WIFE.

"Franz, good morning. Whose phil
osophy is it nowP Hegel, Spinosa,
Kant, or Dugad StewartP"
None of them. / am reading
Faust"
"Worse and worse. Better wrestle
with philosophers than lose yourself in
the clouds. At any rate, if the poets are
to send the philosophers to the right
about, stick to 81 akespeare.
"He is too material. lie can't get rid
of men ami women"
They are II little better, l should
think, than Mrphisto. Come, Franz
condescend to cravats and kid gloves,
and let us go and see my cousin Chris
tine Stromberg."
"I do not know the young lady,"
"Ofcourse not. She has Just returned
from Munich school. Her brother
Max was at the Lyndons' great party,
you rememberP"
~ don't remember, Louis. In white
cravats aud black coats all men look
alike"
"But you will goP'
elf you wish it, yes. There are some
uncut reviews on the table; amuse
yourself while dress"
"Thanks, have my cigar case. I
will take smoke, and think Of Chris.
tine"
s~For some reason, quite beyond ana'y-
sis, Franz did not like this speech. H.
had never seen Christine Stromberg,
but yet he half resented the careless use
of her name. 1t fell upon some soul
consciousness like familiar and per-
sonal name, and yet he vainly recalled
every phase Of his life for any clew to
this familiarity.
He was handsome fellow, with
large, clearly cut features, and gray,
thoughtful eyes. In conversation that
interested him his eyes lighted rp with
q singularly beautiful animation, but
usually it was as still and passionless as if
the soul was away on dream or 81
visit. Even the regulation cravat and
coat could not destroy his individuality,
and Louis looked admiringly at him,
and said: You are still Franz Muller.
No one is just like you. | should think
Cousin Christine will fall in love with
you"
Again Franz's heart resented this
speech. It had been waiting for love
for many year, but he could not Jest
or speculate about it. No one but the
thoughtless, favored Louis ever dared to
do it before Franz, and NJ one ever
spoke lightly of women before him, but
the worst of men are sensitive to the
presence Of pure and lofty nature, and
are generally willing to respect it.
Franz dreamed of women, but only of
noble women, and even for those who
fell below his ideal lie had thousand
apologies, and world ofpity. 1t was
strange that such a man should have
lived thirty years, and never have real llY
loved any mortal woman. But his hour
had come at last. AS soon as he saw
Christine Stromberg he loved her. A
strange eXaltation possessed him; his
face was radiant; he talked and sung
with brilliancy that amazed even
those familiar with his rare exhibitions
of such moods. And Christine seemed
fascinated by his beauty and wit. The
hours passed like moments; and when
the girl stood watching him down the
moonlit avenue, she almost trembled to
remember what questions Franz's eyes
had asked her, and how strangely ia
miliar the clasp of his hand and the
sound of his voice had seemed to her.
81 wonder where | have seen him
before" she murmured-" wonder
where it was ?" and to this thought she
slowly took off one by one her jewels,
and brushed out her long black hair
nav, when she fell asleep, it was only to
take it up again in dreams.
AS for Franz, he was in too far an
ecstatic mood to think of sleep. Zone
has too few If such god-like moments
to steep them in unconsciousness," he
said to himself. And SO he sat smoking
and thinking, and watching the moon
sink lower and lower, until it was nc
longer night, but dawning day.
In few hours now 1 can go and
see Christine. At this point in his
love he had no other thought. He wa:
too happy to speculate on any probable
ity, as yet, 1t was sufficient present
TO know that he had found his love
that she lived at definite number on s
definite avenue, and that in six or sever
hours more he might see her again.
He ch ose the earlier number. IL wa
lust eleven O'Clock when he rung MT
Stromberg's bell. Mrs. StromberJ