The Colfax chronicle., 1904-11-19
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l THE LOVE
THAT ENDURED |
BY CHARLES CSAGE


~ while the world was ringing Will
his plaudits and the gateway to tn
highest triumphs opened before him, hi
health broke down under the terribl,
strain he put upon himself, and tn,
physicians imperatively ordered lon,
sea voyage. No excitement. no society
no study, or work, they said. So 1t wa
decided that he should take sailing
vessel bound for the orient on q 81,
months cruise
Then came the catastrophe, the news
Of terrible storm and the wreck Of the
Davy Jones, the rescue Of three starved
sailors who told the story of the disaster
and finally the finding of lot of the
debris of the wrecked vessel
The news had thrilled the country and
+ made ten days sensation in the news
papers. Then it was forgotten and the
world turned to living idols, and sought
another upon whom to place the laurel
crown.
There was one, however, who did not
forget and who hoped against hope, that
was his wife. Their married life had
been singularly happy. 1t had been q
love match between two people with
hearts and minds well balanced, and had
been happy mixture of passion and re-
spect and tenderness which made har-
monious atmosphere seldom to be found.
The world saw the brilliancy and power
OF the man and yielded to it. She saw
all this and thrilled with pride at his
triumphs, but she saw. besides, his great
heart and his unselfish tenderness.
She could not believe the disaster.
Providence had no right to let such a
man die in the flower of his usefulness
nor fate to disunite SO perfect love.
For months she was confident 1t was oil
a mistake and that he would appear
eventually. One boat had been found.
There were six. Mahap some of these
had been swept ashore In some isolated
place. He would appear some day. The
elements would not destroy one 50 in
harmony with them.
AS the months faded into years, she
began to doubt and finally to half be-
lieve. Ultimately she was compelled to
give up hope. When she finally admitted
1t to herself 1t tore from her nature every
anchor and mooring. Life without him
she could scarcely conceive Of Itwas
new and strange existence-nothing to
hope for. nothing to do, no interest In
life. A sense of utter lonliness oppressed
her. She craved companionship, love,
human interest. But they had been so
entirely wrapped up In one another that
she had driven all other relationships
and friendships out of her life.
1t was then that Herbert de Kraft
flashed across her horizon. He was a
man of great brilliancy and wit and as
handsome as Apollo. He amused her
and made her forget. He evidently ad-
mired her greatly. Herbert de Kraft
possessed much the same sort of wit her
husband had had, but lacked his domi-
mating purpose and sincerity. He saw
all there was on the surface, but de-
clined to delve down into the depths.
Presently the world began to talk about
them and to predict an end for the weeds.
Meanwhile an emaciated wreck, the
wreck and remnant of a man was spend
Ing dazed existence in far of cline.
All that was known of him was that he
was picked up at sea by vessel, strapped
to an improvised raft, crazed for want
of water and nearly dead from exposure
and want of food. There was no clue |
to his identity and his memory was a |
blank. He was left at the first port |
where he slowly recovered his faculties |
all excepting his memory. Try as he |
would he could remember nothing of |
the past, His unusual talents manifest
ed themselves and he became a useful |
member OF the community upon which |
he was thrown. One day several years
later an American newspaper fell into
his hands. A certain story attracted his
attention-the story of a notable decis-
ion in great law case which had been
pending for years-together with a his
tory of the case. In flash all the past
came back to him. It was his case. and
he read his own name as the great at
torney who had boldly advanced the
theory which had been affirmed by the
supreme court. A thousand conflict
ing emotions surged through his mind.
He had been gone from his former home
five years. What changes had the wears
wrought? The cable was put into re-
quisition and he learned that Everett Ma
son was dead. that his estate had been
and that his widow was un-
The next vessel toward the
states bore him as a passenger.
A terrible shock awaited him. Ablaze
with the anticipations which had been
growing during the voyage, on the Pull
man car as 1t neared the old home town.
he overheard conversation which froze
lis heart. Two women in an adjoining
seat were talking. He heard the name
of his wife mentioned. Then:
"Oh. yes, she's going to marry again.
Perfectly infatuated with Herbert de
Kraft"
Well. don't blame her. He's the
handsomest man in town and the most
brilliant And she's worn her mourn
ng long enough"
1t was like driving a knife into his
ieart. Immediately upon his arrival
le made searching inquiries and all he
earned corroborated the gossip of the
rain. He spent days and nights in keen
mental anguish. He looked at himself
n the glass and saw his emaciated form.
'unken cheeks, thin harr and realized