Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-31
IRE srEP-MOrHER

"Give me joy, dear mamma, for have
won the prizs !" cried pretty May Victor.
as she burst into her step-mother's bou-
doir with laughing imitation of Claude
Melnotte's first entrance and a slight mis-
quotation of that love-lorn hero's words.
Lucille Victor raised her head from the
crimson satin cushions of the couch on
which she had been reclining. with look
of pleased surprise on her beautiful. pale
face.
She had been six months the wife of
Rodney Victor, and this was the first time
his golden-haired daughter had addressed
her by any term of endearment, and only
God and herself knew how often her lone
ly heart had yearned for some token of
affection from the laughing, merry-heart-
ed maiden, and treasured every word of
kindness that had fallen from the lips now
wreathed in brightest smiles. She half
extended Der arms. as if to clasp the petite
form to her breast, but Mays blue eyes
were turned away from her, and she drop
ped her hands with sigh, abashed at her
own temerity.
"What has occurred to please you so,
May You are very happy she said
simply, and May flushed and dropped her
blue eyes in shy confusion as she gayly
responded
"Alwyn Dale has asked me tY be his
wife; have not won the highest prize in
the atrimonial market %
Mrs. Victor paid no attention to the
| laughing query; she had slowly risen to
her feet and approached her husband Is
daughter with pale, grieved face.
MAY, what answer have you given this
man ?" she asked, firmly; and wondering
at the tone in which the words were
spoken, May held up her left hand upon
the third finger Of which magnificent
diamond sparkled, the seal of her betroth.
al. you have done wrong. May Victor;
in the absence Of your father you should
have consulted me before deciding such a
momentous question; have not seen the
man you have promised to marry; know
nothing whatever of his antecedents be-
yound the fact that he is English and
boasts of being heir presumptive to a
baro-''
May interrupted her before she could
proceed further, the girls small figure
was drawn to its fullest height, her face
was flushed and her blue eyes kindling
with anger.
|
| 81 don't acknowledge your right to de.
eide on any matter concerning my future
welfare, Mrs. Victor" she said, bitterly.
you forget that am twenty -only
three years your junior. Ny father mar
ried you without consulting my wishes,
although I had been his confident and
companion from early childhood. From
the hour that you became mistress of my
home have considered myself mistress of
my own actions, and now that brilliant
future is before me, | shall not allow you
to interfere between me and the man l
have promised to marry. That you have
not met him is no fault of mine You are
an invalid, confined almost constantly to
your own apartments, and had it not been
for the kindness of Cousin Lalie, would
have no one to chaperone me during my
fathers absence. 1 will write to papa and
tell him all; he will exonerate you from
all blame IN the matter. never fear"
The last words were spoken in coldIy
sarcastic tone, as May turned to leave the
room.
"Some day, May Victor. you will regret
your unklndness to me,'' Lucille said, and
the ords were uttered in tone of pro-
phecy.
Long after May had left her, and when
the gi1I's sweet voice was borne to her ears
from the parlor below, singing a pathetic
Italian reverie, the young step, mother lay
with her face buried in the sofa cushions,
living over again the weary months she
had spent in her husbands home.
She was an orphan. eking out seanty
living by teaching music in the city of
London, where Rodney Victor met her,
and, won by the beauty of her face, wooed
her persistently, and asked her to be his
wife. Despite his forty-five years. and the
silver threads just gathering in his brown
hair, the lonely orphan girl learned to love
him, and they we're married. Then fol-
lowed two months of supreme happiness.
Mr.. Victor was fondly devoted to his
beautiful bride and travelled with her from
place to place, proud of her beauty, and
the admiration she excited in the circles
in which he delighted to introduce her.
At the end of this time he announced his
intention of returning to his home in New
York, and Lucilie's heart thrilled with
delight at the thought of this home COM
ing, for from her husbands manner of
speaking of his 'golden haired little one, :"
she had formed the idea that May was a
child, upon whom she might lavish her
affection, and whom she would teach to
love her. How different was the reality |!
When the news of her fathers marriage
reached May she carried the letter contain
ing the announcement to Cousin Lalie
who was the niece of her dead mother,
and. being many years older than May,