St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-11-15


turned to welcome my father with
chill feeling at my heart, and then
led the way into the house.
" VIII you 50 to your room, moth
cr ?" | asked.
" Yes, but you will call me Mrs.
Watson, Charlotte am scarcely old
enough to mother such big girl, .
and she laughed and was joined in
her merrimcnt by my father.
Silently | led the way to the room l
had taken such pains to arrange.
Mrs. Watson took no notice of the
room, or the lovely prospect from the
windows, but removed he cloak and
bonnet, smoothcd her hair and then
turned to go down stairs again. At
the door she paused,
4" wish you would direct the SER
wants to throw away those flowers,
they make a room most unhealthy to
sleep in," and saying this, she went
down stairs.
| emptied the vases which | had
filled with such different feelings, and
then | went again down stairs, not
the happy, joyous girl had been an
hour before, but quiet, saddcned, al
most angry in my disappointment.
My dainty tea was discussed and
enjoyed, but not one word was. be-
slowed upon me. My father was en-
tirely absorbed in the beauty and in
telligence of his wife, who convcrscd
brilliantly, but took no notice of me,
and | sat at the table, as much for
tire stranger to my father, as to my
mother. After tea, unnOtiCed and nn-
missed, | crept to my own room, to
weep over the shattered ruins of the
air castles | had built so lately.
4 new hope came in the morning.
thought how unreasonably had
been to expect my fathers wife to
love me at first sight, and | arose
strong in the resolve to win her ai
fcction by every winning art at my
command. 1t was very early, and |
went down stairs to gather berries
for breakfast, and to superintcnd the
arrangement of the table. Strange
as it may seem, never thought that
this was now my stcp-mothcr's duty ;
to me she was an honorcl guest. my
fathers love, my new mother, and my
only wish was to make her new home
attractive to her.
| was coming in from the garden,
my hands holding large china bowl
Of Strawberries, when saw Mrs T..
Watson standing in the doorway. As
the sun fell upon her tall, graceful
figure, | mentally approved of my ia
theirs taste in his selection Of q wife.
The fair hair which she had worn in
wavy bands while travelling, now fell
around her face in soft, natural curls,
while the thick braids at the back of
her head shouc like FURNISHED gold
Her delicate, pretty features, large
blue eyes, and brilliant complexion
were set off 10y a white morning dress,
trimmed with dainty blue ribbons.
She was really thirty-fvc years old,
but would have been taken for TWEEN
ty-thrcc or four by almost every one
Remembering my caution of the
night before, | checked my bound for
ward. and greeted her quietly,
| hope you rested well, Mrs. Wat
son"
Clear as a silver bell, and cold, and
hard, her voice fell upon my ear,
"Will you have the Kindness to
give me the keys, show me the clos
cts, and tell me the names Of your
servants ~
Are you not tired with your jour
ney 2" said. Let me relieve you
of the worry Of housekeeping until
you are more accustomed to the place
never worry about anything,
Miss Watson and prefer to be mis-
trcSs in my own house"
Choking back the Indignation which
filled my heart at the wiItul misun-
dcrstanding of the offer | intended in
kindness, said with forced calmness,
" 1t is your right, madam, and |
never intended to dispute it. Here
are the kcys!" Then raising my
voice called "Iizzie.'
"Show Mrs. Watson" | continued,
"thc closets these keys open and
in future, you and the other servants
are to go to her for ORDERS" and, hav-
ing thus complied with her request,
bowed to Mrs. Watson, and went up
| to my own room, leaving the straw
| berries upon the hall table.
Ny former lonely life had been Par
adise to what followed my fathers
marriage. Beautiful, specifically ac-
complished, and poor, Mrs. Watson
had married my father because he
was wealthy, and she filled her new
station with dignity that pleased his
fastdious and reserved nature. But
my step-mother lacked one gift ; she
seemed to have no heart. She was
never unkind to me. but she raised
between us an icy wall which l could
not pass. All the warm, ardent love
of an enthusiastic heart, which she
could have won by few caresses
and answering affection, she passed
by coldIy and neglectful. We were
as far apart, my parents and myself
as the most utter strangers could
have been. Chilled, lonely, aching
with unsatlSilcd longingS Ior love, l
threw the whole strength of my ma
ture into my studies and outdoor pur'
} suits.
} divided my day into hours for
music drawing, languages, and exer-
ciscs, trying thus to satisfy the crav'
ings Of my nature and when these
/ became too strong for sedcntary pur
suits, mounted my own horse, my
/ beautiful Mendan, and, unattended
t secured the country for miles around
, Into this strange, lonely life | was
: suffered to fall, unheeded, unchecked
} by either of my parents ; and as al
my timidly offered love (for it cam,
, to this at last) was scorncd an,
: slighted by Mrs. Watson, grew a
| last to hate her with all the force 0