Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-04-05
"HER FRANCIS"

Many true word is spoken in Jest"
So runs The old saying, and Mabel Talbot
could for one have vouched for its truth, for
a harmless Jest became her fate. She was
one OF large family OF boys and 7irls, had
lived The twenty-five years Of her life in a
coGnIry village, and had never stayed more
than Gay at & time in London. What an
enchanted prospect then seemed to open be-
fore her when her friend Helen Keith asked
her to spend the winter with herself and her
mother IN florence
As Mabel was starting, one Young mar
NED sister said to her:
Il wonder if you will meet your Francis
at iastf'
And another sister, with the superior wis
dom Of one who had Just been wooed and
Won, answered for Mabel:
of course she will only mind, Mabel,
that sou look well out for him"
YOUR Francis was the Jest above allud-
ed 10. One day Mabel had, in the hearing
OF eleven merry brothers and sisters
thOughllessly said: How dislike the alb
brey!alion OF Francis into Frank Francis
is q fine name, and Frank has no more
character about it than Charlie or Harry"
That was enough; and the latest phase of
the Joke was the ludicrous notion that as
she was BY far the prettiest Of the family
she must be waiting for certain Francis,
not only so named by his godfathers and
godmothers, but one who had never at any
time been called BY its abbreyistion- Mabel
laughed as meTrIly as any Of them, and
then forgot al about her Francis until
she reached the Italian frontier when for
the first time her journey became marked
b. some vicissitudeS.
On cold, stormy night the train was
stopped 81 the little station at C, for the
floods were out. A scene Of confusion en-
sued. After the Italian guards had made
the sleepy and alarmed foreigners under
stand what had occurred, every one natur-
ally left tue train to seek what accommoda-
ton could be found 10 the village; ouly,
however, 10 return with yexation added TO
their former alarm. The one solitary ian
could only take IN few Of the passengers,
and the remainder had 10 make back again
10 their carriages With the difference OF De-
ing vet through instead Of dry. Mabel Tai
Dot was one OF the fortunate ones. Some
kindly arms-whose she never kReT-2ar-
red her aud her small luggage safely over
tie water and she made her way TO the
inn She could not speak a word OF
Italian, but quickly comprehende1 how
kind and sympathetic was her welcome.
Neither gratitude, however, nor a vivid
imagination could help her to feel comfor-
table. Her narrow psSssge-room had
damp, stone floor, was lighted By small
wick floating in oil, and was pervaded by a
smell of garlic. Her bed was marrow ia
bic, her pillow, her carpet bag, and her
travelling rug had to do duty for everything
Else.
As she lay there cramped and shivering,
she became gradually accustomed to the
dim light and saw an object which had es'
caped her notice and which looked Ike
coat living across q chair. She was not
long in fetching it, ard even in the semi
darkness, saw that il was thickly-hned
English ulster, probably the property Of one
of her fellow passengers who, she had little
doubt, would have given much to be wear
ing il at that moment She felt however,
that it was little use plying the unluckY
owner; and very grateful to him for having
LETT it, she lay down again and spread 1t
over her Her teeth stopped chatterlng,
her eyes closed, and she went of into
sound sleep.
When the noises made By the awakening
household began to disturb her, the follow
ing dream came 10 her:
She dreamt that she was engaged to De
married 10 q not particularly young man.
whose christian name was Francis. dis
face made a strong impression upon her.
Ii was not strictly handsome, but the owner
had what is called fine head. Further,
he had a kindly expression and slightly
inouisite look in his keen, gray eyes which
WIS yery characteristic. How they came to
be engaged she was unable to remember,
but he seemed to know her past, Tor ne was
asking her to cali him Frank.
Not for the world she said. Il hate
the name. You would not seem yourself q;
sill l might Just as we'll call you Charlie or
Harry.
I'VE have it on very good authority that
rose by any other name would smell as
sweet, he answered, smiling.
Then Shakespeare was wrong, returned
the dreamer, not smiling at sll.
Am to take it for granted, then, that
YOU took me for my name and not Tor my
self
Your name is Francis" persisted Mabel.
81 am aware oft. But Francis or Frank
am myself
And Yourself is Francis.
But in spite of her obstinscy she got the
worst of the argument and the soit.hearted
Francis seeing signs Of tears, offered to
make il up. She would not, however, &C
capt his kiss of peace, and at that moment,
awoke to find herself struggling so much
that she had nearly fallen Oft the table.
The velvet collar Of the ulster was lying
across her mouth, its soft touch, having, no
doubt, suggested that loyerhke ending TO
her dream.
At first Mabel was too bewildered to dts
tiaguish dream from reality but the DAY
light streaming in at the curtainless window
gave her q vague idea that she must De up
and doing As she Jumped down she
dragged the ulster with her, aud as sne
lifted it I'D a letter fell out Of the pockets,
She would have been no true dsugter OF
Eve had she not been seized with desire
to know the name of the owner OF that coat
under the comforting warmth OF which she
had slept so well and also dreamt that
ridiculous dream.
"Why should not know the namef she
asked herself, picking up the letter.
And as there was no one to answer her
only her very natural curiosity to urge her
the other way-she did read the name:
Francis Grantley, Esquire"
Now don't be iSolissS and get excited
about nothing" said Mabel % hsEoslf Tor
Won wonId have drsamt exactly the same
dream if Mr.. Grantley's name had been
Thomas or John" This seemed so true
tb.t re aid nrassrye some calmness OF