The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-20
THE STEP-MOTHER.

Give me joy, dear mamma, for
] have won the prize" I" cried pretty
May Victor, as she burst into her
step-mothcr's boudoir with laugh
ing imitation of Claude Melnotte's
first entrance and IL slight misquo-
tation 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 sur
prise ON her beautiful, pale face
She had been six months the wife
of Rodney Victor, and this was the
first time his golden-haired daugh-
ter had addressed her by any term
of endearment, and only God and
herself knew how often her lonely
heart had yearned for some token of
affection from the laughing, merry
hearted maiden, and treasured every
word of kindness that had fallen
from the lips now wreathcd in
brightest smiles. She half extended
her arms, as if to clasp the petite
norm TO her breast, hut Mays blue
eyes were Turned ava SiAassss..ss is;,t.rF;- Il J. r
and she dropped her hands with a
sigh, abashed at her own temeritv.
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 to be
his wife; have not won the high
est prize in the matrimonial mar
ket ?"
Mrs. Victor paid no attention to
the laughing query she had slowly
risen to her feet and approached her
husbands 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 We're spoken. May held .
up her left hand upon the third !
finger of which IL magnificent dia- ,
mond sparkled, the seal of her be- !
trothal. "Gou have done wrong, !
May Victor; in the absence of your =
father you should have consulted 9
me before deciding such Il moment f
GUS question; have not seen the .
nan you have promised to marry
know nothing whatever of his an .
accidents beyond the fact that he is h
English and boasts of being heir =
to Il baro-" :,
May interrupted her before she :,
ould proceed further; the girls :,
mall figure was drawn to its fullest
height, her face was flushed and her
'lue eyes kindling with anger. If
81 don't acknowledge your right w
o decide on any matter concerning m
ny future welfare, Mrs. Victor" she II
aid, bitterly. "You forget that | L,
m twenty-one-only three years
our junior. My f,,ther married in
ou without consulting my wishes, d,
Though | had been his coniidant N
nd companion from early child ht
ood. From the hour that you be- NJ
anne mistress of my home | have til
Onsidered myself mistress of my
wn actions, and now that bril- OF
ant future is before me, shall not lie
How you to interfere between me sn
nd the man | have promised to A,
larry. That you have not met him gl
no fault of mine. You are an in ril
aid, confined almost constantly to FIR,
our own apartments, and had it he
OF been for the kindness of Cousin
allie, would have no one to chap tn
rome me during my fathers alb pr
,nce. | will write to papa and tell pr
i'm all he will exonerate you from hc
i blame in the matter, never fear, tn
The last words were spoken in nc
oldly sarcastic tone, as May turned on
, leave the room.
"Some day, May Victor, you will gil
,gret your unkindness to me-" Lu-
lie said, and the words were ut sa
red in tone of prophecy. do
Long after May had left her, and sh
hen the girls sweet voice was an