Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Cruel Desel ton.
Iorigihal.l

SOILS, lOrJunp. All tlaI reindlneu 10 uer
was her daughter, Frances. Mrs.
Franklins Gloom wore upon her daugh-
ter, who was at that age when the
world is most dclicious-the age of
keen interest, of warm friendships, of
love. Nevertheless Frances bore with
her mothers infirmities and made the
best of the situation.
Then came Langdon Carr, who fell
desperately in love with Frances, she
returning his affection. Carr 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. If
he spent the evening ut the house and
he and Frances wandered away into
another room, Mrs. Franklin would
take on sour countenance and after
Langdon's departure accuse her dauSh-
ter of having no feeling for her. Carr
resolved to end the unpleasant situation
by marriage.
Frances" he said, 1--WE will 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 un
der a load of loneliness and sorrow.
Yet if she lived with them the daugh-
ter's condition would not be improved,
while the son-in-law would be reduced
to d similar condition. Frances stud
led to find 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
mali 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.
1t was better that she should sacrifice
him and herself and cling to Der moth
er than drag that mother into her mar
ried life.
Sweetheart" he said, "'yOur act only
makes it harder for me to give you up,
since it shows your nobility"
Five years passed and Langdon Carr
did not marry. HE is waiting for
Mrs Dismal to de- saidf his friends.
Then the doctors recommended trip
abroad for Mrs. Franklin, and on the
steamer who should appear but Lang
don Carr. He showed great surprise
at meeting the Franllins, but this did
not deceive Mrs Franklin. She feigned
seasickness, remaining in her berth
and keeping Frances in constant at
tendance.
One night in a fOgNhere was sud
den jar, a stopping of machinery, hur-
rying footsteps on deck. shouting of or
ders. Langdon Carr slipped on his
clothes and rushed upi the companion
way to find that there'had been col
lision with q sailing ship, and the
steamer was supposed to be sinking.
Hurrying back to the cabin, he sought
Frances in her Stateroom with her
mother and begged<t 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,
whereupon Langdon took the old wom-
an in his arms and carried her on deck.
A boat was receiving the women. 1t
was the last boat at hand, and there
was none left for the men. Langdon
put Mrs. Franklin in it, then turned to
hand in Frances. Frances hesftated.
"Get in" he said.
mo. 1 once decided between you and
mother in her favor. Now it is your
turn. 1 shall stay with you"
In another moment the boat was low
cred into the water.
Langdon was so happy that even the
death which threatened both Frances
and himself had rot the expected ter
ror for him.. He tried hard to keep
from a muttered prayer that the boat
containing Mrs. Dismal would be
lost. But there was little time for any
thing except preparation. Langdon Sc
cured life preservers, which he put on
Frances and himself, then dashed Fran
ces to a skylight, securing himself to it
afterward They then waited for the
ship to go down, the happiest period Ell
Their had known in five years. But the
ship did not go down. The breach was
patched up, and she proceeded on her
journey.
As soon as the lovers reached Eng
land they learned that the boat In
which Mrs. Franklin had left the steam
CT had landed on Newfoundland. Fran
res cabled to know If she was well. A
reply came:
'For your cruel desertion can never
forgive you"
That was the feather that broke the
camers back" Frances concluded to
sacrifice neither herself nor her lover
any longer, and they We're married an
hour after receipt of the message.