The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-07-12
A MUTUAL SURPRISE.

| cu u lOVe anu care. 4 udV6
been willing In this respect, as in every
other, to sacrifice my own feelings to
their good, but 1t Is not an easy matter
to find just the right person to ill so
Important position, and l do not wish
to act hastily.
"A few weeks ago | was introduced
to widow lady by the name of Nor.
ton, finding her, on further acquaint-
ance, to be all that l could desire,
either as a companion or as a mother
to my children.
She is most kind and excellent lady,
and ] trust that you will be prepared
to extend to her that respect and affec-
ton that are her due.
"She has one son, who is away at
school, which will be pleasant for you,
as you have no bother
1--WE shall be home Thursday.
"Your attectionaIe father,
Howard Leslie"
"P. S.-You Wee very wise in not
engaging yourself without consulting
me to the young pan you mention. A
| young girl like yuu don't know what
love is. Five Yeas from now will be
time enough for you to think of such u
thing"
This was the letter that Anne Leslie
| the one she had written him, overflow
| ing with the glad anticipation to which
her new born love had given rise.
For a time she sal Spcechless with
anger and amaze mcnt.
The idea of her lather ever marry
ing again had never once entered her
mind.
Why should het Was she not there
to keep house for nimI And when she
left, as, of couse, she should i'll time,
would not MariUu then be ready to
take her place! She never heard of
anything 50 ridiculous.
And TO think tllnt her poor mother,
who had been han lily two years i'll her
grave, should he 10 soon forgotten
If she though, that her adored
Charles Edwards would ever be 50
false to her memory, she WAS sure that
ii would break her heart
But the postscript was the unkindest
cut of all. The sighting manner in
which her father alluded to the young
man" whose name she had written TO
him in full-Charlrs Edward titzHenry
harshest invective.
And to presume to think that she
knew nothing of love, who had expert
Full of these indignant thoughts
Anne sat down and penned an epistle
to her adored Charles Edward, detail
ing her grievances, and ending with
| the declaration that she would never,
never submit to be domineered over
| by step mother, and that she would
ever be true to the first and only love
of her life.
The next mail brought reply stat
ing together with many protestations
| of undying affection, that he could
truly sympatiZe with her feelings, in
view of her fathers marriage, having
just received the intelligence that his
mother was TO take another husband
She had given him one step-father
when he was boy, and he would
never submit to the rule of another.
He would be there in person to de-
mand, in person, her hand of her faith
en- Ii he refused they would fly to-
gether to some happy place, where
cruel fathers and stepfathers were un-
known"
Charles Edwards was as good as his
ward Promptly, on the following
Thursday, he made his appearance al
the house of the father of his adored
Anne
Scarcely was the first rapturOus
greeting over when the sound of car.
riage wheels We're heard.
Anne turned pale.
"They have comet she cried, start
ing to her feet.
LET 'em come" responded Charles
Edward, detiantly. You are not
afraid, hope, when | am here?"
AS he said this curiosity impelled
him to turn his eyes to the window.
ing from the carriage, why it looks
they fell upon the lady who was alight
ing from the carriage, why 1t looks
like--but no, it can't be-"
Mr.. Leslie led his wife up to where
his daughter was standing.
AS Mrs. Leslie turned from the con
strained greeting of her new daugh
ter, her eyes fell upon the young maj
back of her, who stood staring at hel
in speechless amazement.
''Why, Charles"
why, mother"
Il never thought of seeing you herep
Nor you!"
"Who is this?' inquired Mr.. Leslie
looking in bewilderment from one tt
the other.
at is Charles Edward that | wrot'
you about" said Anne blushing.
1T is my son, Charles" said Mrs. Les
lie. Charles, this is your step-father.'
"And my future father-in-la
trust"' responded Charles Edward, a
he shook hands with his mother
new husband.
"We'll see about that, my boy" sal,
Mr.. Leslie, laughing, IF your mothe
is willing, | shall have no objection.
The four passed n very pleasan
evening. Charles Edward voted hi
step-father one of the incest men h
ever met, and Anne thought no lad
could be more agreeable than her new
mother
Charles Edward remained at HON
a week and then went back to school
taking with him the assurance that
he studied diligently and If both h
and Anne Were of the same mind a
the end of the Aonr no oppositiO