The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-11-16
A.
Mans Promise
By JOHN PALMER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
. sss-sssss~s~ss~sess~
,. issl. wssisfn Newspaper unIonJ

Francis aud she were not 10 blaine
for having loved each other. They
had been introduced by Esther GREY,
q fiighty little blonde who had knack
Of getting hold of good.looklng men.
attracting them and then losing their
Interest.
Esther and Clara were friends so
far n two such women could be
friends-Clara. who was all depth
and passion and sincerity. and Esther
who could never mean very much 20
anyone because she meant 30 little to
herself
Clara stood with her hand In that
81 Francis. and In that moment size
knew that she had found her destiny
Amuslngi n YOU will. but such
things do exist. She knew beyond the
shadow - n doubt that she would
never care for any other man SIN.
knew. too. tia, she could bring Fran.
els To- her feet with word. n gesture
glance.
That evening passed like n dream
for both. II was next day that Esther
explained things when she called.
"My. you and Francis did seem
taken with each other last night" she
said 4 suppose you know he's mar
rledf"
Clara felt her heart sink. She could
only stare dumhly into her friends
face
"Yes. his wife's been incurably in.
sane for wears" said Esther. "She's
In nm institution. Violent. YOU know.
NJ fret, bu, noN they say she sits all
day a. sor; % apathy. She doesn't
know Francis She may live forty
years. hut she's hopeless She'll
never know anybody again. Francis
was heart-hroken."
''iie ought to-g.t n divorce" STAN
mercd Clara. No. I don't mean that"
She had h,urted cut the first Idea that
came into her head. She felt the tell.
tale flush Ia her cheeks But how
sad n il ."
"vcry. And there's no divorce for
that in this state BESIDES. Francis
believes ~ hi duty t. wait on the
chance that she may som. day re-
cover"
CLARA saw Francis several times.
mo IL was always the same Each
meeting sent them on into fairy.
land. They could not be happy apart
from each other And then-thc In.
cyliablc happened.
she was In hls arms. Darling II
You will be- - my wife 20 me. IN Ice
lust as true a. II YOU really were my
wife In law. She can never recover"
Claras struggle was hard one,
and Francis plcadings did not max.
IL any the hess formidable. Al her In
stlncts cried out 20 her io accept HIS
offer. e. find that happiness which
could only exist for her In his arms
And u was not any respect for
moral laws or social conventions that
finally decided her. bur the thought
Of the poor woman In the asylum.
she told him that they must part
forever.
her 20 change her mind kneelng nj
her Feet sohhlng. holding her hands
he begged her to reconsider
"Mv No, without you viii be- i'm
possible" he said. hut Clara would
not Yield.
Promise me one thing" he plead
ed "will you he true 10 me as Will
D. o. YOU; For can never care for
any other woman I shall never l"ok
NJ another
Il promls. you." said Clara. $50
long ~ live shall keep that prom
lse aud walt Tor you. And. II w
are never 20 Dee anything 20 each 9th
cr. shall SIN b. happy In the sacri
flee"
lie sworc. too. They decided. how
ever. not 20 write to each other. That
would have been unbearnble. n ever
the time came when Francis was free
he was to come to her That wa.
ALL
And the years began 10 pass. The,
went slowly NJ first. then faster
Then they gallopcd. Clara had been
fWpnty.tNe-uow she was thirty
seven. She had refused several %
fcrs ~ marriage.
She bad never seen him. hat she
often heard ~ him through her friend
Esther lie was prospecting ili'
wife was Just the same She would
never be any better. and she might
live FOR years lie had asked after
clara once or twice. Hut as the year,
passed he ceased to do so.
Then one day Clara saw In the IA
per that his wife was dead.
And n great Hood ~ happiness
flllcd her heart Aud secretly she be
gan buying little ihings-linens and
laccs. aud things that "a brid. pur
chasss. she was too shy Ia admit
very much % herself. But the mem
DRY IT Francis kisses was still upor
her lips. the memory % his face a,
he knecled that day before her.
Two or three weeks passed Fran
els must he busy with preparations
lie would soon come. perhaps that
very day.
Then she read In the newspaper the
account IL his engagement To Esther
Grey.