The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-01-26
AN ODD STEP-MOTHER.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
Mr.. Samuel Locke being widower,
and wishing to make figure in socie-
'ty, remembered that q tall daughter
made him seem much older than he
felt himself, and finally bethought him
OF q fine old country house that was
going to rack and ruin through neglect,
sent down some people to furnish it
up, and inquired OF his wife's cousin,
Miss Sophy Penn, whether she would be
willing to become resident companion
to his daughter Fankie.
"Who has no mother, you know"
said Mr.. Locke, looking pensive.
'Poor, poor Cousin Clara, she must
be loss" said Miss Sophy. "Of
course she was much older than I, but
remember her very well. She taught
Sunday-school and gayeme such good
advice Dear me and is little frankie
like herr"
"No, frankie does not much resem-
BILE poor Clara" said Mr.. Locke. IN OF
much. Her features remind me of her
mother, but her character is so very
different. She is just home from
boarding school, and l think the coun-
try the best place tor her. | have had
Pine Park put in order, and if you
don't mind"
ooh, K love the country" said
Sophy; and then Mr.. Locke spoke
about salary, and the the thing was
settled. ....
Sophy Penn went down to Pine
Park and found q tall girl of seven
teen. 4sn@
81 declared thought I should have
a child to take care off," said Sophy.
And I thought you would be some
dreadful old spinster," said frankie,
"and you are so nice. Well have lots
of fun" ~
Certainly from their point OF view
1they did. ~ 49,. .
Before long they were spoken OF
by the farmers wives about as
= "them two tom boys" ~
They lived more out OF the house
than in, rode about on two old
horsas that were kept on the place,
climbed mountains and hunted up
waterfalls in summer, went skating
and coastingin winter, and finally
oh, such dreadful girls, really they
ought to haYe been ashamed of them
selves-entered into Irritation with
two gentlemen. ...a. ...@
One very young one to be sure,
from g. college hard by; the other,
= his tutor, but young man still
thirty, perhaps and as full of fun as
his pupil. ...--,
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Holland
Harry Holland" they soon called
him-had come to the girls aid one
day when frankie had gone through
the thin ice to the pond, and saved her
life, and since then they had spent
many hours together.
Nearly six months had gone by,
and Mr.. Webster was paying the most
devoted attention to Sophy Penn;
and Harry Holland and frankie
Locke were on the point OF becoming
engaged, when prying old Betsy Bobbs,
the cook, wrote note to Mr.. Locke
which brought him down to Pine Park.
Betsy admitted him, and he walked
into the parlor and found q happy
quartet gathered about the piano.
"Pa" cried frankie.
"Cousin Samuel'' calculated Miss
;Sophy. e.
But Mr.. Locke took no notice OF
them. .n...
"Who introduced you to my daugh-
ster?" asked Mr.. LOCKE ofMr. Webst er.
Webster waved his hand toward
Harry Holland.
"And who introduced your" queried
Mr.. Locke OF Harry.
"Well, IL don't know whether
that is, there was no regular intro.
,duction. But sincerely admire Miss
Locke, and II hope-"began poor
Harry.
"Quite sufficient" said Mr.. Locke
"ttDo you two gentlemen prefer walk
ing out of my front door or being
kicked out?"
Harry might have said more, but
the more experienced Webster saw
that they were in a very unfortunate
position.
A man had right to be very much
offended by the presence of men-whc
had not been introduced IN regul 81
fashion-in his own parlor, and HI
took his pupil by the arm, bowed re
:spectfully to every one and departed
That might Mr.. Locke carried hi
, daughter, her chaperon and Betsy
Bobbs away to a small cottage which
he owned, in quite another part of tn
country.
"Betsy is to go everywhere witt
you," he said.
"And the hired man, John is t.
shoot any young man he finds on tn
premises" @..-
After having thus performed hi
parental duty, Mr.. Locke returned t.
New York society.
Whether the hired man, Johr
would have risked electrocution Q
not, in case a young man had entere
the gate, cannot say; but Bets
Bobbs did not 60 everywhere with tn
young ladies, assure you. She mad
two or three efforts and retired to he
kitchen, feeling that it was easier t
stay there. Miss frankie had wi