Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-10

eyes -.
man: ssif circumstances were other than as
they are I should seek his acquaintance"
With that he moved away and left the
grounds, and my mother sank upon bencn
overcome with emotion. I felt great food
Of hope. It seemed possible to bring my
father within the net I was spreading for
him, and my mother also. could scarce re-
frain from exposing my plans to her. Inc
next day / boldly called on the gentleman
who shonld have been, but for many years
had failed to be my father. He looked atme
in surprise when l entered.
81 see. SIR" said, ''that there is no neea
to introduce myself. Permit me, then, as on
the basis of what ought to be old acqualnt-
ance. to make known my errand at once.
have been for nineteen years the victim OF
humiliation and regret because could not
call nv father by name. For long time
have known that nature neve- Intended me
for such an anomalous posio.on. 1 have
known that my father bore one name and
my mother another; that q fiction OF the law
in giving me yorr name made but such
scanty covering of respectability for my ex-
;stence that the nakedness was all the more
annarent. and now / desire to see such steps
taken as will permit me to open my arms to
YOU and say-my father! wish to see my
parents respectfully married"
"Janaes," said the gentleman gravely,
.your desire is as natural as it is high toned
honor you for it, and were it not for an
other fiction Of the law utilized, l grieve to
say tyy your lmother, / should caress your
head AID say my son, my noble SON"
cold sshas N not Of nv YY1ofhpr'c
prevented you from SO doing!m
"She sued for divorce, James, and thus re-
moved the sole chance of my knowing pa
rents joy"
Nor insisted, 'not at all; you can
marry her again"
A bitter smile played about his face as he
answered:
flames, you do not know what you pro
pose. You were never married to your
mother, and though cannot but retain a
great measure of respect for her, especially
as | see her partially reflected in her son, l
cannot contemplate the thought Of new al
lance with her with confidence"
was not disposed 10 resent this allusion to
nv mothers alleged inequality of temper. l
was there TO argue, not to deal In turpftude
and invective. SO said:
sBut. sir, YOU must allow that my judgment
in this matter is worth considering Re
member | have known my mother much
longer than you have, for the years since
Won left her constitute no part OF your know
ledge of her except as Irritation kept unfort-
innate features of your common life alive In
your memory Now from my nearly score
of years of intimate association with the
lady, great part of which has been spent In
close observation of her needs and character
istics, [ can recommend her freely as one
who is admirably fitted to make reasonable
man happy Admitting then that my long
wears of observation equip my judgment for
making accurate conclusions. you cannot but
accept my proposition unless you are ready to
be classed with unreasonable men,"
The gentleman was struck with my argu-
ment. and said as much after he had
Wondered a moment. "These considerations,
James," he declared, had never occurred
to me- You present them with such perspi-
cacity that am well nigh convinced But
did your mother send you on this errand"
"You do me injustice, sir" l replied, with
dignity. al am not a conspirator. realize
fully that it is mans part to sue for favor,
and my errand here is simply to suggest and
meanwhile hint at pleas might make were
our relationships less confused by law"
but at least you can say whether you
think she would have meT
81 cannot. That must be for you to find.
All can say is that in the event OF your
pres1ng suit viii exert such influence as
/ poss ess with the lady in your favor"
We talked somewhat longer in the same
Identified and reserved strain, and then sep
arated with the understanding that the gen.
tleman should renew his acquaintance with
my mother at an early day
Within a week he came to the house. and
admitted him with Unsurpassed excitement.
For hours he remained in the parlor with
INV mother. IL seemed as if he never would
come out. But waited with what patience
l could command. and finally saw the door
omen. He came from the room alone, but
his eyes shone with Joy.
flames, my soon to be again son." he e1-
claimed, ''you were right She Is most
estiuable lady We shall be married in a
few months" I could hardly restrain my
emotion. but feared to be too free with the
gentleman before had learned more fully
to respect his intentions l was not yet sure
that he was not seeking more for an excuse
to fold me once in his arms and say. My
sonIn And then, having experienced the
divine thrill of patel-nal bliss, run away
again. This / was determined to prevent,
and delicately limited the same, at which he
appeared to be hurt. But was firm and do
not regret it, although it now appears that
he was honorable in his intention from the
start He shall lose nothing in the great
future by the temporary GOODNESS with which
l greeted him during the period of bis en-
gagement to my mother This was prolonged
a little further than had hoped would be
necessary, but it seemed to them that at
their time of life people should be too wise to
ay hastily into entanglements that they
might soon r~1ret. They were married yes
terday, and now know what it is to have q
Sun,