The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-14
The Stepmother.

ter. passionately
THAT is fact" returned her brother.
| coolly, but what are you going to do
about it?''
The young man was lying in ham,
mock, swung at the end OF the piazza;
his sister was seated near him. in a rock
! ing chair, which she kept in vigorous mo-
ton, as though thereby trying TO accen-
tuate her remarks concerning the letter
| she held in her hand.
A boy about 1S years of age was loung-
ing on the steps, with a novel before him,
| but the contents of that epistle had ap-
| parently taken away his interest in the
story, for he was not reading.
You are surely not surprised. Ger
trude, continued the occupant of the
hammock. II have been noticing for some
time the care father took in making his
toilet. when he went out on business.
Business! laughing derisively. my stern
parent never fooled me much. thought
he was going a-wooing."
Yes" returned Gertrude. But how
can man with a heart fail in love again,
so soon, anyway"
Maybe she was his first love, from
whom he was separated by a misunder
standing" said Harold. putting his hand
over his heart sentimentaliy.
comes livery stable carriage. How dra-
matte! Rain stops, enter hero Come
along, Jim, we would not be here TO en-
barrass the greetings of two young and
loving hearts" He disappeared through
the door, while Jim slowly followed in his
lazy languid way, saying: Tell Dick
will see him al supper
BY this time the carriage had entered
the gates and was coming rapidly up the
long avenue that led to the house The
Fosters prided themselves on their we'll
kept grounds, especially the drive from
the lodge gate to the house, which was
bordered on either side by maple trees
They gave a delightful shade during the
summer months and their gorgeous foH-
age, in the fall, made the Foster place
the glory of the neighborhood.
But neither Richard nor Gertrude
thought Of the naples as he was driving
under them that afternoon. He had been
abroad two years, his only thought was
that, at last, he was really to be with his
fiancee once more. While she forgot her
fathers second marriage, in joy of seeing
her lover again.
But after they had been together an
hour or two Gertrude remembered the
letter and her face fell.
80. Dick" she said, Father is mar
ried again. I received a note just few
minutes before you came, telling me about
it. He said he should be home in few
days and wanted me to have everything
done TO make her homecoming pleasant.
Dick looked grave-then replied: well,
it will be only for a little time, but"
cheerfully, 81 will take you away right
off, if you like
Gertrude laughed. "Oi I guess I can
support her presence a few weeks. but
isn't 1t dreadful-for man TO get mar
ried a second time
Awful" he returned with conviction.
Then, after a second pause: at mean as
rule; of course. there are exceptional
cases. That reminds me-" he added, you
have heard me speak Of my Aunt Ma
rion?'
''The aunt who. you say, has redeemed
the race Of old maids in your estimation?"
asked Gertrude.
The same" he answered. ''Wen, moth
er wrote me some time ago that she was
going to be married. 1 suppose 1 shall
hear all about it tonight, when I go home.
You know" he continued, "a great many
years ago, Aunt Marion fell in love. She
was boarding in the country at the time
and, although he reciprocated her affec-
ton, they had not confessed their mutual
attachment when her nearest friend came
to board at the same place. This young
lady also was fascinated by the same gen.
tleman, and began to think how she could
supplant my aunt in his estimation. She
had recourse to strategy; told numberless
falsehoods to both of them, and man.
aged, in a short space of time, to pro-
woke a quarrel between them.
Aunt Marion was proud and sensitive.
oh
admirer, trusted her friend and lost her
lover.
I'm year or two she heard Of their
marriage, which opened her eyes a little
and caused the girlish friendship TO be
broken off. Two years ago she received
a letter from this woman. who. it seems.
was dying, confessing the whole truth
She also left an explanation for her hus-
band, which he found when she was dead
After awhile Aunt Marion acceded 10 the
widowers repeated entreaties to be al
lowed TO caal-and in a few months they
were engaged. 1 guess my prospective
uncle made the other woman a good hus-
band. but he did not really love her, for
his wife wrote that he had never forgotten
his first love, and only married her in
gratitude for the sympathy and tender
ness she showed when telling how my
aunt had deceived him. I think" con-
tinued Richard. that 1 would never have
made known the truth If 1 had been in
her place. But I suppose the voice of
conscience gets loud in the presence Of
death. 1t was a tardy reparation,
though
Dick. what Is your aunt's manner" ask
ed Gertrude, abruptly
why, the same as my mothers" he
answered, somewhat astonished at the
question; Moore, Marion Moore. Pretty
name. isn't it?" he added. TOO pretty
to change, I think. Why, Gertie. what is
the natter"
For the girl had grown deathly white.
and did not seem to hear his last remark.
Nothing" she said at last. making an
effort to recover her self-possession, only
your aunt is-my stepmother.''
''Whati' calculated Richard, Aunt Ma
rion your stepmother, 1t cannot be
and-yetI never knew her loves name,
never heard it. Is that her name, Ger
tie, are you sure?'
Here is the letter; you can read for
yourself" she answered family. He saw
there was no mistake and wondered how
in the world he could recall his words
Il am sorry. Gertie." he said at last
"Of course, YOU know never would have
told you had I dreamed Of such thing:
I dare say I exaggerated. 1 never heard
Aunt Marion say anything about it. All
my information came from her sisters.
who did not like your-her friend. Just
forget all about it. Gertie.''
Gertrude was weeping as Il her heart
would break; but as he finished she hand
ed him her ring, without looking up.
What Is that for2' asked Richard,
aghast. Il did not mean 10 hurt you
surely you ara not going to punish ne
Ike that. when I offended so uninten-