The Philopena is a short story by Frank R. Stockton about a young man named John who falls in love with a woman named Mary. The two are engaged to be married, but before they can tie the knot, John must go on a long sea voyage. While he's away, Mary receives a letter from him saying that he has fallen ill and may not make it back alive. Heartbroken, Mary decides to wait for John to return, even if it means waiting forever. Years pass, and eventually John does come back, but by then Mary has already passed away. The story ends with John visiting her grave and leaving a rose on top of it.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1897 · Genre: Fiction, Short Story, Romance