The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-24
RALPH'S REVELATION.
A Christmas Story.

II wish Christmas would not come
round so quickly" sighed q pretty
young woman who sat by q tireside IN
a very solemn, gloomy lodging house.
$50 do /, l can assure you" re-
sponded the pretty young woman's
husband, a tall, stalwar5 fellow, who
was reclining lazily in an arm chair,
eff you think that enjoy Christmas
day at the governors knowing that
you are here alone with the boy, you
are mistaken. | get as glum and
gloomy as possible; in fact, they are
always teasing me now, and declaring
that Pm in love, because I'm SO quiet.
I am quite we'll aware, however, that
I've got the p~leasantest part OF the
burden to bear; you must have a very
dull time of it, poor little woman"
II don't like it, | confess" the wife
replied, "for many reasons. Ofcourse
I 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 20 you, Ralph, that l dare
say he might not be as angry as you
imagine. It's very uncomfortable for
me, too, as regards appearances, as
the landlady has made several re-
marks, and looked outraged and
! s~candalized when | told her that | was
going to dine at home tomorrow, and
that you were not. She muttered
something derogatory to husbands OF
the present day. 1t does look odd
now, 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 COM
pany, it's more cheerful"
The husband made no reply imme-
diately. He was thinking, as heglanced
at his pretty wife, and remembered
how cheerful and accomplishing she
was, how willing to sacrifice herself
for him, how devoted and attentive
to him still, even after three years OF
matrimony, thai few men would be
content to endure such a life for the
sake of a woman's love. 1t was all
very we'll tor 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 a cigar and some scandal, and
then, if not engaged TO dine out, re-
turned in the evening to his wife and
little 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 W 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 hid
ing herself and boy, at their sons bid
ding.
Ralph Yorke unused over these points
one by one, thinking tenderly 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, t'Pl tell the governor"
She gasped for breath | n her utter
surprise. and he continued:
"You see it's no use going on like this
year after year. He will only be al
the more angry when he knows it. And
/ think / would rather he did cut me
off with a. shilling than that should
live on in this style. Isuppose Ishould
always get some friend or another to
help me, and | dare say Icould make
enough money to rub along somehow.
You are not extravaganza / am sure
"But, Ralph DEAR" pleaded his wife
"don't do it tomorrow. Think how
it will grieve your father, and let him
have one more Christmas day in
peace and happiness. Don't have 8
quarrel and bitter words with him to
morrow. Wait a week or so longer
and accustom yourself to the thought
OF bearing his displeasure. Don't be
rash about it,"
81 don't think it can be said that
have been rash about it," laughed
Ralph, "since / have taken three
years to think it over. No, Eva,
won't be rash but I'll see the gov
ernor tomorrow morning, while m,
mothers at church, and we'll spens
an honest Christmas day, at al
q events"
So it happened that the next morn
ing, lust as Mr.. Yorke, senior, had in
stalled himself comfortably in hi
arm chair to have, perhaps, fort.
winks while his wife was away, as h
: gazed into the fire he heard his SON.
. knock at the door. and in a momen
Ralph Yorke entered the room.
You're early my boy" said tn