The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-19
The Sad Experience of
Francois Pigon.
CUPID WAS AGAINST HIM
LOVE WAS oUTWITTED BY VERY
CRUEL FATE.
a Young Klondiker Comes to Claim
His Sweetheart and "inds Her
in Bridal Array, Cslebrat-
ing Her Wedding.

The old saw that truth is stranger thar
f1cuon and that the course of true love
is rocky road to travel has been re-
markedly demonstrated in two young
people of San Francisco, and the strange
imaginary pictures of life as shown or
the stage of Morosco's have been cast
in the shade by the actual occurrences In
their lives.
About five years ago Francois Pigon
a young man of good family. fell, at first
sight, heels over head" in love with Vir-
ginia Reiffel, one of the handsomest and
most charming young ladies of the
French colony. His affection was recip-
rocated and their future was painted in
glowing colors. However, stern parents
had something to say regarding the
match. Francois had not reached his ma
jority and while he had been reared in
luxury and idleness and had no concep-
ton of the meaning of the word labor
he was not the possessor of a self-sup-
porting position or a bank account. For
this reason his parents objected to his as
Stunning the responsibilities of a benedict.
The sire of the young lady also constituted
himself a stumbling block to the ambition
of the young man, and declared that until
SIGH time as he had established himself
in life and showed that he was competent
TO provide for a wife he should not wed
the beautiful Virginia.
The lady could not or would not diSre-
gard --e wishes of her parents and there
was fearful parting of the lovers.
However, the young man who had
known nothing but the kid-glove and the
pate-de-fois- graS side Of lie, was deter
mined TO win the girl, and he lost no time
IN preparing to so out and do the battle
OF mis- lite.
He declared his intentions. asked Miss
Virginia i'm har "a
was given. Then, in company with an
OLD experienced miner, he sailed for the
inhospltable shores OF Alaska.
There the soft-handed swain went up
against the seamy side of life, and stood
the test when the hardships of the miner
in the dreadful northlano were much
more severe than they are now. He was
with the advance guard of prosepctors.
ana proved himself not only strong but
fearless in tie face of the sore trials that
come TO the peoDle who tempt Providence
in that back-door yard of the North Pole.
Through all his Efforts and privations the
love OF lovable woman sustained him.
Francois was in the advance when the
discovery was made in the klondike, and
was one of the nrst to rush to that land
OF gold. Fortune favored him and when
the turmoil had subsidized he was the pos
SCISSOR OF two among the best of mines on
Bonanza Creek. for a youngster little
past his majority this was marvellous good
luck and he then felt assured that he had
won the prize he had so faithfully striven
for.
AS opportunity afforded he sent letters
to his sweetheart and parents, but while
fate safely delivered the latter misSiyes
Cupid made ii his business to see that
the former miscarried. For some reason
not difficult to explain the messages sent
TO the young lady, through his parents,
were not delivered and while he supposed
he was encouraging his prosectiye wife
with tales of untold wealth. she was ig-
norant of his success or failure, and fin
ally concluding that her young lover had
forgot passing fancy and would not re-
turn to fulfill has fervid vow, she listened
TO the advice of friends and parents and
welded another, mayhap to lead a life of
unailoyed happiness.
Here is where the trusting lover comes
on the scene; comes with enthusiasm
comes with fat sacks of nuggets-with
checks and drafts to burn-comes as an
other Croesus-a king of gold from the
Klondike.
Francois, believing that his loved one
was conYersant with his successes
that he would be accorded proper well
come and thereafter take unto himself
wife whose love would richly recon-
pense him for all the sorrows he had ex-
perienced, prepared pleasant surprise
Tor all concerned.
Fate, however, disposed matters other
wise, and thereby, hangs a tale that
would be hard to duplicate in fiction.
He had sailed the seas over" and
crossed the wide ocean" to claim his
bride and shower his wealth upon her.
He arrived in San Francisco two weeks
ago yesterday, laden with sacks of gold
galore, and without word to his rela-
tiyes went to hotel TO prepare the long
intended surprise. A short seance with a
barber and bootblack, brushing up of
his rough miners garb, and the young
man felt confident that he was prepared
for the most enjoyable event in his life
time.
Accompanied by his business partner
he proceeded to the home of Miss Reiffel
prepared to take her to his arms and de-
IF ha leo n
to him by the girls father
The hack that carried the expectant
lover could not travel fast enough to suit
him, but his haste was of no avail While
he was dallying with the tonsorial artist
and the polisher of shoes the apple of his
eye. was before the chancel in the Church
vows that made her the wife of Francois
unknown rival.
About three minutes after the bridal
party arrived at the home of the bride s
parents the hot-footed young Klondiker
appeared on the scene. He was ushered
into the main parlor by sister of the
shock that awaited him. His 70 former r
sweetheart, then in the lower parlor be-
ing congratulated as Mrs. Marion Ma
gallon" was notified that Francois was
ment calmly and walked up the stairway
amid a shower of rice and followed by
jests and laughter.
Arriving at the landing she obtained a
glimpse of the bronzed and weather-worn
man to whom her first love had been
pledged. Without a word she promptly
tainted and was unconscious for nearly a
half hour.
The faithful Francois seeing that the
prize he had so bravely battled for was
lost collapsed without speaking a word
and in dazed condition was assisted tc
q carriage by his friend
The wedding festivities were suspended
finally sustained her and at the feast she
was the gayest of the gathering, while
her former lover was struggling with his
, disappointment at his hotel.
THE wealthy vounp Pieon 20 not,ro,,
Disguised with his reception, and sighs
no more for the joys of welded life. He
will return to his mines in February and
remain there till he has obtained all tho
gold the Klondike has in store for him
So endeth a story of loves labor lost