The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-03-31
a CRUEL :
DEsERTI0N
forinnall


was her daughter. Franees. Mrs
Franklin's gloom wore upon her daugb.
ter, who was at that age when the
world IS most delicious-the age or
keen interest, of warm friendships, of
love. Nevertheless Frances bore With
her mothers infrmities and made the
best Of the situation.
Then came Langdon carr, who fell
desperately in love with Frances. she
returning his affection. CAR was In
every respect capable of rendering her
happy. he was brilliant well started
in his profession for SO young man.
heir to prospective wealth Every one
said, AT last poor Frances is to be
made happy"
The lover during his courtship had
observed the condition in the Franklin
home and spoke OF Mrs. Franklin as
Mrs. Dismal" he was irritated to
find that it was impossible to get Fran
ces out with him one evening. for her
mother objected to being left alone. II
he spent the evening at the house and
be and Frances wandered away into
another room, Mrs. Franklin would
take on n sour countenance and after
Langdon's departure accuse her daugh-
ter Of having no feeling for her. Carr
resolved to end the unpleasant situation
By marriage.
Frances" he said, Eve win have no
comfort until We set up for ourselves
In our own home. There we shall be
free and independent"
This speech set Frances to thinking.
What would her mother do without
her? Either Mrs, Franklin must live
with her and her husband or sink I'M
der a load Of loneliness and sorrow.
Yet II she lived with them the daugh-
ters condition would not be improved,
while the son-in-law would be reduced
to a similar condition. Frances stud
led to find a solution, but there was
no solution. She must choose between
her mother and her lover. She decided
to remain single.
When Langdon Carr received her de
cision he was very much troubled.
However, he realized that Mrs. Dis
mar would make his married life mis-
cradle so long as she lived and felt
that Frances was doing right to decide
between them and her. Any other
course would be an injustice to him.
lit was better that she should sacrifice
him and herself and cling to her moth
er than drag that mother into her mar
Tried life.
"sweetheart," he said, your act only
makes 1t harder for me to give you up.
since II shows your nobility"
Five years passed and Langdon Carr
Idid not marry. ''He is waiting for
Mrs. Dismal to die" said his friends.
Then the doctors recommended a trip
abroad for Mrs. frankie and on the
steamer who should appear but Lang.
don Carr. BE showed great surprise
at meeting the Franklins, but this did
not deceive Mrs. Franklin. She feisned
Seasickness, remaining in her berth
and keeping Frances in constant at
tendance.
One night in fog there was sud
den Jar. a stopping Of machinery, hur'
wing footsteps on deck. shouting of or
ders Langdon Carr slipped on his
clothes and rushed up the companions
WAY to find that there had been col
lsi6n with sailing ship, and the
steamer was supposed to be sinking
Hurrvfng back to the cabin, he sought
Frances in her stateroom with hei
mother and begged them to come with
him. Mrs. Franklin declared that she
did not wish to live and begged her
! daughter to remain and die with her
wbereupon Langdon took the old WON
an IN his arms and carried her on deck
A boat was receiving the women. Il
was the last boat at hand, and there
was none left for the men. Langdor
nut Mrs. Franklin in It. then turned tc
hand in Frances. Frances hesitated.
Get in" he said.
"So. / once decided between you anc
mother in her favor. Now 1t is you
turn. / shall stay with you"
In another moment the boat was low
cred into the water.
i Langdon was 50 happy that even tn
death which threatened both Francs
and himself had not the expected ter
ur for him. He tried hard to keel
from a muttered prayer that the boa
containing Mrs. Dismal would b,
lost But there was little time for any
! thing except preparation. Langdon Sc
cured life preservers, which he put o.
Frances and himself, then lashed Fran
ces to a skylight, securing himself to
afterward. They then waited for th,
sblp to 60 down, the happiest period ei
ther had known in five years. But tn
, shlp did not so down. The breach wa
patched up, and she proceeded on he
, journey.
Az soon as the lovers reached Eng
land they learned that the boat Il
which Mrs. Franklin had left the steam
erhad landed on Newfoundland Fran
ces cabled to know II she was well.
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