The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-15
MY STEPM0THER.
From Me Hartford Posi.


stamped my foot passionately on the
floor as / spoke, and could feel the hot
scarlet flush sulrusing all my face. My
father looked vexed and discounted, but
he laid his hand kindly on mine.
Isabel" he said, caressingly, ''for my
sake think you will try and overcome
this unfounded prejudice against one
who is DIS good and as gentle as she is
beautiful"
l turned sullenlv away, without syl-
liable of reply, and buried myself and my
tribulations in the shadiest and most re-
tired walk of the garden. But even as 1
leaned over the hand-rail, mechanically
fixing.my eyes on the whirl of the must
cal waters below, light hand touched
my shoulder, and started to find myself
looking directly into the face of my beau
tiful young stepmother.
'IsabelV she said, softly.
81 did not expect TO see you here, Mrs.
Farnham," | said, coldly. 81 supposed
that at least in one spot of my fathers
grounds | should be free from unwel-
come companionship."
"Will you not believe that love you,
Isabel p" she pleaded which er wistful
violet eyes and trembling lip would
have melted any heart less marble cold
than mine
"These private theatricals are quite
unnecessary, madam" | answered,
frigidly. 81 can hardly be expected to
yield child's reverence to mother
scarce three years older than myself !"
81 do not ask for any such feelings on
your part. Isabel, but would plead for
little love!'
1T 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, 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 friendliness. And"
But ] stopped to hear nothing further.
/ was determined not to love her, and 1t
gave me q sort of unquiet, guilty exulta
tion TO see that my perverse conduct had
power seriously to embitter the happiness
of both herself and my father
Before, never had given thought or
care to my personal appearances; now l
studied the trivial details of dress, with a
special regard to outshining my step
mother.
cat all events" I thought to myself,
81 am more beautiful than she is.
read, studied and cultivated my mind
with renewed energy; people should not
say that Mrs. Farnham was more intel
lectual than her stepdaughter. l strove
to render my manners as gentle and fas-
cinating as possible.
Isabel" he said, ''you are improving
very much of late, and remind me more
than ever Of your dear mother. If only
you could try to grow little more fond
of Estelle--"
turned haughtily away, with some
careless remark about the matter.
So that weeks and months passed
away, and we, the inmates OF one house
hold, dwelling beneath one roof, were
yet as far apart in heart and nature as il
continents divided US, or seas rolled be
tween.
mot smallpox, surely?"
My stepmother's voice reached me. as
If through the medium Of distance, faint
and soft, although she was sitting at my
side. / tried to speak, but | could not
strove to raise my hand and beckon
but was powerless as babe of o day
old
II fear it is" DIR. Davton's voice an.
swered, 'and / can give you but little
hopes of your husband, although Bellies
vigor of constitution and youth may en-
able her to weather the storm"
When | recovered my senses--months
afterward as it seemed to me, although
it could have been but few days--Dr
Dayton was still standing by my bed
side, and close by the window sat q
slender figure in black, her face turned
away.
"Who is that p" l asked huskily, point
ing toward it.
Mrs. Farnham," he answered.
why does she wear that black dressP'
ventured, after a moment of silence.
my poor child,' he gently responded
"your own mother is no longer alone in
heavenl He left you his blessing-and
one day you will surely meet him
again"
"Was--was 1t mall-pox2"
YES" was reluctent reply.
"And | have been sick, too2'
Very Ill, my poor girl--so near tn,
valley of death that its shadows all but
encompassed your lifeP'
Bring me a looking glass"
/ stared breathlessly into its crysta
depths. Thank heayen-I was pale,
worn, haggard, but not SCARED with the
hideous prints Of the disease | had been
battling with.
"How does 1t happen that am no
marked?" / asked with deep respira
ton of thankfulness.
Through your stepmother's uninter
hitting care, day and night. Isabel yol
ought to love her very much, for If eve
guardian angel dwelt in human form sh,
has been one to you"
Was my heart modelled out of ada
mant instead of mortal flesh and blood
For | hated my stepmother still
thanked her it is true, but her gentle
sigh told me that she was not deceived
by the empty form of words.
| was just Convalescing sufficiently
10 sit up when Colonel Tresselyn came l.
our house. He had been an old schoo
friend Of Estelle Raymond's before sh
married my father, but it so chances
that had never seen him
He was tall and handsome, with larg
dark eyes, rich brown skin, and n fac
and figure like the sculptured representa-
Saus OF Apollo, And the soft Southcr
grarl of his manner was ns fine as il wa
attractive to ne.
The first day that ! knew that | ha
fallen in love with him was the day thI
first iauced his manner had deepe
shade of tenderness than its wont towar
my stcpniothr
ln .p " 90 my usual panacea fo
a sore heoit.-sOlitudel l sought I'll