Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-12
3-llIil.IiIIlIIiiiiiIIIIt IL
The SteplnOther.

. lI}IliIliIliilIIIIillit !
! "Oh. Dick" said Gertrude Moore ia
/ ther is married again. received n note
just few minutes before you came, tell
ing me about it. He said he should be
home in a few days and wanted me TO have
everything done TO make her home coming.
pleasant
Dick looked grave-then replied, Well,
it will be only for n little time. but, y
sheerfully. Il will take you away right
( off. if You like"
i support her presence q few weeks, but ism I
/ it drcadful-for a man to get married a
second time:"
Awful. he returned with conviction.
( Then. after IA seconds pause: II mean as
rule OF course there are exceptional
cases That reminds me, " he added, ''you
/ have heard me speak of my Aunt Marion:'
The aunt who. you say, has redeemed
/ the race of old maids in your estimation?'
asked Gertrude.
The same, he answered well. moth
er wrote me some time ago that she was
going TO be married. 1 suppose 1 shall
hear all about it tonight when 90 home
1Ull hIlON- lt CoIllIuSu- d great IltIly
years ago Aunt Marion fell in love. She
was boarding in the country at the time,
and. although he reciprocated her affection,
they had not confessed their mutual at
tachment when her earnest friend came to
! board at the same place. This young lady
also was fascinated by the same gentle
man and began TO think how she could
sup2lant my aunt in his estimation She
had recourse to strategy; told nImberless
falsehoods to both of them, and managed
in short space of time to provoke quar-
rel between them.
Aunt Marion was very proud and SEN
sitiye, sought no explanation from her
whilom admirer, trusted her friend and
lost her lover
In year or two she heard of their
marriage, which opened her eyes 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 to the
widower's repeated entreaties to be al
lowed to call-and in few months they
were engaged. I 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 l would never have
made known the truth if 1 had been in
her place. But / suppose the voice of con-
science gets very loud in the presence of
DEATH Itwas IA tardy reparation, though"
''Dick, what is your aunt's name?"
asked Gertrude abruptly.
why, the same as my mother " he
answered, somewhat astonished at the
question. Moorc-Marion Moore. Pretty
name, isn't it, he added. ''Too pretty
to change, think. Why, Gertie, what is
the matter?"
For the girl had grown deathly white
and did not seem to hear the last remark.
Nothing she said at last, making an
effort to recover her self possession, "only
your aunt is my stepmother."
What" calculated Richard. Aunt
Marion your stepmother. 1t cannot be-
and yeti never knew her lovers name,
never heard it. Is that her name, Gertie?
Are you surc.'
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 l never would have
told you had l dreamed of such thing.
| dare say l exaggerated. / never heard
Aunt Marion say anything about it. All
my information came from her sisters,
who did not like your-her friend. Just
forget about it, Gertie"
Gertrude was weeping as if her heart
would break, but as he finished speaking
she handed him her ring without looking
up.
What is that for?'' asked Richard
agbast. Il did not mean to hurt you;
surely, you arc not going to punish mo
like that when offended so unintention-
ally"
NO" sobbed Gertrude, sit isn't that;
only shouldn' think you would want to
marry the daughter of such mother
Richard laughed as he took the ring
and placed it on Gertrude s finger again.
What n silly child you arer' he said
fondly. sit wouldn't make any difference
to mo if every relative you had was in the
penitentiary. You would not be respon-
sible for their sins. Besides, suppose
your mother thought she had every right
to try and win your father. He was not
engaged to my aunt, you know, and they
say all is fair in love and war. So think
no more about it--and we will never men
ton it again.
Gertrude never did mention it again,
but she thought about it many times, and
when Mr. Foster brought his wife home
he found everything arranged to his liking.
He had said to her, 1.-THE boys will be
all right, and if Gertrude does not treat
you well, let me know
Never, James, replied Mrs. Foster,
"for you might be tempted to tell her the
history of the years that are gone, and
children should reverence their mothers
which I doubt if she could do,
knowing all"
But there was no trouble. Gertrude
treated her stepmother with the utmost
respect and courtesy and behaved in such
IA way that Mrs. Foster actually dreaded !
the girls wedding day.
AS she watched the carriage that con.
tanned her nephew and his bride drive
down the maple avenue, now Respondent
in its autumnal colorings, she sighed
then turned toward her husband, who was
standing near. II never thought to have
loved Louisa S child so well,'' she said
Buffalo Times.
Speechless With Rage.
''SStrong emotion, says Darwin, 'in |