Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-11-14

tion if / dare 1 to complain to him OF
her inhuman barbarity. The next morn
ing, weary and miserable, l trudged
off to school, leaving my breakfast
almost untasted and as thoroughly
convinced as boy Of II could be that
life is a delusion and snare, and that
to be dead must be something quite
soothing and delightful.
was dragging my way slowly along
the street III this detected frame OF
mind when suddenly heard my IA
ther's name pronounced by one OF two
persons walking just in front of me.
EYES," said the speaker, whom l at
once recognized as our near neighbor,
Mr. Borrouglis, the solicitor. eyes, it's
settled, understand. DR.. Carboy is 60
ing to marry , second wife. y
Had been suddenly struck by light
ming I codld not have been more para
lyzed than was for moment by these
appalling words. My heart stood still.
/ gasped for breath and clung to rail
ing near by, OF I should have fallen
prostrate. Fortunately I was unobserved
by Mr.. Burroughs or his friend, who
walked on, continuing their gossip, OF
which I heard no more But had
heard enough-more than enough. Gin
ger, then, the detested Ginger, had
spoken the truth. My father was about
to marry again, and I should have
stepmother. Oh, now must know the
worst! Off 1 ran as fast as MY trembling
legs could carry me to consult my dear
est and best friend, my good, kind god
mother, who lived with her bachelor
brother, surgeon. in Harrington
square.
To whom in all the wide world could
I pour out my childish griefs if not to
her, SO loved, SO tender, SO trusted? She
had been my mothers schoolmate, and
until the day the latter closed her eyes
forever they were bound together IN the
most affectionate friendship. After my
mothers death all my dear godmother S
love and solicitude were given to the
orphan boy left to her devoted care. She
was blind to my faults, and too often
know I took an unworthy advantage OF
her weakness and indulgence.
Hurrying to the old house in. the
square, with its vine covered balconies,
I ran down the area steps, and finding
the kitchen door ajar I entered without
knocking and burst like whirlwind
into the little room where felt sure OF
finding my godmother engaged at her
mornings avocations. There she was
indeed, seated at the large French WIN
dow opening into the garden, busily
sewing. My sudden and abrupt appear
ance pale and out Of breath, gave her
such a start that she dropped her work
on the floor, while my good friend jim
giles, the cat, who had been peacefully
doing in the wicker easy chair, gave a
prodigious bound into the garden and
made good his escape to the top OF the
arbor, his tail swollen to a prodigious
size and elevated at an acute angle. At
any other time I should have roared
with laughter at Jingles' terrified gym
nastics; but, alas, I was not then precise
ly in the humor for merriment.
Goodness gracious, Harry, ''exclaim-
ed my godmother, chow you frightened
me!'' Then, observing my evident dis
tress, she hastily added: "Why, Harry,
what is the matter? All, see! You
have been naughty boy again, and
your master has punished You. Fie, fie,
you wicked childW
ooh, godmother, sobbed in broken
accents, you don't know how wretched
l am -
"Why, what has happened?" she
asked quickly.
''Oh, godmother, they tell me- papa
is going to bring home new wife! I
shall have stepmother who will hate
me and beat me-. burst into flood
of tears, and flinging myself on my
knees hid my burning face i'll her lap.
There was a moments silence, and
then she raised me in her arms, kissed
my forehead and gently stroked my
hair, as she had so often done when l
was little child. Wiping my tear
stained face, she said softly:
"Who told you that, Harry?''
"Ginger said SO, days ago." re-
piled. "when I fought him at school. "
GLOW wrong" she interrupted, Ito
fight with your school companions! Be-
sides no doubt he only said it to tease
you. -
'Ah, but just now in the street l
overheard our noighbor, Mr.. Burroughs,
talking about it, SO I came at once to
you, godmother, to ask if it is true
Oh, say it isn't true, godmother!''
''Listen to lie, my DEAR she said
soothingly. "Have YOU confidence in
my word?'
''Oh, yes, godmother-you, SO good,
SO true. "
"Well, then,'' she continued, "dry
your eyes, my darling. promise you
faithfully that you shall never, never
have stepmother. :"
Oh, the balm that these comforting
words poured into my heart! She spoke
SO quietly, yet SO firmly, that I believed
assured and perfectly happy I kissed
her affectionately and ran off 20 school,
with smiling face, and from that mo-
ment my trouble left me like some hid
sous nightmare that fades away with
;he light Of returning day.
Soon after this came our annual ex-
aminations, the distribution of prizes
and the breaking up of school for the
long autumn vacation. That SINE even
ing my father sent for me to the sur
gerry and informed me, with benevo-
lent smile, that he was SO pleased with
the progress I was making and felt SO
proud of the nice prizes which had been
awarded to his boy that he had decided
to accept the kind invitation of a BROTH
er doctor practicing at Worthing to let
me spend month of my holidays at the
seaside. need hardly say thai receiv-
ed this delightful announcem ent with
boyish enthusiasm. I hugged my father
with boisterous gratitude. and verify
believe that i'll the eXuberance OF my
glee would have even shaken hands
with Ginger had I CHANGED to meet
that uncongenial youth in any secluded
back street of the parish of st. Pancras
where my condescension would be like
ly to pass unobserved by the world in
general.
And what a grand month it was, and
how swiftly it melted away in the pref
ty little town by the seashore, with its
pebbly beach, and its boating, and its
picturesque excursions, and its trips to
Shoreham and Brighton and even to
Lewes and Eastbourne when the Worth