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


choly, were Just rs blisstul
They came slowly home, speak
ing only in glances and monosylla-
bles. but Just before they parted,
Franz said: Il have been waiting
thirty years for YOU, Christine; to-
dav my life has blossomed."
And though Christine did not
makeany audible answer, he thought
her blush sufficient; besides she
took the lilies from her throat and
gave them to him
such dream of true love is given
Only 70 the few whom the gods favor.
Franz must have stood high in their
grace. for it lasted through many
weeks and months for him. Hefol-
lowed the StrombcTes to Newport,
and laid his whole life down at
Christine's feet There was no def
mite engagement between them, but
every one understood that would
come as surely as the end Of the
season.
Money matters and housekeeping
must eventually intrudc themselves,
but the romance and charm of this
one summer of life should be un-
touched. And Franz wat not anX-
ious on this score. His father, a
shrewd business man, had early
seen that his son was a poet and a
dreamer 1T is not the boys fault, .
he said to his partner; -he gets it
from his grandfather, who was al
ways more ont OF this world than IN
it.
SO he wisely allowed Franz TO fol
low his own tastes, and contented
himself with carefully investing his
fortune IN such real estate and Sc
curities as he believed would insure
a safe, if a slow increase. lie had
bought wisely. and Franz's income
was certain and handsome one,
with a tendency rather to increase
than decrease, and quite sufficient
to maintain Christine in all the lux
ury toWhich she had been accustom-
ed.
50 when he returned to the city
he intended to speak Mr.. S,rom-
berg. All he had should be Chris
tines. and her father should settle
the matter Just Rs he thought best
far his daughter. I'm a general way
this was understood by all parties,
and every one seemed inclined TO
sympathize with the happyssieelling
which led the lovers to depreciate
during these enchanted days any
allusion which tended to dispcl the
exquisite charm OF their young lives
idyl.
Perhaps it would have been bet
ter if they had remembered the an
cient superstition, and themselves
done something to mar their perfect
happiness. Polycratcs offered his
ring to avert the calamity sure to
follow unmitigated pleasure or sue
4 cess, and Franz ought perhaps 90
have alsomade an effort TO propi-
tiatc his cnvious fate.
But he did not, and toward the
very end Of the season. when the
October DAYS had thrown d kind OF
still melancholy over the world that
had been so green and gray, Franz's
dream was rudy broken-broken
/ bv a Mr. James Barker Clark. a
clustering vulgar man Of fifty. worth
three millions. In some way or 9TH
. cr he seemed to-haye a great deal of
( influence over Mr.. Smombcrg. who
paid him unqualified respect, and
over Mrs. Strom5crg. who seemed to
fear him.
Mr. Suomborg's private ledger
alone knew the whole secret; for Of
/ course money was at the foundation.
Indeed, in these DAYS. in all public
and private troubles, il is proper to
ask, not "Who is she?" but How
much Is it?' Franz Muller and
James Barker Clarke hated each
other on sight. Still Franz had no
idea at first that this ugly, uncouth
man could ever be a rival to his
own handsome pcrton and passion
ate affection.
In a few days, however, he was
compelled to actually consider the
/ possibility cf such thing. Mr..
Stomberg had assumed an attitude
of such extreme politcness, and
Mrs. Srombcrg avoided him if pos
siblc, was constrained and unhappy
IN the familiar relations that She
had accepted so happily all summer.
As for Christine, she had constant
headaches, and her eyes were often
swollen and red with weeping.
Atlength, without notice. the fam
. lily left Newport, and went to stay a
month with some relative near Bos-
ton. \ pitiful little note from
Christine informed him of this fact !:
but as he received no information
as to the locality of her relatives
house, and no invitation to call. he
was compelled for the present to do
as Christine asked him-wait pa
tiently for their return.
At first he got few short tender
notes, but they We're evidently writ
ten in such sorrow that he was al
most beside himself with grief and
anger. When these ceased he went
TO Boston and without difficulty
found the house were Christine was
staying. lie was received at first (
very shyly by Mrs. Srombtrr. but
when Franz poured out his love
and misery, the poor old lady Wept /.
bitterly " and1moancd out that she
could not help it, and Christine
could not help it and they were all /
very miserable
Finally she was pursuadcd to let
him see Christine, Just for five min
utcs." The poor girl came to him. F.
a shadow o.. Eer gay self, and weep f.
Ing in his arms, told him he must T.
bid her goodbye forever The five
minutes were heightened into a long
terrible hour, and Franz went back
to New5 York with the knowledge
that in that hour his life had been
broken IN two for this life.
One night toward the close of NJ
vember his friend Louis called.
Franz" he said. have you heard
that Christine STomberg is to marry
old Clark"
Ncs E"