The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-03-25
HELEN'S STEPMOTHER.
BY AGNES LOCKE WOOD.

but mamma - Answered the governess.
ON not call her that, Vernon may do as
he pleases," Helen said.
'You had better 90 and tell Vernon
about her as soon as you can, and get him
accustomed to the idea, before she gets
here" Miss Pierson said.
Every WE'LL I'll go tell him right away,
I'll try to get him to love her enough for
both.
''Miss Person." she asked edo you sup
pose she'll be wicked and cruel like they
always are in books"
80 no, you silly child, the idea of letting
such foolish thoughts enter your head.
Didn't your father say that she was good
and sweet? How do you suppose wicked
person could be that?" Answered the
governess.
''No, but she might be nice when papa s
about, and not nice when he's away ar
swered Helen"
''Well, I'm certain she'll be nice all the
time, so go down to Vernon, like good
girl said Miss Person
II wish was as sure as you are, but it
won't make it any better by worrying over
it ~ said Helen, wisely, and she opened
the door.
She found Vernon on the veranda, sitting
in little rocking chair busy with picture
book. His nurse sat near him sewing.
Vernon looked up as his sister drew near
him, and asked "Have 'ou been tryin'
sister 20
"Yes, dear ~ Helen answered.
"What makes 'ou try 2" he asked again.
Never mind, why have been crying, l
don't want to tell you now. Vernon, how
would you like to have pretty lady come
back home with papa" Helen asked.
evil she stay all de time" was YER
mons next question.
"Maybe, but maybe she will go to the
city when papa does, and just come out
here to make us visit. Or, perhaps, she
won't come out here at all, maybe she'll
stay in the city all the time, and let US do
as we please, Just like we do now. won't
mind it quite so much, if she does that"
Helen had said this in musing tone, as
though speaking more to herself than to
Vernon.
"DOn't 'ou like dis pretty lady, sister ?"
asked. Vernon.
81 have not seen her yet dear, so | can't
tell. But let me tell you something else,
this lady is going to marry papa, and you
must call her mamma" Helen said.
''No, no, sister, she can't be my mamma,
I've never seen her," and Vernon laughed
at the very idea.
Dear me- l can't explain it. Vernon,
you see, this lady loves papa (or says she
does at least)" Helen added under her
breath, "and so papa made her his wife,
and of course papa's second wife will be
your step-mother, and -"
"What does step-mother' mean ?" Yer
non interrupted
''Well it means, | reckon it must mean
that you'll have to step on her." Oh,
mean, don't know what it does mean, {"
answered Helen desperately.
81 pon't step on her, if she's nice and
pretty" Vernon said, stamping his little
foot in his rage.
''Of course you won't step on her, l
wasn't thinking what 1 was saying, but
you didn't let me finish. This lady is
coming on next Wednesday, and papa is
coming with her. I'll go and ask Mrs.
Brown if he said on what train he would
come, in her letter, he didn't in mine"
With these words, Helen skipped off, and
as she disappeared from view, Vernon S
nurse said, 81 knowed it was a comm,
but lands, | didn't speck no such stuff 80
soon. Jest to think there'll be a nothe,
Miss Gordon in this here house, inside oh q
week. Lawry, Lawry, I specks dare's to
be awful rumpus in de camp"
Helen returned in a few minutes and
told Vernon "that their father and his wife
would be expected about three o'clock on
Wednesday afternoon"
Presently the telephone bell rang, and
Helen answered it. 1t was Grace Nelson,
who wanted to know if Helen knew of any
way she could return the borrowed book,
because Grace was going away, and was
very anxious to take it with her.
| Helen answered that she would bring il
over to her, and rang off, without giving
Grace time to raise any objections
She ordered her ponies and phcton, and
asked Vernon it he wanted to go with her,