New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-04-24
MY STEP.sON.
MARGARET SCOTT M 'R1TCHE.

na: Deen married JUST year Wnen
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 I loved with a warmth only equaled
by nv satisfaction when l found that the
affection was mutual. My father warned
him that such spoilt child would prove
troublesome; but Kendall had no fears on
that point. and as yet our welded life
had cast little enough Of shadow upon us.
Now and then Gid indeed notice upon
my husbands face q grave, preoccupied
expression that faileo to understand, but
l knew he was intrusted with important
issues, and, loving his profession as he did,
it was no wonder that his mind should
entertain it's 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 srising before him, haunting
him even in his present happiness, unsuS-
pected by his joyous girl-wife.
/ 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 6erceaanette wherein reposed
what the papers announced as our "son
and heir" Kendall used to pinch nv
cheeks, calling us a couple of babies,
when he watched us together; but I
knew he was as proud of our little Frank
as myself, though his nile was so quiet
and his looks were so subdued as he held
the wee dimpled hand in his own.
Never shall forget the morning when
we be come aware that baby was not the
I" son and heir'-that Kendall ha living
son, and that was a step-mother. We
were breakfasting together in our favorite
room, and the flowers were nodding in at
us through the open windows, while the
canaries sang their sweetest, when my
husband received black bordered letter
that turned his face CHASTITY white as he
perused it. I hurried to get him brandy,
fearing he was going to faint. l guessed
that something was aniss in his banking
or professional affairs, but I could not
annoy him with questions, and silently |
knelt beside him, putting my arms a.
ould him.
The story was told by and-by, quickly,
abruptly; but it was very long ere zeal
iZc,l the truth-that was second wife.
In the early day of our acquaintance Ken
dial had heard me speak despairingly of
friends marriage, vowing that nothing
should induce me to marry a widower; it
was then that he had most unfortunately
resolved to keep the fact Of his previous
marriage private; and i could we'll under
stand how much suffering the deception
had caused him.
AS youth of twenty one he had met
his first wife, the pretty daughter of
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 so 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 very warm
friendship. Their constant meetings in
the sunny meadows and shady lanes were
most agreeable change from the hard
studies in which Kendall had been en-
gagged. No word but sym pathetic friend
snip had been exchanged between them
when he returned to college; but, while
his labors there soon drove his pretty
companion from his mind, her weaker
nature was completely changed by the
past few weeks. By-and-by he was re-
called to the village by stern note from
his guardian, who informed him that
Alice Graham was believed to be in a
hopeless consumption, and that she had
despairingly betrayed the secret of her
love to her mother, who had, unknown to
herself, appealed to Col. Grant for his
advice. Kendall was shocked indeed
when he saw the girl he had left so rosy
and blooming; and, though he knew he
did not deserve all the blame his guardian
and her friends evidently considered his
due, he could not hold himself entirely
innocent in the matter.
1t was sad affair." My husband spoke
of it with trembling voice, and in deep
agitation. 1t seemed as though the very
tentriIs of Alice Graham's life were
twined round one who realized now that
pity was the utmost feeling of Lis heart
towards her. Her father insisted on mar
riage; his strictly honorable guardian al
vised the same course, seeing, that "the
difference of station had not prevented
the courting." Her mother s'd1dna speak,
but she looked in his face till his heart
was like to break" while the village doc
tor believed it was the one chance for her
cure, and Alice herself, on hearing whis-
pers of such scheme, appeared quite
new creature.