The Washington critic., 1886-04-08
MY YOUNG STEP-MOTHER.

l stamped my foot passionately on
the floor as spoke, and l could feel
the hot scarlet flush suifusing all my
fhce.
My father looked vexed and dis
comfited, but he laid his hand kindly
on mine.
"Isabel," he said, caressingly, "for
my sake, / think for my sake you will
try and overcome this unfounded prcju-
dice against one who Is as good and
gentle as she is beautiful"
/ turned sullenly away, without a
and tribulations in the shadiest and
most retired walk in the garden. But
even as l leaned over the hand.rail,
mechanically fixing my eyes on the
whirl of the musical water below, a
light hand touched my shoulder, and l
started to find myself looking directly
into the face Of my beautiful step.
mother.
"Isabell' she said, softly
II did not expect to see you here,
Mrs. Farnham," said, coldly. chad
supposed that at least in one spot of
my fathers grounds I should be free
from unwelcome companionship"
"Will you not believe that love
you, Isabel?" she pleaded, while her
wistful, violet eyes and trembling lip
would have melted any heart less mar
Bile cold than mine.
"These private theatricals are quite
unnecessary, madame, answered,
frigidly. II can hardly be expected to
| yield child's reverence to mother
scarcely three years older than my
SELF"
II do not ask for any such feeling on
| your part, Isabel-but would plead
for little love-"
"It is quite useless. The memory of
| my own mother" and here | stopped
short, with choking sensation in my
| throat
| My stepmother returned to steal her
arm, SO fair and round In its translu-
cent muslin sleeve, round my waist.
| "Dear Isabel" she whispered, "your
father treasures the recollection Of his
first wife none the less tenderly because
he has taken pity upon my desolation
and friendlessness. And"
Butt stopped to hear nothing further
/ was determined not to love her, and
1t gave me sort of unquiet, guilty
eXultation to see that my perverse con.
duct had power seriously to cmbitter
the happiness of both herself and my
father.
| Before, had never given thought /
care to my personal appearance; now |
studied the trivial details of dress, with
a special regard to outshining my step
mother.
"At all events" thought to my.
self, II am more beautiful than she
is"
] read, studied and cultivated my
mind with renewed energy; people
should not say that Mrs Farnham was
more intellectual than her step.daugh
ter. strove to render my manners ~
gentle and fascinating as possible.
'Isabel," my father said, "you are
improving very much of late, and re
mind me more than ever of your dca
mother. If you could only try to grow
little more found of Estelle-"
turned haughtily away, with some
careless remark about the matter.
So weeks and months passed away
and we, the inmates of one household
dwelling beneath one roof, were yet a
far apart in heart and nature as II con
tinents divided us, OF seas rolled be
tween.
"Not smallpox, surely!"
My stcpmother's voice reached ME
as If through the medium of distance
faint and soft, although she was sittin
at my side. / tried to speak, but
could not. / strove to raise my hand
and beckon, but was powerless as
babe of day old
Il II fear it is" DR.. Dayton's voic
answered, "and l can give You bu
! little hopes of your husband, although
| Bellies vigor of constitution and yout
, may enable her to weather the storm !!
Was my father, then, sick? An
what blighting influence had cast 1t
) spell over me? l tried to remember
but my memory was n blank. An
with the instructive effort to repell m
stepmother' hand as she laid band
age, dipped in some cooling lotion, o
, my brow, seemed to drift away upo
, the tideless sea of dreams.
When | recovered my senses-month
afterward, as il seemed to me, althoug
it could have been but few days-Dl
: DAYTON was still standing by my bed
| slut, anu tluoN ny "luNoW sul
; slender figure in black, its face turne
away.
WHO is that?" | asked huskily
pointing toward it,
"Nlrs. Farnham," he answered
"Why does she wear that blac
dress?" | ventured, after moment {
silence.
"My poor child" he gently r'
/ sponded, "your own mother is n
: longer alone in heaven. He left yo
D his blcssing-and one day you wi
7 meet him again"
l "Was--was 1t smallpox :"
"Yes," was the reluctant reply.
"And have been Ill, tooY'
. Every i'll, my poor girl-so near tn
t valley of death that its shadows all bi
t encompassed your life 3"
I Bring me looking. glass"
! stared breathlessly into its crys,
depths Thank heayen-l was pal
worn, haggard, but not SCARED with Il
. hideous prints of the disease had bet
+ battling with.
o "How does it happen that | am N
}. marked ?" asked, with a deep respir
/ ton of thankfulness,
"Through your stepmother's uni
termitting care, day and night IsabC
D. you ought to love her vcIy, very muc
II for If ever guardian angel dwelt in h
man form, she has been one to you -
y Was my heart nodded out of al
a. mant, instead of mortal flesh and bloc
10 For hated my stepmother still
thanked her, ii is true, but her gent
sigh told me she was not deceived
the empty form of words.
y was Just conv0lescing sufficiently
!, sit up, when Colonel Tresselyn came
T. our house. He had been an Old scho
fripnl of Estpllp RAYMOND befOrn s.