The Union Republican., 1904-12-02
Unto the Third
Generation
BY cIcELY ALLEN
COPYRIGHT, 1904, bp NJ. Wood


feel his support, his presence, even
though she had grown somewhat acr
.customed to 1t, and she turned to him
with wan smile.
At the head of the first flight of stairs
they turned into Mrs. Miller's little
sitting room, and Francesca dropped
wearily into the low rocker by the
window. Dick sat on the window
ledge swinging his feets His hall bed
room, was OH tlies floor above. Fran
cesca had the room next to Mrs. Mil
ler's, but since their engagement had
been announced the good natured land
lady had rather turned her little sit
ting room over to their use.
"In my days young folks didn't have
to do their counting in the park, and
1 don't. think it's right and proper"
she had said in explanation to her old
est boarder, crusty bachelor.
And now the two young people sat
in the twilight, typifying thestwo sec
tions of the country from which they
had Francesca, gentle, clinging
and dropping in the fierce struggle for
existence in the great northern city,
shrinking from the clamor of trains
overhead, the clang of surface cars at
her side and longing for the mellow
moonlight and the voice of the night
ingale in heriol southern home; Dick,
alert, quick, fascinated by the oppor-
tunitles which had drawn him from
a midwest farm. He had brought
nervous energy and strong, vigorous
blood, and New York loves to sap
and live Off them both. They had met
on the commercial highway and loved.
At least Dick was quite sure of 1t on
his side. Tonight-well, Francesca
hardly knew what was wrong tonight.
"a whole day to ourselves tomor-
row, sweetheart" he was saying.
''Yes,"s replied Francesca bitterly.
"That's what all the girls were saying
today. You'd think we were slaves
and-well, we are!"
Dick looked at her in surprise. Then
he spoke cheerily.
"Well, we shan't be always. Do you
know, francesca, that little venture in
real estate is coming out all right. l
could have sold my share today at a
net gain of thousand. But think
I'll hang ON until we're married, and
we'll build on the corner lot"
"And you'll be commuter, and I'll
die of loneliness through the day."
Dick eyeti-i ttffxiou5ly'
"Things go wrong at the shop? Well,
never mind. Tomorrow we'll have the
whole day
"Don't say that again." she COM
manded, then corrected herself quick
ly. II mean, where shall we gop
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take
few flowers out to one of the cemeter-
les" Then, seeing the surprise in her
face, he added hastily: ''Not that I've
any one buried around here, only at
home on Memorial day we always
put flowers on the soldiers graves, and
1 guess we can find plenty of 'em
around here. Then Wen go down to
one of the beaches on the boat. We
won't get off. Just take the water
ride"
Francesca's hands were clasped tight
ly over her crossed knees.
you can do as you like. I'll never
decorate a Federal soldiers grave, Dick
Merrill, never! If it hadn't been for
that war I'D not be in this dreadful,
dreadful city working-w working like a
slave for SIS week, with girls who
don't know how to dress, to talk, to
act. My people always had money, but
my grandfather was killed In your
war. My father could not regain what
the war had swept away He died
struggling with the problem, and my
mother followed him with broken
heart l hate the north, even though l
had to come and ask it for bread. And
you ask me to decorate the graves of
men who devastated my home"
Il didn't think, Francesca, dear; hon
estly l didn't. You see, we've always
kept the day. My folks fought ON the.
other side, and then i guess I'm bit,
old fashioned. 1t seems natural to go
to the cemetery, and didn't think of
how you might feel.a
"That'ssit. You.didn't think. You'll
never understand me,"' the girl said in.
low, passionate tones. .'There's' the
Mason aand Dixon line between us.
You northern men ares so different
You're, all business and dollars. You
get US Southern girls up here and grind
our lives out"
Dick looked serious now, but he
forced a smile.
"If the north had not teclaimed your
talents, dear, we would never have
met" he said, and it was her cue to
soften, but she did not, take 1t.
"oh, l hate it! l hate 1.-THE air, the
noise, the rush. 1t has no compensa-
tionsH
She did not mean it just that way,
but Dick took the words literally. He
stood up suddenly and very straight
81 am sorry Francesca, that you
think I cannot make you happy"
And when she looked up he had left
the room SO quietly that she could
hardly believe the move had been TAX
en- by vigorous, stalwart Dick Merrill. |
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She did not come down to breakfast