The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-12
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?



he uonchalantly informs her. between the
puffs of his cigar. that Rene Symonds and
Monte Carlo offer him more attractions for
the next month than her determinations and
a CRYING brat Maddened by her tears and
entreaties not to leave her, he brutally sug-
gests a divorce and offers TO give her every
assistance in obtaining one, or if, for the
sake of their child. she prefers to overlook
his little pecCadillOes and keep silent, she
has his permission TO console herself durIn z
his absence with the society OF her old
lover, as he has just learned that he is stay
ing i'm their vicinity Thus-deaf to her
pleadings for pity-he departs.
Oh, the horror OF her husbands sugges-
ton Oh, the humiliation of her situation.
What would you do?
Two little arms steal softly round the
mothers neck, and in this hour Of Suprem
temptation she is saved.
Who shall say that the sacrifice she de-
cides to make for the sake of her child does
not purchase the salvation of her soul
against future sin?
So soon as time permits, Coralie fees as
fast as train and boat and convey her-away
from the gaze of the curious. the innuen-
does of the heartless. and, above all, away
from the terrible temptation 80 near, so per
ilouSly sweet. Away TO quiet little retreat
on the Normandy coast, purchased some
months since for her parents. who, delicate
in health, and weary of the storms of
life, live here TRANQUILITY with the grand
ocean before them, and the rustic, peaceful,
peasant life around them. Here in the
rOsevine-coyered cottage she patiently
awaits the return Of the man who has so
Tuthlessly trample1 upon her life. For the
sake Of her child she meukly accepts all the
horror of her situation. Never one word of
blame or Of the true. state of affairs escapes
her lips save to one.
To Dick Hayward she writes an account
of her husbands perfidy and her humi!ia-
tiOn; size impores him to put the ocean be-
tween them las she has heard through his
Australia, lest in moment Of weakness
they ind circumstances too strong, lest
Rene SymOndS, in her mad desire for re-
Venge, in some way r0uSplreS to attack her
reputation through him.
DICKS love for her IS overwhelming-ln
this hour of her trial it threatens to master
him; it irresistbly impelS him to burst
Gsunder all bonds, snatch her from her
cruel position. and, once away beyond the
seas, begin lie anew in one anOther's love-
now so tried, so true. But this appeal to
his manhood and chiyalry overcOmeS all
else Again he tramples the temptings of
the devil under his feet again the piteOus
appeal Of this frail, helpless little being he
so msdiy loves stays the frantic current of
his passion, and, with only a note OF fare
well, he sails away.
One, two, three months pass, and still
her husband fingers by Rene's side. The
problem of COralie's life becomes more and
more difficult to solve az the time approaches
when he must return 10 attend a lawsuit
pending, in which he has been subpenaed
as chief witness. How can she receive and
continue 10 live with man who has openly
slnDcd against all laws of right and decency !?
How can she act toward him AS though
nothing had ever happened? What will
mother not sacrifice for her child? All this
she must and viii do for the sake of the
young lie intruSted 10 her care.
Death, which solves so many problems,
solves this one. A dispatch reache. her
from medical man in R0me with the fol-
lowing words:
Leslie Hargreaves died this morning at
II O'Clock. Malaria i'll one week"
" All, blessed relief!
The London season is in full swing A
year OF Coralle's widOWhOod over-passed
IN strict retirement and devotion TO her
child. Her house in Park Lane is again
thrown omen to the great world. She is still
young; time and sorrow have only softened
her beauty. By her husbands will. made
soon alter her marriage, she is left sole pos
SCISSOR of all his property. The sun still
shines, and once again life seems full 0 + pos
sIblI Ties Suitors surround ner. all IN
Needed, for is not her heart with Dick
far over the seas? All this time he has re-
NAMED perSlstently away. His pride
threatens to ruin their happiness, since,
improvident as ever, he fears to follow the
dictates Of his heart, lest the world, and pos
sIbIy Coralie herself, may attribute to him
mercenary motives. The season ends with
brilliant social triumph for Coralie. Weary
OF it all, she again seeks the rose-clambered
cottage Of her parents on the Normandy
coast from which she writes Dick Of her
loneliness and bids him come.
On, joy uuutterable to meet thus after
these years of separation!
They are to be quietly married on the
morrow For reasons connected with an
important sutton Coralie is anxious that the
announcement should appear in the London
papers as soon as possible after the cere-
mony.. To facilitate this Dick has written
to friend in London, inclosing a written
notice Of their marriage, which he desires
him to have published to day after the eere-
mony, unless wired to the contrary.
1t is their wedding morn.
With heart too full for utterance, Dick is
up with the sun. A message from Coralie
announces that she feels too i'll to even
leave her room. Influenza the doctor pro-
nOunces II, and so again is hope deferred.
DICE, great anxiety for COrale drives all
else from his mind. He quite forgets to
telegraph to his friend to withhold the
publication OF their marriage, and so in
due course it appears As Coralie's at
tack proves very mild one, they hope to
verify the statement in the paper a week
hence, so they pay no further heed to the
mistake.
Ten days have elapsed. Again they are
On the eve OF the realization of their hopes
Coralie sits dreaming before her dressing
room fire. All the misery and heartache of
the past are forgotten. The only shadow
In her present life is the condition of her
aged parents, destitute save for her bounty,
Their situation IS very painful to her on ac-
n Hp1T arfd tr-l,i nl, i 81.
war with dependent circumstances Thank
God, however, that her wealth is sufficient
to purchase them every comfort, and oh.
great joy to render this union with fond
faithful Dick possible in spite of his poverty
Kat-a-tat-tat sounds the ,postman's knock.
Two letters, madame"
Sui softly smiling to herself. as she
thinks that the now near tomorrow will
bring her tempesj-tossed bark safe into the
harbor of her hopes and happiness. she
chances with languid interest at the hand
writing oil tile address on the first envelope
which she carelessly picks up. Only her
solicitors well-knOwn hand, but addressed
10 MIS-. hayward. She opens and reads:
Dear Madam: / regret that most unex-
pected claim has been made against you, by a
Mrs. Rene Symonds. who alleges that under The
provisions OF The will signed and attested by your
late husband and OF more recent date than
that under which you succeeded TO his estate, all
BIS properly snail revert to her In the event of
your marrying again. From recent announce.
ment In tho Times 1t would appear that This con
tlngency has already arisen. Awaiting your in
strucIions, and assuring you that everything
possible shall be done to further and protect your
interests, l remain, dear madam. yours faith.
fully, JOSIAH WICKUAm'
Poor Coralie Is too stunned by the sud
denness Of the shock to realize the full ex-
tent OF her calamity. The letter falls from
her nerveless hand, the color forsakes her
parted lips, and she stands as if spellbound.
Suddenly her eye rests on the other letter.
as yet unopened. and the color rushes to her
lace again as she recognizes the handwrit-
Ing. With supreme effort she cnnouers
her conflicting emotions. opens the letter
and reads:
Dear Mrs. HaytCdrd Pray accept nv con.
CALCULATIONS on your recent marriage BelIeye
me, share your happiness most sincerely.
Your late husband apparently foressw the event
and made provision accordingly. or course Won
will not think OF opposing his last wishes az yon
were always such a dutifu wlIo / shall moi
forget my duty o carry out his int-nrions. and
have already obtained counsels opinion thar his
last will Is bound 10 stand. Yours most Affection
ateIy, RENE SYMONDs