The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-05


Mra. 6trathmore II speaking head
bsnt and hands folded tightly in her
lap. She u audibly telling Carl Vogel
tho same thing his hat 30 mutely pro-
tests.
Il do not 1t all understand how we
came to this dreadful pass" she says,
in pitiful voice, not lifting the bent
head. "You must go away at once. It
Ii dishonorable for me to listen to you,
and worse than dishonorable for you to
utter such mad words"
~You doom me to an uncertain,
wretched future. shall love no woman
as have loved you since the first
day saw you, and it maddens me to
see you drag out your days in the mis-
cradle existence you lead now-your
life is wasted-and you could be free. 4"
Free! How?" and then she looks
up with CLEAN in her eyes that
would seem like hope in another
woman's eyes-but for her hope is for
ever dead
DIVORCED" he answers, sententiously.
She starts, and draws away from him.
3You do not understand" she an
swers, coldly. @There is but one d.
vorce for Southrons-death!"
He walks angrily across the floor,
and picks up his reproachful hat.
"GOod-by, Francia," he says, not
coming near her, and not offering his
hand.
She stands up.
"Good-by," she says, with that habit
of self-repression which the years have
taught her.
mo. mol" he cries wildly, swiftly APP
preaching her still form. II cannot
part from you So"
And then he takes the trembling
woman in his arms, strains her madly
to his aching heart, kisses her dozen
times, seats her gently in her chair,
then rushes away.
She does not weep, she does not even
cover her blanched face with her thin
brown hands, but gazes after that fee
ing horseman with strained, mourn
full gaze, as if she would photograph
him upon her heart
That image never leaves her.
Three years pass away.
One day Fred in his haste to have q
certain field CLEANED properly, remained
there till 2 o'clock under hot summer
sun, dinnerless and hungry. He went
home with a terrible pain in his head.
ut is nothing" he told his anxious
wife; "a mere headache. / shall get
up in the morning."
But in the morning he was raving with
delirium, and in week he was dead !;
and then Francia rested once more in
her fathers house.
Poor woman! How poor? Fred
had left all to her, for there were no
children, but mountains of gold could
never efface those ten years passed
with him from her crushed heart and
dwarfed mind.
As soon as she became strong enough
to travel, the family went to Europe
and there they ran across Carl Vogel.
"Yes, have been in Italy three
years, he told them, looking under
standingly, and with secret, guilty
Joy at Francia's widows weeds. You
know was born and reared in New
York, but L was educated at German
universities, and then spent three years
in Italy. studying art-my last three
1 have spent the same way"
They had met in public garden,
and Carl mareuvered. SO successfully
he soon had Francia to himself.
"Francia, you are ireland love no
woman but you. Can you not say you
love me?"
Francia hung her head like shy
young girl, and not like a woman Of
twenty-nine.
@And you loved me in the old days,
tool" he cried, exultantly.
Il cannot say pitied you, but
myself worst of all.
"Well, pity is akin to love" he COM
forted himself and her.
In year they we're wed, and at 30
Francia realized her girlish dream. of a
good husbands love and appreciation.