Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-08-22
A Man of Honor.

hiHlcI UIetuly Hdu meJ mau
Branscomb during a visit of her
to the city. She was the daughte
of wealthy manufacturer, and wa
an exceeding attractive young won
an. He was married man, but hi
marriage had been unfortunate; hi
wife had deserted him, and, although
he furnished her with support, fur
ther than that they had no com
munication with each other. H
had ample grounds for procuring
divorce, but the thought of drag
ging through a divorce court tn
name of one who had been his wifi
was repugnant to him, so he live'
on and endured the bondage tina
was hateful to him in order to pro
tect her name. He had been of so
ciety, but not, strictly speaking, il
it. His intimate friends knew how
he was placed, but the general pub
lie thought that he was widower
and as he was careful to be discreet
in his behavior there was no occa.
sion for any gossip about his ac-
tions. His wife's conduct had been
such as to entirely ALLEVIATE what af.
fection he had for her, and conse-
quently she was simply an incubus
a burden which he had to carry, and
which he tried to carry without
complaint. But after he met Maud
Branscomb things appeared differ
emily to him. They had been drawn
to each other at once, and she SEEM
ed to be the "other soul" that he had
sought for in vain, yet his lips were
sealed and he bravely bore his bur-
den and held his peace. She in
stinctively realized the passion
which animated him, and recipro-
Gated, while she wondered at his
silence.
They had separated. She had re-
turned to her home, still wondering.
1t was not a great while after this
that her father died, and instead of
leaving his family well provided
for, his affairs were hopelessly in
vowed, and they were penniless.
Maud at once sought employment
in the city. She was bright, quick
and practical, and among the few
men of business of her acquaintance
she.naturally applied to Elmer Green
ly to aid her in her quest. Maud
had hesitated to apply to him, but
after thinking the matter over she
concluded that she would.
"Why not?" she said to herself.
81 have no right to assume that
his interest in me was anything
more than he would feel for any
bright young girl, and as we were
very good friends have the same
right to call upon him as another"
AS it happened, the result was an
interview in which Elmer told her
that a friend of his would give her
employment in his Office.
"On me you can always depend
when in need of advice or assist
ance," he said, because | love you,
although | am compelled to acknow-
ledge that | have no right to tell
you so. 1t is but justice that you
should know the truth. Stay, do
not speak but hear me through.
] am a married man. The public
would justify me in obtaining a di-
vorce, but cannot get my own con-
sent to have the name of one whom
| once loved subjected to scandal of
the courts. We are separated
thoroughly and completely, through
no fault of mine, yet bound to-
gether by solemn tie. Thus you
will see while am free to love you,
| cannot ask you to love me in re-
turn. 1t is right that you should
know. All | ask is that if | can be of
service to you at any time l may
have the privilege of helping YOU"
Maud looked as one dazed for a
few moments, and then rose.
81 must go now," she said, and,
holding out her hand to him, she
added: 81 will trust in you, and
call on you in case of trouble.
Good-by," and then she went out i'm
to the street.
Twoyears wentby. Maud succeed
ed very well in her business efforts.
She and Elmer met occasionally,
but as casual acquaintance. AL
ways friendly and courteous toward
each other, but the important SUBJ
ject was not referred to again. It
seemed without hope. His burden
was evidently heavy for him to bear,
for he had aged perceptibly, and his
face showed signs Of care in those
two years. And she had lover.