Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-01
The gentlemen bowed in return.

Quircd.
Crying oysters, madam. in Canal
street. answered Mr.. Dornton.
The lady was betrayed into an invol-
untary start of horror.
But without regarding that. the cler-
gyman proceeded TO detail all the cir
cumstances connected with the arrest
of the fish boy.
The lady turned a melancholy gaze
upon the supposed delinquent, but for
bore all r~eproaches.
And Dol after. the three visitors
arose to depart. They took a respect
full leave Of Mrs. Greville. and then
went to shake hands with their late
captive.
Good evening, Master Greyille. We
hope to see you at school again after
the Christmas holidays" said the cler-
gyman.
when all that is disagreeable to be
rem embered shall be forgotten added
the professor.
And it will depend upon yourself
whether you are happy with Us or
not" concluded the schoolmaster.
And with three more deep bows TO
the lady of the house, they withdrew.
And now, my darling. that they are
gone. and we are quite alone, tell me
why you left the school where | placed
you:" said the lady, affectionately put
ting her white and jewelled hand upon
his rough head.
But the fish boy did not reply.
IF you have received just for
dissatisfaction. would it not have been
better to have remained for a few days
longer. until my return from Europe.
which you know was hourly expected?
But let that pass. And o that We
have met. tell me. tell your mother. all
about it,
MY lady, you are not my mother,
no more nor the Queen o Sheba is"
said the fish boy, sorrowfully.
'Oh. Fulke, Fulke. u~ngrateful boy,
how can you speak TO me in that cruel
wayg said the lady. with tears in her
eyes.
How can l help it? It's the truth,
my lady! you are not my mother. L
wish you wasi'
that is, | am all the same. And l am
sure l have never let you know the diff
ference. Have | now, FulkeT"
The fish boy was sc touched by her
p~laintive voice and tender look, that
lt III NCltu tNdSiNtiy III IClNLllhS
only to the present time:
Il know you try TO be a mother TO
ne, my lady"
Yes! do | not. boy? But leave Off
calling me my lady, you absurd fellow.
Where did you ever pick up such a
habit? Yes, Fulke, ever since l mar
ried your father. when you were but
three years old. I have taken you to
M. lna vf of hnarfc and aharishnd Won
even as my own child. Didn't you and
Lois share n nursery, one school
room. Were not you and she like the
truest brother aad sister. although you
were the son of Mr.. Greville's first wife
and she the daughter Of my first hus-
band? 1t used to delight us both to
see how fond you were of each other
in those childish days. before 1t became
necessary to send you to separate
schools. Oh. Fulke, don't you often
think Of those happy days Of infancyY'
The fish boy did not reply. He was
thinking Of the days of his infancy, in
deed, an infancy passed first in the
arms of the tramps and beggars of
Westminster, and afterwards sus-
tanned by the crusts and bones thrown
to him. as to n little stray dog. by his
poor neighbors.
"And in all those days, Fulke. do You
remember one single instance In which
/ treated my own child better than
your"
The fish boy did not remember any
thing about the matter. and he said SO.
And after your poor father died,
did l not continue to treat his orphan
son with as much tenderness as |
gave TO my own daughter? You know
l did!'
The fish boy could not deny it, since
he knew nothing about it, and the lady
continued:
"And when. a year ago. my failing
health rendered 1t necessary for ME to
relieve myself of all family cares and
go to Europe,did / not wish to take you
and my daugter with me? But your
guardian. Mr.. Courtney. objected to
your leaving the United States, and
requested that you might remain at
school? And then, when l placed you
Mt the Collegiate School did l not give
up the idea of taking my W daugh-
ter with me, who would have been n
great comfort to me. indeed. and did 1
not place her ut n ladies' boarding
school here, so that she could be near
you and see you often? And, oh. Fulke,
what could a mother do for a son moro
than that!'
"Nothink." answered the fish boy.
with tears in his eyes-tears called up
by the recollection that he had no
mother to do anything for him.
Then, my dear. dear boy. why do
you wound me by saying that | am not
your own mamma, only your step
MOTHER"
MY lady. you mistake! | never said
as how you We're my step-mother,
Cause you're nyther my mother, nor
yet my step-mother. / wish TO the
great goodness alive as how you was.
Boo-hoo-oo," blubbered the fish boy,
grinding his greasy cuffs into his over
flowing eyes.
These words were so smothered and
drowned in sobs and tears that their
meaning scarcely reached the lady's
sense. She drew his hands aside from
his tear-stained face and said:
''There. do not cry; / did not mean to
hurt your feelings. But do not ever
leave me again, my dear, dear boy!
Oh! think what an event TO meet me
On my return to my native shores! l,
all eagerness to see you and your sis
far catIod NJ vopr school hafnra nam-