Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-24
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'5A Mutual Surprise :


Nv Dear Daughter-I have long felt how much
my home and children needed a mothers love and
| care have been willing in this respect, in
every other TO sachfce my own, feelings to their
good but it is not AN easy matter to find Just the
right person to- fill 30 important position, and
| do not wish to. act hastily. A few weeks ago ]
was introduced 10 a widow lady of the name Of
Norton. finding her, further acquaintance, to
| be all that could desire, either as companion
| Or a mother to my children. She Is most kind
| ind excellent lady, and / trust that you will be
prepared to extend TO her that respect and afec-
| tion that are her due. She has son. who is
away at school, which will be pleasant for you, a.
| YOU have no brother We shall be home Thurs
| day. Your affectionste father,
HOWARD LESLIE.
P. S.-Iou were very wise in not engaging
yourself without consulting me 10 the young man
you mention. young girl like you don't know
what love is. Five years hence will be time
enough for you TO think of such thing
This was the letter that Anne Leslie
received from her father in reply to the
one she had written him, overfiowing
with the glad anticipations to which her
newborn love had given rise.
For time she sat speechless with an
ger and amazement.
The idea of her father ever marrying
again had neveronce entered her mind.
Why should he? Was she not there to
keep house for him? And when she left,
as, of course, she should in time, would
not Marion then be ready to take her
place? She never heard of anything SO
ridiculous.
And to think that her poor mother,
who had been hardly two years in her
grave, should be so soon forgotten!
If she thought that her adored Charles
| Edward would ever be so false to her
| memory, she was sure that 1t 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-Charles Edward FitzHenry
Stubbs-was more wounding than the
harshest invective.
And to presume to think that she knew
nothing of love, who had experienced it
in sweetness and power!
Full of these indignant thoughts, Anne
sat down and penned an epistle to her
adored Charles Edward, detailing her
grievances and ending with the declara-
ton that she would never, never submit
to be domineered over by stepmother
and that she would ever be true to the
III 81 OHly lONc VI AcI iilc.
The next mail brought reply, stating,
together with many protestations of un-
dying affection, that he could truly SYM
fathers marriage, having just received
the intelligence that his mother was to
take another husband. She had given
him one stepfather. when he was boy,
and he would never submit to the rule of
another.
He would be there on Thursday, tC
demand in person her'hand of her father.
If he refused, they would fly together to
some happy place where cruel fathers
and stepfathers were unknown.
Charles Edward was as good as his
word. Promptly on the following Thurs
day he made his appearance at the house
of the father of his adored Anne.
Scarcely were the first rapturous greet
ings over when the sound of carriage
wheels was heard.
Anne turned pale.
"They have comew she cried, starting
to her feet.
LET 'em come" responded Charles
Edward defiantly. "You are not afraid,
hope, when l am here?"
AS he said this curiosity impelled him
u luTu HIS eyes lO Tue WlQuOW.
Good heavens!" he calculated as they
fell upon lady who was lighting from
a carriage. "Why, it looks like-but, no;
it can't ber'
Mr.. Leslie led his wife up to where his
daughter was standing.
As Mrs. Leslie turned from the con-
strained greeting of her new daughter
her eyes fell upon the young man back
Of her, who stood staring at her in
speechless amazement.
"Why, CharlesI"
'Why, mother!'
81 never thought of seeing you herer'
"Nor l youp'
. "Who is this?' inquired Mr.. Leslie,
looking in bewilderment from one to the
other.
"It is Charles Edward that wrote you
about" said Anne. blushing.
''It is my son Charles" said Mrs. Les
lie. Charles, this is your stepfather"
"And my future father-in-law, l trust"
responded Charles Edward as he shook
hands with his mothers new husband.
We'll see about that, my boy" said
Mr.. Leslie, laughing. "If your mother is
willing, shall have no objection"
The four passed a very pleasant even
ing. Charles Edward voted his stepfa-
ther to be one of the incest men he ever
met, and Anne thought no lady could be
more agreeable than her new mother.
Charles Edward remained at home a
week and then went back to school, TAX
ing with him the assurance that if he
studied diligently and bctL he and Anne
were of the same mind atlhe end of the
year no opposition would be made to
their marriaye.-New York News.