Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-15
OLIVES STEP MOTHER.

ULltG } DlEl MUlllElC.
She is the sweetest, dearest crea
ture in the worldp said Olive Ogilvie,
enthusiastically.
sHumpr said Miss Jane Darlington,
People didn't use to talk so of step
mothers in my day
But then, you see,' retorted Olive,
with the air Of one who effectually ST.
lences argument, there never was ex-
actly such a step mother before.
She's not ten years older than your
SELF said Miss Jane Darlington.
And that Is the very reason that
she sympathizes in all my interests and
pursuits so heartily
She married your poor, dear pa for
q home and to avoid the necessity of
going out as governess, uttered Miss
Jane Darlington with acerbity.
1T is falser cried Olive. She mar
ried him because she loved him.
'Humph' said Miss Jane Barring
ton. you're bewitched, see. You're
under the glamour if ever woman was.
But you'll have a iisagreeable awaken
ing some day, Miss Ogilvie; see if y ou
don't Perhaps you haven't noticed
-
Noticed what?' exclaimed Olive
with spirit, as the malicious spinster
paused second. .
sOh, never mind said Miss Jane
harrington, tanning herself and roll
ing up her eyes. I'm not one to make
mischief. If you haven't perceived it
-
Perceived what?' demanded Miss
Olive, impatiently. oh, dear, how l
do hate these mysterious hints and
dark lnnuedousl If you have got any
thing to say, Miss Darlington, do say
it out and have done with 1t. If not,
I'll 20 down to the river and see how
the children are getting on with their
stone grotto.
Thus driven to the wall, Miss Jane
Darlington said her say, with a relish
in the communication which can scarce
ly be described.
'As remarked before, said Miss
Darlington, Il am the last one to pro-
mulgate idle reports; but it is quite
plain to all disinterested eyes that
your young step mother, the charming
widow, whose deep weeds are so ex-
ceedingly becoming--.'
do 60 onr cried Olive, in agony of
suspense.
1T is quite the gossip of the place,
went on the backbitter, that Mrs Hay.
den Ogilvie is carrying on lively
Irritation with Albert Stan6eld.'
with Albert Stanfeld Impossible!'
cried Olive incredulously.
Just what l should have said my.
self. said Miss Jane Darlington, pious
ly, If had not been an eyewitness
to all her goings.on with her poor
first husband not yet cold in his grave
and
BE silentp cried Olive, springine
to her feet SO suddenly that Miss Jane
Darlington started backward and tum-
bled with more precipitation thar
grace over square ottoman. How
dare you utter such slanderous false
hoods? and to me, Of all other persons
in the world, who owe everything to
her loving care, her more than mater.
nal kindness! l despise myself fol
standing here to listen to itp
And she swept away with the roya
face of a princess, her cheeks dyec
earmine and her eyes glittering like
wrathful stars
Straight as an arrow she went tt
the suite of apartments occupied joint
ly by herself and her young step-mothe
at the Grown hotel, summer resor
of some celebraty among the noun
tains that wall in the blue waters of
Cumberland lake.
The door was open, the soft Angus
breeze blew the muslin window dra
peries to and fro, and apiece of EN-
broidery lay on the table with tn
needle yet sticking IN its folds and tn
tumble beside it. All the tokens o
recent presence were there, but tn,
room was empty.
She has taken her book down to th
little woodland spring. Said DIV
to herself; and she ran down the COG
secluded path, where intermingle
sunshine and shadow made moviny
checker-wo at her feet, calling
Mamma! where are you mammal q
she went.
But no answer came. The wooc
land spring bubbled out in cool dror
over the ferns that shadowed its poo
the birds sang overhead and that we
all.
'Oh, dearl' said Olive to hersel
where can she be?'
She wandered along farther dow
the glen, swinging her hat by il
strings as she walked, her footster