The Van Buren press., 1878-05-28
MISCELLANY.
Helen's Stepmother.
--

So, my dear, in spite of all your no
mantle ideas, you have made what the
world calls good match.
Mabel Thurston's cheeks burned and
there was an expression of pain in her
soft violet eyes. For moment she was
silent, conquering a strong impulse to
speak Indignantly. After a moments
struggle her voice was low and even as
she said:
married Mr.. Thurston, Aunt Sarah
because he is the noblest, best man
ever knew. Because knew his love was
an honor to MEL gave him my whole
heart. l love him.
OF course, my dear. A very pretty,
wiiely speech. But when girls Of nine.
teen marry millionares Of fifty, we Old
workings call it a sensible match.
No one who knows Gerald Thurston
would wonder that he won the love OF
any women that he sought.
"Hem, yet he is very hard, stern
man. You will have to be careful no.
to incur his displeasure. Remember
Helen And, by the way, her loss will
probably be your gain"
"Helen ?"
Mabels face expressed such utter be-
wilderment that her aunt added;
els it possible your husband has
told you nothing Of Helen, his only
daughter ?"
"He told me he had lost all his chill.
dren."
"His three sons died, but Helen elop-
ed with one of her fathers clerks. He
never forgave her. She is widow now,
with one child, an slowly sinking in con
SUMPTION"
"You know her I"
"Well. my dear, before I went to
Europe she sewed for me. She was so
grateful for little notice from one of
her old friends that she really was will
ling to work for ridiculously small prices.
So when l returned l found her out
again. lam going up there to day; if
you have any curiosity about her you
can 40, too. Iwould not mention who
you are, though, because she might be
troublesome"
81 should like to see her.
1--WE will go now, SO that you can be
here again when Thruston calls for you.
What train do you take p
"The five thirty. This is the first
whole day l have spent in New York
since was married. l came only to see
you to. day"
"Well, then, you can 60 where l
60"
Stepping into her aunts carriage,
Mabel was wheeled off to a narrow
etraet where the fashionable wealthy
widow had found the daughter of the
millionaire willing to sew for half price
to keep starvation from herself and her
child. The rooms the ladies entered
were small and neatly furnished, and
the lady who rose to greet them, with
her palid cheeks and great hollow
eyes, were yet wonderfully like the
strong, handsome man who had won
the treasure of Mabels love. While
Mrs IIillbourne talked of the work she
desired, Mabel made friends with little
girl of four years old who was demurely
dressing rag doll.
She looked up at the beautiful wo'
man who spoke to her with the large
dark eyes that seemed her heritage
from her grandfather, and while she
was shy she answered the questions
abont the doll with all the gravity the
subject demanded. Dollie, she admit
ted, was torn and dirty, and her face
could not be washed, though it sadly
needed cleaning. Later, she would do
just as the lady said, ii she gave her
money to buy new dollie. She would
hold it, in fact, in her hand till the
lady had gone. and then take it to
mamma, and tell her it was to buy new
doll, with a hat and red shoes, the one
Nellie had seen in shop window the last
time she was out.
Then fifty dollar note, carefully
folded, was clasped fast in the tiny
hand, and held till the ladies took their
leave.
All the way home. Mrs. Hillbourne
talked of Helen. She had been petted
child, INDUCED in every within, never con-
trolled. Always in delicate health, her
father had feared the dem on Of consump
ton, which had deprived him Of his wife
and sons, would also rob him of his daugh.
ter. And when she loved Earnest Hunt,
it was not his poverty, but his feeble, I'M
reliable character, that caused her father,
for the time, to cross his darling. She
had thought he would easy forgive, but
the blow was too sudden, the disappoint
ment too great. Every letter was return
ed unanswered, and finally Helen lost
hope.
"Mr. Thurston was south when Earn
est Hunt died." said Mrs Hillbourne,
"and he did not return until you were
married how long ago ?"
1.-Two months. We had been at home
one week, though, when your letter came,
telling you were here
"Helen does not know you are here,
though she saw the announcement of
the marriage in the papers. 1t is just
as we'll. She cannot live through anoth-
er winter"
A shudder ran through Mabel. What
she had resolved to do must be done
quickly.
When she had reached her aunt's her
husband was already there.
81 stole holiday" he said, kissing
the sweet face raised gladly for his en-
brace, "lor suddenly remembered-what
do you think p
81 cannot guess"
uTlo. ,h;, ;e ,ny birth day I am fifty-