New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-24

W
| range my hair in its most becoming way,
for the dim light had been sufficient to show
that my fathers wife was woman of taste
and refinement.
AS my hand touched the door of the sit
ting-room, father was saying, "She took it
better, on the whole, than [ expected"
She's heroine, | think" her voice re-
piled, but you ought to have telegraphed,
as | asked you to do"
Eyes, suppose SO, but could rot leave
you long enough, you know"
Oh dear Love making at seventy
sounded 'tstale, fat and Improbable" to ne,
| though was certainly prejudiced witness.
[ stepped back lightly and made a little
sorape with my foot to give them warning.
"IIet us make believe that this is your
| first sight of me, | said, offering my hand
to my stepmOther with good intention Of
| oordiality. You know woman without a
train and false hair is but shadow Of her
self Shall make the tea now !"
'lf you please. | regret very much TO
give you so much trouble"
She may have meant more than the tea,
but preferred to understand it in that linn
tied sense. "Not at all l always make it
for my father W hen he comes home in the
early train. 1t wifi be your work hereafter,
and shall not be disturbed. You see your
lines have fallen on one stony place al
ready"
She was very quiet and serious as she met
my sham smile, as if she knew as well as |
did that to keep on talking thick and fast
was my only defense from food Of tears.
Have you-have you told Phoebe 2"
father asked in tone that made me have
the utmost mercy on him
mo; she was asleep. You speak as if it
were bad news, whereas she will heartily
rejoice at anything that makes you hap
pier"
He actually believed me Inen are 80
easily deluded1 and seemed from that mo-
ment to throw off any feeling of rem0rse
concerning Phoebe and me and to give him
self up to his new passion.
your room is in order, if you like to lie
down until breakfast"
II think / should like to lie down" said
the lady, putting her hand to her head as if
it acheG. While she was collecting her
wraps | looked at her fairly for the first
time. She was wonderfully well preserved
woman Of fifty-five or thereabout, with d
certain elegant neatness about her which
must have been grateful 60 my fathers
taste. Her eyes were large and brown.
Her hair had white streaks in it, but pre-
served the brown shade; her pure white
teeth and fair skin with few wrinkles in it
showed that she had taken lite easily. If
she had not been my stepmother should
have pronounced her very handsome wo-
man.
"If you lie on this side you will avoid the
GrOsslights from the windows" | said
which was true enough SO far as it went,
but it was my plot to prevent her lying
down on the spot where I had last seen my
own mother You will find blanket on
the closet shelf if you need one. Shall ]
call you to breakfast in an hour3'
"'If you please"
eft will be but plain one. as our cook 10
very old fashioned, but you have had the
wedding breakfast already, suppose"
She came up to me suddenly, with an in
Sense look which was not q little embarrass
ing. Don't overdo it SO terribly" she
said. = shall think yqp have begun TO
what an idea! On the contrary, I don't
wonder at all that any father wanted to
marry you"
"you are nos 40 all like your father"
mo. ! am said to resemble my mother
very closely" She gave me an expressive
LOOK, which returned with rather trer&u-
lOus smile.
When ] vent down father said. "You are
not very angry, EleanorP'
ANGRY No; why should beS
IL don't know. ] was g little @fraiH Of
you, yoU are 40 strong minded. She's
splendid woman. We shall all be happier
for having her in the house. 3dsSeyou told
PhGbe9"
''No; will 60 now"
ooh what is the matter :" hurse ont Ihnbe
aS sight OF me. ''Has NOT fathey come home
safe 2"
Eyes, yes--very safe 70
~ thought heard sons other woman
pass this door with you. Who was She ~
threw myself across nep bed and lee the
passionate tears that had been burning my
eyes for an hour, have full flow. Strong
minded! ] was the weakest of women just
then.
Eleanor, don't fell me he is married, and
never let us know"
'WOoed and married, anR all in the space |
Of three days"
'tHe has disgraced himself"
No, no, Phoebe, don't think that. 10 Is |
only the sudden ehock thai upsets me SO. |
She is of suitable age, refined manner, and |
altogether. as Joe Gargery would say, a
tne figure of a woman Fatheg is very |
happy, and very devoted"
"'That will be hardest to bear"
owe won't bear it, 1t was mothers wish |
That we should go away
But where3 said Phoebe, g1apcine at
srutches. Il can not go fast or far" This
had nearly melted me again.
''Only down the street. We can hire
hose four little rooms that Mrs. Green
thought Of letting. We have each the
blessed thousand dollars that mother left
Is. We can't starve while they last, and
perhaps something will turn up. She owned
III this furniture, too"
Il know, but it wouldn't do 10 take it
way from father when he has used it SO
Ong.'
1--WE will 90 if we have to- sleep On the
oOr." I said desperately.
"0fcourse," said Phmbe, "but it is hard"
The new mistress of the house certainly
'ehaved with wonderful tact and dignity.
he repressed my fathers raptures when
nth us, and showed the utmost sympathy
ar Phnbe'5 trial. She was in no haste TO
ighten the reins of housekeeping, and
eemed determined 10 win us over as she
ad won our father.
"It is not so bad as it might be, but we
must go all the same,n / said many times %
ay to Phoebe to keep her heart up.
Our step-m0ther arrived Wednesday
lorning, and within twenty-fOur hours /
ad engaged Mrs Green's rooms at o small
emit. 1t was with intense relief that heard |
~ step-mother say: | have some furniture
Oming, but If it would trouble you and
h9be to see any new arrangement in the |
Ouse, we will store it in @ spare room"
Thank you; it will not make the least
ifferenco to us. How much furniture have |
pu2"
~ saved enough from my old home 20
rnish dtting-room, bedroom and
itchen. was keeping house in three lit
g rooms, and striving hard TO get together
private school, when your father rescued
le from poverty and loneliness. Twas en-
aged to him many years ago, but il Was |
,on broken" Her face flushed little,
nd am sure mine did so too. Ihad never
sked question OF her or of my father
bout he past life.
II am so glad that you have just the
lantity Of furniture that PhBbe and |
lall need. You can spare us some Of the