New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-22
CHER FRANCIS"

hor fate She was of a large family OF boys ana
a iiis xjliage and had never stayed more than
day at time in London. What an enehanted
then seemed to open sn Pc Spend this Winter
with herself and her mother ID fiorehcei ;.ur
As Mabel was starting one young married sister
s' az wonder if you will meet your Francis at
lastp -, .,o.;or ,v;sdou If
one who had just been wooed and won' answered.
i0 OF course shc will only mind, Mabel that you
ION Yo mu Francs' was tho Jest above alluded TO-
Ono dav Mabel had IN tho hearing OF eleven merry
brothers and sisters thoughtlessy sa,u FroNt
ETancis il n fine name, and Frank has no more
cbaracter about it than Charlie or Harry: That
tbs lndjcTous notion that. as she by far the
prettiest of the family, she must be waiting Tor
n certain Francis" not only so named by his
solfath0rs and godm Others but ono who had never
at any time been called by It's ab0fevlat0n. Maoei
laughed as merr as any OF tho anu ench ioigT e
italian frontier when for tho FIRST time her journey
became marked by son vcissitudes ..,
On a cold, stormy night the train was stopped
st the little station of c. for the floods were put
A scone of confusion cnsued. After the ltallan
guards had made the sleepy and alarmed ioreigmGrs
understand what had occurred, every one natuTaiiy
left the train TO seek what accommodation could
be found in the village; only. however to return
with ycxatlon added TO their former alarm ne
one solitary inn could only take in few OF tho
passengers. and the remainder had to make back
again to their carriages with the diherence OF "eing
wet through instead of dry. Mabel Talbot was
one oS the fortunate ones Some kindly arms
whose she never knew-carried her ana her small
luggage safely over co Ta'G not sneak word Of
Italian hut quickly comprehended how KIND ana
sympathetic was hor welcome Neither gratitude.
however nor VIVID imagination c0uld hcip her 10
feel comfortable. Her narrow passagc-room had
damp, stone floor, was lighted by small WICK
Her G he'd a Mas w barrow table Rsr pillow her
carpet-bag and her travelling rug had to 10 duty
for evrrythng else
became gradually accustomed to the dim light ana
saw an object which had escaped her notice and and
which looked like coat lying across chair She
was not long in fetching it. and, even in the semi
darkness. saw that 1t was thlckly- lined Enghsn
ulster probably the property OF one OF ner lsow w
given much to be wearing it at that moment Sho
felt however. that it was little use pltyng tho
n uni sy m e laS down again and spread
her Her teeth stopped chatterlng her eyes Closed
and she went of into sound sleep.
When the noises mado by the awakening house
hold began to disturb her, the following dream
came to her: .;o,. j.,
She drcamt that she was engaged to be married to
n not particularly young man. whose Christian name
was-Francis His face made strong impression
upon her, Ii was not strictly handsome PIT the
owner had what is called tine head. Further,
he had a kindly expression and slightly linguistic
look in his keen gray eyes when was very char-
acteristic How they came to be engaged she was
unable to remember but no seemed 70 know
her past. for ho was asking her to call him Frank
You would not seem yourself at all mlght Just
as well call you Charlie OF Harry,
I'VE have it on very good authority that rose
by any other name would smell as sweet" no
answered. smiling. =,
sThen Shakespeare wrong" returned the
dreamer not smiling at all.
Am to take it for granted, then, that you took
me for my name and not for myscltfp
Your name is Francis persisted Mabel
uyio f% aware Of It, But Francis or FRANK al"
And yourself is Francis"
But in spite of her obstnacy she got the worst OF
the argument aud the soft hearted Francis. seeing
signs OF tears offered to make it up. She would not
however. accept his kiss of peace and at that
that sho had nearly fallen Oh the table.
The velvet collar of the ulster was lying across
her mouth, its soft touch, having, no doubt
suggested that lover-likc ending to her dream
At first Mabel was too bewllderod to distinguish
from window De ~ay as{ Ee des
that she must be up and doing" Asshc Jumped
down she dragged the ulster vita her, and as she
lifted t mp letter fell out of one Of the pockets;
She would have been no true daughter OF Eve had
she not been seized with desire to know the name
warmth of which sho had slept so well and also
dresmt that ridiculous dream.
why should not knew the name " she asked
herself, picking up the letter
And as there one to answer her-only her
very natural curiosity 10 urge her the other way
she did read the name:
"FraEcis Grantley, esqure|
H.
nothing" SAID Mabel to herself, "f0r you would
have dreamt exactly the same dream II Mr. Grant;
ley's name had been Thomas or john" Ihls seemed
so true that she did preserve some caimness OF
mind. SAny way you and he are never likely to
meet rs long az you live for he is probably on his
with this last selfcomforting admOntioD she
resoutey put tie letter back III Itspiace aud folded
He was never called Frank, l am sure" she
soliloquized, unable to keep from the forbidden
subject as she remarked the unusual length and
breadth OF the coat, though of course Franks are
Of all sizes P2op man. Shf eP hd no as she el,
boon il was TO me ne would not have minded so much
shivering all night. ] wish could let him know
how, much Obliged am And why should he
not know il p as q sudden thought struck her
II she could have spoken Italian she would have
left message with the landlord; therefore instead
she scribblcd in pencil on the back of the letter:
q Many thanks for the loan OF the coat"
What Is done cannot DO undOne Perhaps no one
ever realized that more thoroughly than did Mabel
Talbot. when she saw those few ponclled words OF
hers staring back at her from strangers letter
She could not possibly tear up the envelope; she
cond only thrust the letter back into the pocket OF
the coat and hide her own de-. deed rom her own eyes
was on his way to India! Tho further oil the
better. And during her journey she registered a
again to act on any occasion In life with
ont due reflection
The Keiths had rooms the sunny side of the
river on the Lung Arno AceiajOll; and coming, az
Mabel did, from the gray November skies of Eng
land. she perfectly revelled in the sunny weather
which set in on her arrival IN that brightest OF
cities She was also, according to Helen Keith Ia
handsome. clever woman. In every way contrast
TO pretty little inexperienced Mabel, in one sncces
sion of gushes" over every picture and statue
plcce Of tapestry and mosaic, the Cathedral and
Sates Which Michael Angelo pronounced it to be
tile gatcs of Paradise: Fra Angelico's angels and
the Lucca della iiobbia etc So full of delight anG
excitement was she that for some days she forgot
both her whimsical dream and her fears.
One morning Helen took her TO Giotto's LITTLE