The Democratic advocate., 1906-12-28
Seleet Storp.
Ralph Dapr0V'S New Year TFJSt.

of the group, Aorid man of seven o
eight and twenty, rose and went TO tn
piano. First he played an argumeutativ'
fugue of Bach s, then he swept the hear
ers away on the measures of a waltz o
| Chopin S, and last he raised rich teno
voice and sang song after song, ending
with Beethoven's Adelaide. Th'
three by the fire applauded rapturously.
''He is in great voice tonight, sale
the girl. Though her features and color
jswere more delicate than the singer $, the
resemblance between the two showed then
ito be brother and sister
''IIe ought to have been musician,
said the young man, youth not long pas
twenty.
THAT shows, Basil, how little you un.
derstand Raj ph Music is his recreation
if he has made mistake it is in giving ul
his inventions. Two of his patents are ii
usetoday on everyrailroad in the country
The speaker was tall, keen faced maj
of about five and twenty. In dress and
in manner he was more conventional thar
any of the others.
''Ralph, come help me keep the peace
Here are Basil and Philip on the verge o.
discussion You all promised there shoul(
be no disputes on the last night of this dea
old year, said the girl.
1--WE said quarrels, Mildred; you vii
not object to mild debate? See, we have
still an hour of the old year left. Wha
subject is under discussionY
As he spoke Ralph left the piano anC
Joined the group by the fire.
''You."
s'Well what about me?'
| "Whether you made a mistake in be
coming an architect instead of a musician
or an inventor.
"T'hey think l have made mistake,
do they? ''Look about you, friends; thi
is good room?''
cit is the best room in the world =
cried Basil ''It is the only place in this
accursed city where the truths spoken o.
understood. -
'sFor pure comfort have never seen q
room that could compare with it, Philip
admitted.
Chow happy we have all been here,
sighed Mildred Basil and Philip looked
first at her and hen at each other.
"You think this is my first attempt, dc
you? tell you | have been an architec
since the day [ built my first house ot
blocks, in my nursery. l was keeping my
great news till midnight. 1t will keep NJ
longer. My plans for the new capito
have been unanimously accepted by the
competition committee; not contrary vote
There was moment of astonished 81
| lence. The announcement seemed incredi
BILE.
A burst of enthusiasm followed Ralph
| caught his sister in his arms, while Philip
and Basil waltzed together round the grea
room, which resounded with their joyous
cries and laughter, The first intoxicatior
of surprise over. the group formed AGAR
before the noble fireplace where the yule
log burned merrily.
'It's even more than it looks at frs
blush,' said Ralph. MY sketches in
clude plans for the new mint and Law
corrts- The whole future Of the city is ii
my hands. The capitol is the keynote
my scheme for the avenue and building
which approach it must be carried out, o
the whole thing will be failure. One o
the committee said to me confidentially tina
l might be sure of being employed by the
city for the next twenty years, if live.
s'If you live,'' cried Basil. Il ma,
die; Philip may die, cannot imagine yol
dead. You are more alive than anythin!
else in the world
! "Large phrases Basil, If l live, you
shall decorate the capitol, which will max
you famous; Philip shall put in his ne'
system Of lighting aud heating, which vii
make his reputation. have always fel
that was in some strange way responsible
for you two. The committee S decision
the foundation Of three fortunes instead o
one. -
"Four fortunes!' corrected Mildred.
! my fortune is yours until some othe
man takes you from me, said Ralph
stroking her thin hand.
| ssIf Philip and Basil and my fortune
are bound up in yours, big brother, yo
must take care of youself," " murmure
Mildred
'Yes,'' said Philip, laughing; ''yo
ought to insure your life for our benefit,
you feel like dying. -
81 never felt less like dying In my life,
said Ralph "Like Basil, | cannot i'm
agine myself dead What is this thin
that [ call my soul p Ralph continues
after long pause. II can hardly gras
the idea of pure spirit; asoul has substanc
to me, as it had to those old preraphaelit
chaps who painted is as little white bub
BILE passing from the lips of the dying
! ut has color to me- said Mildred
ssMine is white like snowstorm; Philip
is gray like mist Ralph's is red like tha
fame.
"And miner asked Basil.
''I cannot tell; | do not see it, SAT-
Mildred.
| .sIf should die, if the little white bub
BILE should pass my lips before our grea
coup is made, promise you all that [ wi
linger long enough about this dear oil
earth to give you each lift with you
work. We four have been too much t
each other to forget one another, even i
another life. What are three or fou
score years out of eternity, after all?' sal
Ralph.
/ "What indeed?" echoed Basil. 'W
often wonder why we forget the dead $
quickly Is it'not- because they forget US
If we become SO engrossed in life, which
already an old story to us, that we Civ
less and less time to remembering them
why should we expect them, among all tn
splendid surprises that await them, to re
member us?
i Enough of this morbid talk, sal
Philip. s.Seel the clock is on the 'strok
of midnight. The sougr'
i "Fill your glassesr cried Ralph. ssNo