Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-28
SELECTED STORY
THE STEP-DAUGHTER'S PETI-
TON;
On LIGHT THROUGH TaH CLOUDS.
BY ARTHUR L. MgsERvE.

BY ARTHUR L. MgsRRvE.
Wicklow Place was one o. the inest spots
to be found in the Old Bay State. 1t la,
close up the berkshire Hills, upon the sum
mits Of which the sky seemed to rest, and
little Katie Grey used to think, as she gag
ed upon them, that it marked the boundar,
of the world.
Lonely and sad had she been all through
the summer day upon which our story opens
and she had wandered from room to room
all through the spacious house, like birt
seeking her rest and not finding it.
Her life thus far had not been cheerful
one, like that which should come to children
Of her tender age and innocent disposition
She could just remember when her moth
er had died. She was only an infant then
as it were, but she would never forget tn,
still form lying so pale and cold, and which
gave her back no answer when she called t.
her ane begged her to speak to her onc'
more
That moment she would never forget, ant
she chung to it so that it was ever fresh il
her memory.
Her father, though he was kind to her
had never filed the spot left vacant. HI
looked we'll to her welfare, provided ner witt
all that she needed, and then left her to the
care Of the servants, thinking that he hac
done his duty.
His time was much taken up with hi.
Studies, for he was a profound scholar, anc
one whose name was we'll known in
world of letters.
Between his books and caring for Wick.
low Place, he had but little time for augh1
else. If he saw his child at meal-time, and
passed few words with her, he felt that be
had done his duty, and that no more was re-
CURED of him. And SO Katie was left ia
the servants, to come up as she might.
But they were all Kind to her, and in
Mrs. Robinson, the housekeeper. she found
true and warm friend, who in a measure
supplied her dead mothers place.
A warm hearted and motherly woman she
was, and it was her one great aim in life to
be true to her charge, and to care for the
orphan as tenderly as though it had been
her own.
And thus Katie Grey had lived in her
home at Wicklow Place until she was ten
years old, and the day bad come in which
our story opens.
That morning her father had left home,
to be gone week, as he had told her when
he had kissed her at the breakfast table -
She must be good girl till be returned. he
said, and then he would bring her some
thing that would both surprise and please
her. What it was he would not tell, but
he kissed her again more tenderly than ever
when they parted at the doorway, and he
got into his carriage and was driven away.
No sooner was the carriage fairly out Of
sight, than most wonderful spirit seemed
to be infused into every one about the house.
From the housekeeper down to the cook
who at times was as cross as ever cook
could be, all seemed imbued with the spirit
Of renovating and turning things upside
down. Such cleaning and scrubbing
Wicklow House never got before and when
Katie would ask the housekcsper what il
all meant, she would reply, evasively:
why, child, don't you see that it is 8
good tine to do these things while your
father is away? If he was here, he coule
neither write or study, we should make such
fuss; and besides, we don't know bu
what he will bring company with him.
"Who is coming ?" Katie had once asked
80, we don't know" the housckeepel
had replied, with shake of her head, ane
mysterious look exchanged between he1
and the chambcrmaid, who had CHANGED tt
be present. "But then we may have com
pany any day"
She could get no more definite answer
than this, and SO the days went on until tht
one came on which her father was expected
home. It CHANGED that morning that sh'
wandered into the kitchen, where she foune
the cook hard at work, and cross withal.
'tDon't come here bothering me-" sh'
said, as Katie came up to the takle wh ne
she was engaged in making out pies. CIV
got enough to do to day, without having
anybody to hinder me-" :,
but I won't hinder your said Katie
eff YOU will only let me, will fill out th
pies as we'll as you"
"But I WON'T" said the cook, shortly
600 up to the housekeeper's room 9, If yo'
want to disturb anybody. You'll have
stay there most of the time, l reckon, afte
YOUR STEP mother gets here. She'll be to
6nc lady to have children round ez
pect. q, Liz.
''What do you mean, cook ?" asked IA
tie, her eyes staring with astonishment
this unexpected information.
..It means that you're going to have
step mother that's all, returned the 'ool
who having been offended BY some word
which had been spoken by the housekespee'
took thi. opportunity to spite her, ;, and al |.
to crafty natural desire she felt, to
the first to impart the news to Katie
e'Didn't you know thai your father I'd
gone of to get married 2"
"No !" answered Katie, in amaze.
"But he has, and he'll DO back with
new wife to-day. That's what il all meal
that we We been turning everything upsl'
7 down"
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