New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-12-22

for pleading now, and Ralph had felt
worse off than if his father had burst
into q torrent Of reproaches. After
pulling at his moustache restlessly for
q few moments, he said:
'Well, father, since you are not sur
prised at my first stallment, perhaps
you will be equally prepared for sec
ond piece. of Information"
eyes, dare say am" replied Mr..
Yorke, "What is it?"
'Why, that I have a boy" MUIR
INJURED Ralph.
"Of course, of course" his father re-
marked. s"There is nothing .astonish-
ing in that, either. Really, Ralph,
your marvellous news is very stale"
estate, father?" gasped Ralph in ut
ter surprise.
eyes: stale, "Mr. Yorke replied, look
ing abstractedly in the fire as he add
ed-"I have no reason Of course to
doubt your word, but are you sure
you're married?''
ri should not be likely to make a
mistake in the matter said Ralph,
with some pride. II have been mar
ried three years, father
"Have you. indeed?". observed Mr..
Yorke. '.Well, three years is long
time, and I hope you made no mis-
take about your wife. I hope she is a
respectable kind of a girl. What was
shea shop girl or servant?"
'sShe is as good and noble q, wife as
ever breathed," said Ralph, angrily,
tand I can't hear any insinuations
against her responsibility. Goodbye,
father" he continued, taking up his hat
and buttoning his coat. 81 can stop to
hear all this about my little woman,
and I'm sure, under the circumstances,
you can't want me to dine with you
to-day. I'll go back to Eva. A Merry
Christmas to you, father, and my love
to mother"
And before his father had time to
answer, Ralph had LETT the room, and
in a second the street door closed up
on him.
Old Mr.. Yorke sat quietly in his
chair, a curious smile upon his face,
and when his vile returned from
church the only remark ne made was:
my dear, our boy has told me
about his marriage"
Ralph felt sorely wounded as he
turned into the street, and commenc-
ed a vigorous walk, he hardly knew
where. He started off at a brisk
pace, and strobe across Madison
Park.
By the time Ralph had turned back
on his way ho1neward, he felt as
if ''every twopence he owed were four
pence'-to use a humorous illustra-
ton of depression. -Four o'clock was
striking as he put his key into the
door Of his lodging house; he could
not help remembering how hopeful he
had left in the morning AS he made
his way up the stairs to the draw
ing-1oom floor they inhabited he heard
voices in Eva's room. An indistinct
sound OF a gruff mans voice reached
his ear, and hestopped in amazement.
Could any OF his friends have dis
covered his secret? Had any one OF
them dared to come and annoy her?
At that thought he sprang up the re-
naming steps, aid flung open the
draWing-room door.
Never did he forget the shock Of the
sight that met his eyes. Eva sat on a
sofa beside lady whom he had first
hardly recognized, and in his arm
chair was his father, with Eddie on
his knee!
Ralph stood in mute establishment
at the door Of the room; and then
Eva came across to him, and putting
one gentle hand on his shoulder, said,
simply:
"Ralph, dear, your good father and
mother have come to say that they
forgive us for our long secresy, and
wish to be friends with us, and let us
be son and daughter to them in every
way. You see, your father loves his
grandchlld already
The tears were in Ralph's eyes by
this time, and as he came forward
with outstretched hands to hts
parents, he exclaimed;
"You are, indeed, heaping the ira
ditional Goals of fire upon my head by
your goodness. I can only say that
| am ashamed of my reticence. l
ought to have known yon too we'll to
keep such a secret so long"
"Not so very long, after all, my
boy" said Mr.. Yorke; sit was not a
secret so long"
swell, three years is a fair time, IA
ther,' said Ralph; and can assure
you [ am ashamed of every day of
those three years"
"But the secret was not kept for
three years, laughed Mr.. Yorke II
have known it for year and a half"
'You have known it!' cried Eva
and Ralph together.
Eyes; have known it for a year
and a hail." said Mr.. Yorke, triumph
antly, and evidently enjoying their
perplexity; .and, for the matter Of
that, SO has your mother, Ralph"
''But how?" cried Ralph. ~ did
not know anyone knew OF it"
II knew it through yourself, my
boy" said Mr.. Yorke. 'sYou sent me
a year and a half ago in one OF your
letters, by accident, suppose-put
the wrong paper in the envelopes
letter from-from-"
"F'rom Eva" put in the owner OF
that nama tinidIv