The Dickinson press., 1892-03-19
Miss Van Stewc's Step.Brother.
by NJ w. FOLEY, JR.

the case, but ! cannot suppress a broad hint to
that effect.
Miss Van Steve was rich-cnormously rich.
Her residence was an imposing edifcc, on tho :.
brow of n gently sloping hill. twas furnished
with a royal magniticencc. The lawn in front
cared for and watched with n zeal, worthy
of n better cause. The horses to be found in
Miss Van Stewc's stable were rs handsome and
as any in that ncigborhood; and rich
people lived in that neighborhood.
In short, everything in and about Miss Van
Stcwc's home was beautiful. Thcre was one
exception. 1t was Miss Van Steve. No stretch
of tho most vivid imagination could convert
Miss Van Steve into an ordinarily goodlooking
person.
As l make my feeble attempt to describe her
for she is my heroine, and needs some dcscrip- |
tion-thc reader, l think, will agree with me-
Her height had been variously guessed. Some
claimed that six was about the proper number
of feet. Others differed from this, but all these
differences were rather in favor of seven. Be
that as it may, Miss Van Steve was tall. That
you may judge of her weight 1 offer you an
anccdotc of hcr dealings with n downtown
grocer: 1t was her custom to ride to tho store
in her carriage, order what she wished and de-
part in the customary "blaze of glory One
time, however, she stepped upon an inoffensivc
bacon rind, and then performed q series of
acrobatic feats, which would have delighted
tho eyes of an appreciativc spectator. Not that
those who witnessed it were not apprcciativc.
Oh, no! Neither were they critical.
This displcascd Miss Van Steve, and she
promptly expressed her displeasurc by rcmov-
ing herself at once and forever from the Offend
ing grocery.
Mr.. Law, the grocer, was a wit in his own
sphere. Some of his wit was not refined, and
Mr.. Law would probably have been refused
comparison with some of the famous wits of
our day. Still Mr.. Law was fond of listening to
cbullitions of his own wit. He resolved to sgct
even"
On Christmas Miss Van Steve received a par
Gel. 1t was not a pretty parcel and it smellcd
of that conglomeratcd odor, peculiar to q coun-
try grocery. 1t was duly unwrappcd and the
contents disclosed to view. Written on a piece
of wrapping paper, with the stump of n lead
pencil, and attached to n pair of limited hand
scales were the words: please send us your
weight"
AS the scales would weigh only twcnty-four
pounds Mr.. Law complimentcd himself upon
his mighty joke.
From this brief sketch it does not require an
intensely logical mind to discover that Miss
Van Steve was proportionately slender. Her
nose was ono of those pliable, hooked-noses
which turn up in royal disdain upon tho slight
est provocation. Her lips were thin and her
eyes of a fcvcrish, green hue.
l regret that 1 am unable to describe her hair,
but that was gone years before 1 made her ac-
quaintance. Usually, however, she wore a mass
of wavy, brown locks (they might have been
trcsses, l do not know, which contrasted
strangely with her antique features and gen.
orally ancient appearance.
Some persons said that her life had been
soured by an unfortunate love affair in her
youth.
l have often wondered whether Miss Van
Steve was better looking in her youth than
she was during the period of our acquaintance.
If not, l have wondered, in tho same connection
whether her swain was not soured by tho occa-
sional glimpses he had of her.
Ono evening as Twas passing the residence of
Major Montfort, one of the most influential per-
sons in tho locality, l was hailed from the door
stops, Turning, l saw the major beckoning to
me, and, in obedience to the l walked
in. was not "a stranger in n strange place.
for l had passed many pleasant evenings with
the major and his amiable wife.
Vie NJ "do oAO vi NVlS AalO
women with whom ono is laways at case, and
whose smile never repels. For there are women
and women. Some are coldly distant, inviting
with the tongue and discouraging acceptance
with the countenancc.
Then, again, some arc troubled with a far
away, patronizing smile, in some cases assumed
in other cases natural, and, in either case, de-
cidcdly disagreeable.
81 callcd vou Palmer, bopan tho major
apologctically, because Mrs. Montfort wished
to see you particularly" and he accompanied
this rcmark with a smile, assuredly tlattering.
81 cannot contradict that assertion without
being, in u sense, uncomplimentary to you, Mr..
Palmer" said Mr.. Montfort, laughingly "but 1
will say that if you believe all Mr.. Montfort
tells you you are an extremely credulous per-
son."
(Which is complimentary to me, l suppose
intcrposed the major.
And a distinct denial of your assertion of a
few moments ago." added.
We conversed upon various topics of interest,
until at length Miss Van Stewe's name was
mentioned. There was my opportunity and 1
took advantage of it at once.
us there any truth in the gossip that Miss
Van Steve once had a lover and that her life
was cmbittered by his faithlessness?" 1 asked.
mo, 1 think not answered the major, and I
noticed an amused smile fit across his face and
that of his wife as he spoke. Not a lover" he
continued, "but she did have q stcp-brother,
who proved a source of trial and tribulation,''
and he smiled again, more pronouncedly than
before.
TELL me of it, will your 1 requested. 'She
is such a queer person that 1 am really anxious
to know something of her past life.''
Tho majors eyes asked a question of Mrs.
Montfort. She smiled, nodded assent, and he
began:
about ten years ago there lived in this same
town the same Miss Van Steve of to-day. She
was just as tall, just as thin and just as austere
as she is at present. Instead of living alone,
however, she tolerated the presence of a step
brother. More like a step-mother than a step
sister she took a deep interest in his affairs,
commented freely upon his indiscretions and
advised him often.
Well, there lived across the street from Miss
Van Stcwe's mansion a widow with a daughter.
She was d%ivine-the daughter, 1 mean-and l
would not have blamed anyone for falling in
love with her'-here Mrs. Montfort blushcd,
prettily-"and that is Just what Miss Van
Stewe's step-brother did"
"Now, Miss Van Steve had a horror, indies
crlbable, OF poverty; and the widow was poor.
Therefore, Miss Van Steve had a kindred hor-
ror of the widow and her daughter.
When sho discovered that her step-brother
had been guilty of the direful folly of a pro.
posal, and that that proposal had been ac-
copied, her rage was uncomfortable. She in
weighed bitterly against the ''scheming mind
who had caught her unapproachable step
brother and sworc solemnly to prevent "such a
mesalliance."
About a week after this the step-brother was
called away to a neighboring town on business
and Miss Van Steve. alone and unaided, Matched
out a plan for the prevention of the marriage.
She arrayed herself in her finest garments, prob
ably for the purpose of making the widow and
her daughter feel their insignificance by con-
trast, and, calling her carriage, she was driven
to the home Of the offenders. Once within she
made known her business with a ~clearness and