Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-17
A Milwaukee Romance.

~
| looking, somewhat full in the face, and
somewhat excised, jump from the cars
before they had fairly ceased their mo-
tion, and rushing off through the line OF
hackmeD, who were trying to stop him,
make off across the Menomonee rp town.
| In a second the observer might have seen
another gentleman, not 30 stout, but con.
| siderably taller, leave the cars and follow.
| In a space Of time very short for men to
travel SO far, the two might have been
seen Fastening up the steps of the Kirby
House, both putting somewhat from trav-
cling so fast-the short man putting the
most--yet neither speaking to each other.
| The stout man was ahead few seconds.
| His voice was lost in the excitement he
felt, but he found breath to ask, Where
is the proprietor and the query being
answered by Mr.. Webber pointing. out
quiet looking gentleman, who sat in con-
yersation with another, the stout gentle
man rushed up to the ex-Mayor, with The
exclamation, "Where is my 7on, sir :"
Before the proprietor had an opportu-
nifty to reply, the taller man arrived,
and rushed in with the almost breathless
inquiry, Where is my daughter, sir
The ex.Mayor was o little nonplussed.
Two we'll dressed, good locking, very ex-
| citable strangers coming upon him at
the same moment, one demanding son
and the other daughter, would lead to
the supposition that there had been an
outbreak in Bedlsm, or that the proprie-
tor had been doing something that had
just then slipped his memory. He took
. L a i
but there came the question more earn
estly asked than before, "Will you give
me my son, sir2" and before that could
be finished the taller gentleman had put
in, :" / ask you will you give me my
daughter, sir j"
The ex-Mayor is as cool as a cucum-
ber. We have often thought that an
earthquake would not excite him. He
began to get little nervous, but not for
getting himself, he said:
Gentlemen, you appear to be in earn
est. Once the people of Milwaukee, by
very complimentary vote, elected me
to be father to all the men and women
in the city, but"
I" ! want no equivocation, sir" broke
in the stout man, and "I'll have no
child's play in this matter" interrupted
the tall man.
"Well, gentlemen, you appear to be
80 very much in earnest, will tell you,
sir, | have boys Of my own, so / give
myself little concern about other peo-
ple's children; / know nothing about
your son or your daughter, and certainly
| have not got them"
| " But thev are here"
"They may be. A great many people
make the Kirby House their home, and
| sm pleased to say all like it,"
my son is here replied the short
gentleman, land l want him"
"My daughter is here" said the tall
gentleman, and | want her."
Then the ex-Msyor made the two
sit down and talk to him. He learned
that they lived in Chicago, were in busi-
ness there, and not on speaking terms
with each other, had, one son, the other
q daughter, children loved each other,
parents would not give consent, and
children came off to Milwaukee and
married. Then wrote to parents and
asked for their blessing. Instead of
blessing, both parents came on, each to
tear his child from the embrace of the
other and take him and her home.
The proprietor saw through the whole
thing at glance now, and wondered not
at the anxiety of the parents. He found
the couple were at the Kirby, and re-
questing the two parents to make them
selves as comfortable as they could, he
paid them visit. He found them both
somewhat frightened as the hours drew
near to hear from home, but he found
them both sensible people, who really
loved each other, and who would not have
taken the step they did had they not felt
it necessary to insure their happiness.
BE found, too, that they were married
tied together strong and fast, and that
all the indignant fathers in the world |
could not mite them and be concluded |
that he would not prevent their happi- |
ness, even if he could. He talked to the |
couple, who appeared more than ever |
frightened when they learned their pa
rents had really come, and he gave them |
some good advice. Then he came out to |
find both men ready to rush in and claim |
his own.
"Hold OF" he said, "you have left |
this thing to me. You, sir, will go in |
frst," and he directed the short man.
The short man went in. He was gone
Just thirty minutes, while the tall man |
paced the hall nervously. When the |
short man came out, he was not half so |
excited as when be went in. He said |
nothing, however The tall man paid his |
visit, but at the end of five minutes he |
came out more excited than ever. The |
short man stepped up TO him aud |
reached out his hand, but the tall man
turned away disdainfully aBd stalked |
out of the house. Then the couple came |
out the young man happy, and the bride
weeping Both threw their arms about |
the short mans neck, and all tried to |
laugh.
We know not what had so changed the |
short mans mind at the interview, but 1t |
was very evident he had been changed. |
There is no doubt n pleading from the |
son and q few tears from the daughter |
had worked the repentance.
Ii was a scurvy trick YOU played |
upon rs, he said; both Of you deserve a
whipping. | was an old fool, though, TO
stand in your way, for / might have
known you would have beat me. | didn't
know you loved each other 50. You,
you young rascal, have got better wife
than you deserve, and if you don { make
her happy, Ill break every bone IN your
body and you, my daughter, as | sup
pose must call you, mind, no more
tears- IN make your father reconcile
himself to the situation; or II be is stub
born and won't. III be all the father you
want"
To-day the three returned TO Chicago,
the short gentleman ss happy as any in
the lot kilsraukee HiscoAsin, Sfh.