The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-12-10

e very solemn, gloomy IOdSi u
c house.
$50 do I, 1 can assure you,' re
sponded the pretty young woman
$ husban |, tall, stalwart fellow wh
was reclining lazily in an arm chair
eff you think that enjoy CEIist
mas day at the governors, KNOWN!
that you are here alone with tn
, boy, you are mistaken. l get a
] glum and gloomy as possible; IL
fact, they are always teasing me
now and declaring that Pm in love
because l am SO quiet. amAap't;
well aware 1Fever- that We goI
the pleasantest part of the burden
to bear; you must have very dull
time of it, poor little woman"
81 don't like it, 1 confess" the
wife replied, "for many reasons. Vi
course l should always like to have
you with me, to begin with; then,
do not like to remember how we
are deceiving your father, who
seems so kind and indulgent to
you, Ralph, that l dare say he
might not be as angry as you ina
gIne. It's very uncomfortable for
me, too, as regards appearances,
as the landlady has made several
tentative remarks, and looked out
ragged and scandalized when | told
her that | was going to dine at
home tomorrow, and that you were
not. She muttered something de-
rogatory to husbands in the pres
ent day. It does look strange,
doesn't it, for tomorrow will make
the third Christmas day I've dined
at home alone. However, now that
I've got Eddie to keep me company,
it's more cheerful"
The husband made no reply i'm
mediately. He was thinking, as he
glanced at his pretty wife, and re
membered how cheerful and un-
complaining she was, how willing
to sacrifice herself for him, how de
voted and attentive to him still,
even after three years of matrimo-
ny, that few men would be content
to endure such life for the sake of
a woman's love. 1t was all very
well for him. He went down to
his fathers bank day by day and
lounged through a certain small
amount Of work; he went to his
club, and had q cigar and some
scandal, and then, if not engaged
to dine out, returned in the even
ing to his wife and child.
None of his friends knew that he
was married. They laughed and
joked frequently about him and
had long since given up attempting
to see him at his own place. AS
for his father and mother, they
knew where he lIVed-that is, they
knew of his chambers in town, one
room in Bond street-but they
knew nothing of the quiet lodging
where their daughter-in-law was
hiding herself and boy, at their
sons bidding.
Ralph Yorke unused over these
points one by one, thinking tender
ly of his ''little woman" who had
already borne so much for his sake,
and who would be left helpless
should he die suddenly with his
secret untold, and at last a sudden
resolution arose IN his mind. EVA,
darling'' he cried starting to his
feet, "I'll tell the governor" ."
She gasped for breath in her ut
ter surprise, and he continued
"You see it's no use going on
like this year after year. He will
only be all the more angry when he
knows it. And l think l would
rather he did cut me of with a cent
than that 1 should live on in this
style. suppose l should always
get some friend or another to help
me, and ] dare say could make
enough money to rub along some
how. You are not eXtravsgant, L
am sure"
"But, Ralph, DEAR" pleaded the
wife, "don't do it tomorrow. Think
how it will grieye your father, and
let him have one more Christmas
day in peace and happiness. Don't
have a quarrel and bitter words
with him tomorrow. Wait q week
or so longer and aceustom yourself
to the thought of bearing his dis
pleasure. Don't be rash about it,"
81 don't think it can be said that
| have been rash about it" laugh
ed Ralph, "since ! have taken three
years to think it over No, Eva, l
won't be rash; but I'll see the gov
ernor to morrow morning while my
mothers at church, and well spend |
an honest Christmas day, at all !
events"
So it happened that the next
morning, just as Mr.. Yorke, senior,
had installed himself comfortably
in his arm chair to have, perhaps,
forty winks while his wife was away
and as he gazed into the fire he
heard his sons knock at the door
and in a moment Ralph Yorke en-
tered the room.
you're early, my boy" said the
o'd gentleman; and Ralph answer
ed, plunging into the matter at
once:
81 came early, father, because l
have something 10 tell you"
"Eh, what?' cried Mr.. Yorke,
looking keenly at his son; cont of
money, are your
"Oh, no, that's not it," murnur
ed Ralph.
"Then you must be IN love" said
the astute old gentleman.
"Well, no." Ralph answered, rails
ing his head and looking his father
full in the face; sit is not exactly
that either. The fact is, father, l
am married"
Ralph stared in utter amazement.
His father seemed perfectly unmov
ed. His face betrayed no sign OF
anger and he was playing careless
" with his watch chain as il Ralph
had been discussing his las~dinner
party. Presently he continued:
at is a folly that other men
have committed before you. There
is not much to be said on the ques-
ton. Was that all you had to tell
meT"
81 thought that was enough for
one morning" said Ralph, discon-
solately. He was bitterly disap-
pointed at his fathers matter of
fact view of the proceeding; he had
| L IL l.,