The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-02-13
RALPH'S MOTHER
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Oh that stormy autumn night when
the wind turned her umbrella inside
out and she. had to run half block
after her flying dinner basket.
1t was lucky that he was on hand to
adjust the umbrella and recapture the
dinner basket from a whooping gang
of street arabs.
And then they met once or twice at
church, and at the Bible class of a
Sunday afternoon, and old Mrs Ty-
son, the minister's wife, asked them
both to tea. She had been young her
self, and she understood the signs and
symptoms.
So they were married, and hired a
neat little fiat, furnishing it as best
they could.
"Isn't it nice?" said Emmy. ooh,
Ralph, don't you wish we had some
one to visit us?
"If it would be company for you,
my dear" said Ralph Crystal, smiling
"But there's no one that know OF, "
said Emmy, except some tar away
cousins IN Dakota. And | never knew
much about them. Oh, Ralph, haven't
you any relations?"
HIS lace clOuded over
II don't know whether | have or
not, said he. "Oh, Emmy, God help
me, I've left my past behind me-"
He had sunk into chair, with his
head in his hands. She went softly
behind him and laid her cheek against
his forehead
"Tell me, Ralph" said she, "what is
1t? Why have you never spoken to
me about it before?"
Because" he answered, 81 didn't
want to appear like savage. Although
Idon't think Ihave claim to becalled
anything else"
What is it, Ralph?' she repeated.
81 ran away from home when | was
sixteen, Emmy" he replied, moodily.
Father was strict and cross with me;
/ don't say he was right, but now, as |
look back to it, | know that | also
was wrong.
81 ran away from home, and came
to the city to fight my way tor myself.
And when had earned enough to make
a little home | came back to get my
mother out of the atmosphere that
wasn't natural to her any more than
1t was to me.
81 was a fool to suppose that Time
was going to stand still for my con.
venience. When | got back to Hick-
DRY Falls, father was dead and the
folks had moved away-no one knew
where. Emmy, | can't tell you how |
felt when | heard it !"
"But Ralph, " soothed theyoung wife,
you will find her. No one could ever
be lost"
'I've tried, Emmy-I've tried my
best, and it is of no use," he sighed.
Emmy was silent for a second or
two.
GIVE always wanted mother" she
murmured, half to herself, "and
Ralph's mother would be all the same
as my own.
After that she secretly devoted her
self to the task of restoringto her hus-
band the dear old mother whom be
had loved and lost.
She studied Mrs. Crystals photo
graph, whose stiffness of detail and
costume could not obscure the sweet
ness OF the specialized eyes and the
gentle, wistful lines OF the mouth.
She visited all the Old Ladies'
Homes in the neighborhood: she
asked questions here, there and every
where. Whenever she heard of a
solitary old woman anywhere, she
made pilgrimage to see her and as
certain her history.
She even ventured-of course with
out Ralph's knowledge-to insert a
timid little advertisement among the
Personals" OF the daily paper, but
nothing ever came of it.
"But shall find her yet !" she kept
repeating to heTself-"I am sure that
shall"
OF course, all this had its disad.
vantages. Two or three stout old Ia
dies in dyed silk gowns, poke mats and
cheap cotton gloves arrived, bag and
baggage, at the little flat, and could
hardly be made to comprehend that
one elderly parsonage wouldn't do as
well az another, so far as Mrs. Crystal
was concerned.
An lmpostor or so presented them.
selves, and poor Emmy was almost
inclined to abandon her quest. But
she didn't; and at last, when she least
expected it, her luck came.
One day this little Mrs Crystal. be-
ing economically disposed, was search
ing through a second hand establish
ment for coal scuttle and fre-irons
m not going to pay outrageous
prices when | can get a bargain, only a
little used, : said she, thriftily.
Couldn't | sell you ANYTHING else
ma am 2" said the dealer, with that in
slnuating smile which is peculiar to
proprietors OF second hand shops.
I've set of red damask curtains"
Emmy shook her head.
NO, said she; Il need no curtains. :"
Halt dozen dining room chairs,
them suggested the man. cor a
par OF real old fashioned girandoles
with cut glass drops ?"
But Emmy Crystal did not hear
what he was saying; her eyes were
hxed lntently on . certain old bureau
OF ancient mahogany, darkened with
age, almost TO the semblance of ebo-
ny, with odd. brass ornaments under
the drawer handles, and curious claw
legs. N-''"
Just such one, in truth, as Ralph
was making in the odds and ends of
MS time at the shop, because. as he
SAD, ms mother had had a bureau
ike that.
Where did you get that bureau ?"
she asked quickly.
Ma am ?, gasped the dealer.
Il mean who sold it to vou?"
1t was brought in Yesterday from
place out on the Sound-one o.
1hem little one horse settlements
"here they don't have no second hand
emporums. But l assure you,
ma am, huttering over the leaves of
MS ledger, you won't get it no cheap