Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-11-11
The Step-MOther.

this light shawl over your shoulders y
81 shall most assuredly do moth
ing of the sort, Mrs. Crampfort.
Olivia Crampfort stood on the ter
race in front of the door, looking like
naughty young princess, in her
white dress, with pearls glowing soft
~ through the net work of her golden
hair She was hardly fifteen, with
violet gray eyes, cheeks tinted with
the faintest pink bloom, and a mouth
as superbly curved as that of Diana
of Ephesus. Half way down the
steps, with one light hand resting on
the marble rail, stood Mrs. Cramp-
fort, her young step mother.
1t would be difficult to imagine two
styles of beauty more widely differ
ent than those of Olivia and her IA
theirs wife. The latter was tall and
largely moulded, with heavy coils of
munifcent ebon black hair, brunette
skin, and eyes whose melting, misty
darkness had a purplish CLEAN in
their liquid depths. Her dress was
of crimson silk, draped with rich
black lace, and the only ornament in
her hair was the gold comb that has
tened its luxuriance.
She had paused abruptly, as Olivia
spoke the short, contemptuous, quick
sentences, while the deep scarlet rose
to her ordinary pale cheek.
"Olivia-my daughter p
81 am not your daughter, Mrs.
Crampfoot," said Olivia. haughtily,
''nor shall allow myself to be dictat-
ed by a step mother. And once for
all, wish you to understand that all
these little hypocritical airs of affec-
ton, whatever effect they may pro-
duce on my father, are thrown away
on me-"
She walked away down the broad
path, her lips curled, and her face
coldly scornful, while Mrs. Cramp-
fort still stood leaning against the
marble balustrade, holding her hands
to her heart, as if Olivia's words had
been poisoned arrows that were ram
kled there.
"Will she never learn to love me-"
thought the young step mother. Shall
never win the entrance to her heart
Oh,if she but knew how truly would
cherish her-and vet"
The tears glittered in Mrs. Cramp-
forts lovely dark eyes as she turned
to the house, where only Olivia's es-
arrangement cast shadow on her
bright life.
Edward Crampfort was sitting, read
ing by the library window, as his wife
came slowly in. He was tall, hand
some man, with few silver threads
sprinkled in his hair, although he had
scarcely reached middle age, and
large, dark blue eyes, where the ex-
preston seemed perpetually to vary,
and as he looked up at the we'll known
sound of the light footstep, it was
one of the most idolatrous tenderness.
''You look grave, Madeline
''Do II" She tried to smile, but
the tears came instead, as she sat
down beside him on the low stool.
madeline, my dear one, what has
happened to grieve your"
''Oh, Edward % she sobbed, elf
/ could but learn the secret of Div
las love-"
The fathers broad forehead dark
ened with stern shadow.
elias she dared to be impertinent
to YOU, Madeline? If she has
"Oh, no, no!' interrupted Mrs.
Crampfort, with the color rising to
her temples. spray do not draw
any such differences from my careless
words. Only, dearest, l love her so
dearly, and / can not win single
tender word or glance from her. |
would cherish her so devotedly would
she but allow me. There is so much
that is winning and noble about her
that can not but feel her estrange-
ment most acutely.''
"Madeline," said Mr.. Crampfort,
after a moments grave meditation,
Il think l shall decide to send Olivia
to boarding school until she can learn,
on her return home, to appreciate
your qualities as they deserve. 1t
will be a severe lesson, but / think she
needs it,
ssNot for the world, Edward p ca
gerly pleaded Mrs. Crampfort. "For
my sake, dearest, let us strive yet
longer to win her heart. | know how
she breads the very idea of a board
ing school. She is TOO good, TOO no.
BILE, too ingenious to be subjected to
the trials she would encounter there. !"
'sBe it as you will, Madeline" said
her husband tenderly, "but you must
let me talk to her seriously on the
matter"
.'Not word, Edward !" cried Mrs.
Crampfort. 'If / am ever to pene-
trate into the depths of her affection,
it must be by my own efforts. And
She paused, for at that instant a
servant entered to request Mr.. Cramp-
forts attendance in the reception
room. And when she was left alone
she sat gazing out into the twilight,
with a moisture in her eyes that made
quivering rings round the first pale
stars, whose light was beginning to