The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-23

tHow did you sign your-proposal? 2"
Phil Trewitt--the only name she
knows me by"
Didn't you add Junior to your sig
nature?"
mo, / think not; indeed, know I
didn't. 1t looks awkward among
friends who know Its apart. But why
do you ask?''
Trewitts face took on an impression
which his son had never seen before as
| his father replied:
Because, my poor boy, Miss Ray
bright has accepted me-Philip Ire
witt, Senior-instead of YOU
"What!' gasped the young man.
Listen, Phil" said Trewitt rapidly,
Il made love to her before you were
born, when she was little more than
fifteen and I was younger than you are
now. I've not met her in more Than
twenty years until to-day I've talked
to her only as an acquaintance in the
last few hours, but undoubtedly she
thinks your letter was from me. I had
hoped that 1 might not have to explain
to you what had happened so long ago,
1 did not imagine! Heavens, my boy,
how you are hurt.'
Young Phil was indeed the picture of
misery. The proud glow Of his face had
faded into ashy pallor as his father
made clear to him the puzzling parts Of
Miss Raybrights letter. He snatched
the Hateful bit of paper fiercely from his
fathers hands and read 1t once more
his face changing with the sentences
He tried to make it his own-7to forget
Id fo Ia OH MI haJinun
that Marian had not been mistaken as
to the writer of the letter. Suddenly he
Thought he saw a CLEAN of hope, so he
asked.
"Do you really imagine she could mis-
take my penmanshlp for yours?
There's not the slightest resemblance
between them"
She's not seen mine In more than
twenty years, my dear boy. Besides, in
those days / fancy that / wrote about
as you do now business hurry hadn't
yet taken the flourish from my PEN.
Then the father went over the letter
aloud, explaining, with much the man
ner Of penitent offender, some Of the
passages which had mystified young
Phil, who finally stopped him by say
ing, with the most manly look his father
had ever seen in his face:
You're right; there can be no doubt
of it,
His father looked at him s3rrowfully,
tenderfully, but the boy continued rap
idly:
Never mind me; you shall see now
how much of man | am! Do you
think of Marian though, poor girl.
,stt ~ -, Gal
take!"
Not though the world falls!" ex-
claimed the father with much empha-
sis
The young man became a boy again,
and did some wild thinking for mo-
ment or two, murmuring:
II see 1t all. No wonder she showed
special interest In me-'twas because I
was your son Well, I'm right about
her In one way--she's the most sensible Z
and loyal woman alive But she I
shouldn't suffer because I've made
fool Of myself
She shan't my boy, If you IL
I'll do anything in the world to save
her from humiliation. I'll go down and
axplain-but, no, I won't, either, for
hat would make the matter worse. oh,
what fool I've been"
There's but one way to spare her
ceilings dear boy, and that would make
great unhappiness for you"
No, 1t wouldn't no matter what it
nay be. What is it? Tell me. quick
Cant you imagine? She has accept
ID a proposal. through no fault of her
,wn. It's a family matter, and she
=, cc4 |
Ter through"
And I have put you in this position;
your own, your only son!'
Don't worry about that, my boy"
aid Trewitt, with voice which seemed
o be troubling him greatly. ANY man
'hould be willing to go through any
hing to spare such a woman the least
annoyance on so delicate q subject. I
CONTINUED on Twelfth Page.) :