National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-02-28
MY STEPDAUGHTER.

II suppose YOU have broken the mat
Ter to Eleanor | said to "my widower
only three weeks before we were to b,
married
~ could not do it after all. We ma,
as well surprise her, and it will be al
Owe. at once, said Mr. Eustace, strok
ing that handsome beard which hae
been one Of his great attractions to me
Il verify believe you are afraid o
your own daughter. Your long delay
Is great injustice TO her, and it makes
me unhappy, yes, miserable"
&" am sorry, but / rather like youl
scolding, Lizzie. | have always beer
used to silent, self-contained women
who would not move an eyelash if the
heavens fell
:" Is Eleanor one of that sort %
Yes, the oldest girl in the world.
wish she had little more nonsense
about her"
Il have enough for two
:" | give thanks for it. You are
- not too bright or good
For human natures daily food.
"The compliment may be well meant,
but it sounds doubtful. | shall never
trouble You with perfection. Do you
think our marriage will make Eleanor
unhappy !"
No-yes-I don't know" said Mr..
Eustace, on the rack with my perverse
questions.
" How will Hugh like it?"
On, he swears by Eleanor he will
take his cue from her."
Then | shall make two wretched by
going into your home"
What is the use of talking about it?
we love each other, and that's enough, "
sad my widower' crisply. in what
suspected would be his married tone.
MI Eustace stayedas late MS any young
lover, and | hoped most heartily that
his daughter did not sit up for him.
scolded him no more on that even
ing, but when he was gone | crept very
silently to bed with a little sister, and
did more hard thinking upon the case
OF Eleanor Eustace than | had ever
spent ON her father. | had vision of
,he tall, pale, dignified girl Il had seen
ner once IN church, suddenly dumb
founded by the sight of an actual step
mother
ltwas not too late torenounce him for
her sake, but ceuld l do it was the
eldest of five sisters, nearly all grown
up and beginning palpably to crowd
me out of the home nest. Mr.. Eustace
was the captive of my bow and spear,
.he first and only one. We were
family of hearty, not to say boisterous
manners, terribly prone to call II spade
sp de. | was already twenty-eight
1t would be II fearful ordeal to be the
oid mad of our sisterhood. And, after
an, Mr.. Eustace would be sure to go
lurther, and Eleanor might fare worse.
But at least | might have the grace to
warn her of her fate. rose up in the
sma'' hours and lit candle, in fear and
ttIeAiDnng, for / think this must have
peen the first deed done in secret in our
mouse. L put pen to paper without
nnaitlng moment, lest my courage, like
6ob Acres, should all ooze out of my
fingers ends:
DEAR ELEANOR EUsTAoE Your
iather is going to marry me three weeks
from I to-day. He will not tell you, and
l ieel that must. / believe it will be
! utmost as hard for me to enter your
nome as a second wife as it will be for
you to receive me.
nvsr your friend,
"LIzzIE NORTON"
posted this deed of darkness before |
ldyhSht, and ON the second day the |
'IAWer was handed in to the breakfast
.aole with other letters
MY DEAR MISS MORTON Your
ana note of the 18th is received.
Yours sincerely,
"ELEANoR EUsTACE."
mat was all. l had sent her bit of
ny heart and she returned stone. In
ny anger L tore the dainty little note
mo shreds, and cast them into the fire.
'iace. Ny little sister picked out the
;ieces and tried putting them together
iAe n dissected map. She made out
ne nam" "Eustace," and announced it
rinmphantly.