Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-14
MY STEP-SOS.
MARGARET SCOTT NJ 'RITCHE.

MARGARET SCOTT NJ 'R1rcHE.
has been married Just year when
my life experienced its first great trouble
"a trouble self-increased by the willful
pride and rebellion with which my head
strong girlhood met it.
Hitherto my path had been particular
ly sunny The only child of wealthy and
indulgent parents, became engaged when
eighteen years old to Kendall Darcy,
rising barrister, some years my senior,
whom 7 loved with warmth only equaled
by nv satisfaction when found that the
affection was mutual Ny father warned
him that such spoi!t child would prove
troublesome; but Kendall had no fears on
that point, and as yet our welded lite
had cast little enough of shadow upon us.
Now and then l did indeed notice upon
my husbands face a grave, preoccupied
expression that I faileu to understand, but
I knew he was intrusted with Important
issues, and, loving his profession as he did,
it was no wonder that his mind should
entertain its concerns even when he rested
from its duties in his beautiful home at
South Kensington. I guessed not that
scenes in his past life were the phantoms
so frequently orising before him, haunting
him even in his present happiness, unsus-
pected by his joyous girl-wife.
I was now about twenty years cid, and
happier than ever, for beautiful infant
boy had crept into life and love. All,
what marvellous hopes clustered round
the rose-pink be'ceaunette wherein rcposed
what the papers announced as our "son
and heir'' Kendall used to pinch my
cheeks, calling us couple OF babies,
when he watched us together; but
knew ne was as proud of our little Frank
as myself, though his nile was so quiet
and his looks were 50 subdued as he held
the wee dimpled hand in his own.
Never shall l forget the morning when
we become aware that baby was not the
81 son aud heir''-that Kendall ha living
son, and that was a step-mother. We
were breakfasting together in our tavorite
room, and the flowers were nodding IN at
US through the open windows, while toe
,canarics sang their sweetest, when my
husband received a b(ac k-bordered letter
that turned his face CHASTITY white as he
perusea it. I hurried to get him brandy
fearing he was going to faint. | guessed
that something was amiss in his bankin 6
or professional affairs, but I could not
annoy him with questions, and silently |
knelt beside him, putting my arms a.
ound him.
The story was told by and-by, quickly,
abruptly; but it was very long ere zeal
lied the truth-thatI was second wife.
In the early day Of our acq uaintance Ken
dial had heard me speak despairingly OF
r friends marriage, vowing that nothing
should induce me to marry widower; it
w&s then that he had most unfortunately
resolved to keep the fact Of his previous
marriage private; and could we'll under
stand how much suffering the deception
had caused him.
as youth Of twenty-onc he had met
his first wife, the pretty daughter of a
yeoma n farmer, and the belle of the vii
lage where his guardian, Col. Grant, resid-
ed. Home from college for his vacation, he
was delighted for 50 pleasant an acquaint-
:ance to beguile the tedium of his stay at
the Hall, and their dance at the harvest.
home was the prelude to a very warm
friendship. Their constant meetings in
the sunny meadows and shady lanes were
q most agreeable change from the hard
studies in which Kendall had been en-.
gagged. No word but sympathetic friend
ship had been exchanged between then
when he returned to college; but while
his labors there soon drove his pretty
companion from his mind, her weaker
mature was completely changed by tn.
past few weeks. By-and-by he was re
called to the village by stern note from
,ho
Alice Graham was believed to be in
hopeless consumption, and that she ha'
despairingly betrayed the secret of he
love to her mother, who had, unknown t
herself, appealed to Col. Grant for hi
advice. Kendall was shocked indee
when he saw the girl he had left so ros
and blooming; and, though he knew h
did not deserve all the blame his guardia
and her friends evidently considered h
due. he could not hold himself entirel
innocent in the matter.
It was sad affair. My husband spol
of it with trembling voice, and in dee
agitation. 1t seemed as though the vel
tentriIs of Alice Graham's life we
twined round one who realized now tn
pity was the utmost feeling Of his :hea
towards her. Her father insisted on ma
riage; his strictly honorable guardian a
vised the same course, seeing, that ''tl
difference of station had not prevent
the courting.' Her mother ''dldna spea
but she looked in his face till his hes
was like to break" while the village d.
tor believed it was the one chance for /
cure, and Alice herself, on hearing VIII
pers Of such scheme, appeared quite
new creature.
Kendall was married then in obedier
toColonel Grants wishes and the prom
tings Of his own feelings, and, on