Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-09-25

bhon hanuhll nau not written at all
and, instead Of paying the contem
p ated visit to his old home, he haC
made an ex ensiVe tour about the
country, and was now back In his ole
place OF business, about two months
after the date Of his fathers mar
riage.
Several letters awaited him, among
which was O note from his step.
mother, urging him TO come home at
once, as his father was dangerously
Randall started as he glanced at the
date.
Five days." he muttered, his
manly cheeks blanching under all the
accumulated sunburn of his summer
travels. "By Georget this won't do.
Never mind about that hated step.
mother, must be of al oncel''
1t was late In the evening when
Randall Arkelle stepped from the
platform at the rail way station and
walked swiftly toward the well re-
membered homestead. A heavy gray
log hung over everything; but, as he
approached the gates, he saw some
one mounted on horse, evidently
just leaving the mansion to go to the
town, mile or so distant.
Without stopping to ask or care who
the rider might be, Randall paused In
his swift stride, intending to ask about
the condition of his father.
"HOw is Colonel Great Heavenl"
las the rider, a woman, turned her
face toward him, and, even in that
gray mi,t, he recognized its dark,
brilliant beauty-"you-you here2
And you live"
He stopped in sheer bewilderment,
his breath coming and going fast, his
heart beating loudly as he realized that
he stood face to face with the girl who
had haunted his thoughts these many
weeks.
81 live there; that is my home," she
said, giving him look full OF surprise,
as she pointed with her riding whip
to the house whittier he was bound.
''But don't detain me, please. Papa
Is very, very i'll, and l am going for
the doctor"
Papa is illH" echoed Randall, still
80 bewildered that he was fairly stupid.
'Your father, did you say2 beg
your notwithstanding himself
little-"but may ask your fathers
namep
Colonel Arkelle," she answered,
almost hautily, looking at him in a
startled way, as though she thought
him halt mad, at least. "And now,
sir, must he of. Every moment is
precious. Poor papa may be dying"
And without another word or look,
she touched her horse with her riding
whip, and sped away like the wind
through the thick, concealing fog.
GOOD HeavenW muttered Randall,
almost forgetting his fathers danger
for the moment. Can it be her mother
whom my father msrried2"
II was even so, as he soon learned.
And when Kate fremont returned and
listened, with sparkling eyes and
heightened color, to his account of that
little episode in the hotel, she con-
fessed to him with her own proud lips
that his father, Colonel Arkelle, had
80 completely won her heart, during
that first brief visit. that she has never
since felt the slightest wish to leave
him and earn her living as school
teacher.
NO." smiled Mrs. Arkelle. "And
Kate's affection for her steptather goes
so far, Randall, that she will not even
trust a servant on any important errand
for him since his illness. That is how
you came to see her out on HORSEBACK
this miserably foggy night"
And don't blame mamma one bit
now for marrying him." added Kate,
warmly, with a lovely blush and
smile.
Nor l." said Randall, with glance
that made the blush still deeper.
''And as for me, / am quite prepared
now to tall In love with my charming
stepmother.
Colonel Arkelle did not die. Both
he and his estimable wife look as III
they may have many years of life and
love before them. But there is a
younger Mrs. Arkelle now, and her
name is Kate.
And Randall will tell you, If you
ask him, that all their present hsppi-
ness was brought about through that
odiOus Second Marriage.