Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-29
From the New York Evening World.
STEP-MOTHER.

OLIVES STEP-MOTHER.
''She is the sweetest. dearest creature
in the world ~ said Olive Ogilvie, en-
Enthusiastically.
ton. "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 etfectually ST.
lences argument, "there never was ex-
actly such 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 pur
suits so heartily"
f'She married your poor, dear pa for
a home and to avoid the necessity of GO
ing out as governess," uttered Miss
Jane harrington with acerbity.
It is false ~ 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 a wo-
able awakening some day, Miss Ogilv1e;
see if you don't. Perhaps you haven't
Noticed what?" exclaimed Olive
with spirit, as the malicious spinster
paused second.
"Oh, never mind" said Miss Jane
Darlington, tanning herself and rolling
up her eyes. Pm not one to make mis-
chief. Ifyou haven't perceived it"
Perceived what?" demanded Miss
Ogilvie impatiently. ooh, dear, how [
dark inuendoes If you've got any,
thing to say, Miss harrington, do say it
ost and have done with it. If not, I'll
go down to the river and see how the
children are getting on with their stone
erotto."
Thus driven to the wall, Miss Jane
harrington said her say vita relish in
the com munication which can scarcely
be described.
''As [ remarked BEFORE" sale Miss
Darlington, Il am the last one to pro-
mulgate idle reports; but it is quite
plain to all dlsinterested eyes that your
young step-mother, the charming
widow, whose deep weeds are SO ex-
ceedingly becoming--''
''Do go on!" cried Olive, in an agony
of Suspense.
1T is quite the gossip of the place.
said the backblter, "that Mrs. Hayden
Ogilvie is carrying on lively filtration
with Albert Stanfield."
"With Albert Stanfield! 1mpossi-
BILE !" cried Alice incredulously.
Just what l should have said my
SELF" said Miss Jane Darlington, pious-
ly, 'if | had not been an ey e-witness to
all her goings on with her poor, dear
first husband not yet cold in his grave,
and-'
s'Be silent" cried Olive, springing
TO her feet so suddenly that Miss Jane
Darlington started backward and tum-
bled with more precipitation than grace
over square ottoman. "How dare you
utter such slanderous falsehoods And
co me, of all other persons in the world,
who owe everything to her loving care,
her more than maternal kindness [
despiSe myself for standing here to lis
ten to 1t -
And she swept away with the royal
face of princess, her cheeks dyed car
mine anu her eyes glittered like wrath
full stars.
Straight rs an arrow she went to the
suite Of apartments occupied jointly by
herself and her young step-mother at
the Crown Hotel, a summer resort Of
some celebrity among the mountains
that wall in the blue waters Of the Cum
berland Lake.
The door was open, the soft August
breeze blew the muslin window drap-
cries to and fro. and piece of en-
broidery lay on the table with the
needle yet sticking in it's folds and
the thimble beside it. All the tok-
ems of recent presence were there, but
the room was empty.
t'She has taken her book down to the
little woodland spring." said Olive to
herself; and she ran down the cool, Sc
aciuded path, where intermingled sun
shine and shadow made moving
obi ot10 1Nl~ OF
Mamma! where are you, mamma" as
she went.
Hut no answer came. The woodland
spring dubbed out In cool drops over
the ferns that Swallowed its pool, the
birds sang overhead, and that was all
ooh, dear ~ saiu Olive to herself,
"where can she be ?"
She wandered along farther down the
glen, swinging her hat by It's strings as
she walked, her footsteps falling noise
iessly on the velvet turf, until sud denly
paused, stricken to the heart as if q
barbed arrow had pierced her CULVER
ing flesh.
For, hidden away by the leafy covert
Of tremulous birches and white pines,
upon the moss-covered trunk of fallen
tree sat Mrs. Ogilvie, in her deep
mourning robes, her face turned Woe
fully upward, while in an attitude of
the intensest devotion Albert Stanfeld
leaned over her.
Olive Ogilvie did not mean to listen
she was an honorable girl, with keen
sense Of delicacy; but all volition
seemed gone from her at that moment.
She leaned, pale and trembling, up
against tree, and could not but hear
the words spoken within a stones
throw of her.
"Believe me, Albcrt. appreciate the
treasure of your love-" said Mrs.
Ogilvie, softly; "but | do not know
whether | am justified in accepting
what you OFFER"
Dear Mrs. Ogilvie-"