New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-10
RALPH'S REVELATION.
a Christmas STORY.

1 { -
Z wish Christmas would not come
round SO quickly" sighed a pretty
young woman who sat by Preside in
9 very solemn, gloomy lodging house.
$50 do ], I can assure you" re-
sponded the pretty young woman,s
husband, a tall, stalWart fellow, who
was reclining lazily in an arm chair,
"If you think that I enjoy Christmas
day at the governors knowing that
you are here alone with the boy, you
are mistaken. I get as glum and
gloomy as possible; in fact, they are
always teasing me now, and declaring
that I'm in love, because I'm so quiet.
] am quite well aware, however, that
I've got the pleasantest part of the
burden to bear; you must have avery
dull time of it, poor little woman"
81 don't like it, confess" the wife
replied, for many reasons. Ofcourse
should always like to have you with
me, to begin with; then, I do not like
to remember how we are deceiving
your father, who seems so kind and
indulgent to you, Ralph, that I 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
scandalized when / told her that I 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, ashe glanced
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, that few men would be
contentto endure such life for the
sake Of a woman's love. It was all
very well tor him. He went down to
| his father bank day by day and
! louIged 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 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 hid.
ing herself and boy, at their sons bid
ding.
Ralph Yorkemuse over these points
! one by one, thinking tenderly OF his
'littie 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, "Tll tell the governor"
! She gasped for breath in her utter
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
/ think would rather he did cut me
/ off with a shilling than that I 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 extravagant am sure
But, Ralph DEAR" pleaded his wife
sdon'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 a
quarrel and bitter words with him to.
morrow. Wait week or so longer,
and accustom y yourself to the thought
of bearing his displeasure. Don't be
rash about it"
Il 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 my
mothers at church, and we'll spend
an honest Christmas day, at all
events"
So it happened that the next morn
ing, just as Mr.. Y orke,. senior, had in.
stalled himself comfortably in his
arm chair to have, perhaps, forty
winks while his wife was away, as he
| gazed into the fire he heard his sons
knock at the door. and in moment
Ralph Yorke entered the room.
! you're early my boy" said the
old gentleman; and Ralph answered,
| plunging into the matter at once:
81 came early, father, because ]
have something to tell YOU"
'sEh, what?" cried Mr.. Yorke, look
ing keenly at his son; tout OF money
| are your"
ooh, no, that's not it, murmured
Ralph.
'1Then you must be in love-" said
the astute old gentleman.
"Well, no." Ralph answered, raising
| his head and looking his father full in
the face; 1'its not exactly that either.
l HHl, s., ~ IL r :.