The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-07-26
The STEPMOTHER.

do about Yep
The young man was lying in a ham,
mock, swung,st the end of the piazza;
his sister was seated near him, In
rocking chair, which she kept in vigor-
GUS motion, as though thereby trying
to accentuate her. remarks concerning
the letter she held in her hand.
A boy about Is Nears of age was
lounging on the steps, with a novel be-
fore him, but the contents of that epis-
tie had apparently taken away his in
terest in the story, for Me was not read
ing.
you surely are not ,surprise, Ger
trude, continued the occupant of the
hammock. Il have befn noticing for
some time the care father took in max
ing his toilet, when he went out on
business. Business" laughing derisive-
ly, my stern parent newer fooled me
much. | thought he was going
a-wooing"
Yes" returned Gertrude But how
can man with heart fall in love
again, so soon, anyway
Maybe she was his first love, from
whom he was separated by a misun-
Outstanding" said Harold. putting his
hand over his heart sentimentally.
Hello! the rain has stopped - and
there comes livery stable carriage.
How dramatic! Rain stops, enter
hero! Come along, Jim, I'VE would not
be here to embarrass the greetings of
two young and loving hes arts" He dis
appeared through the door, while Jim
slowly followed in his lazy, languid
way, saying, Tell Dick | will see him
at supper"
BY this time the carriage had enter
ed the gates and was coming rapidly
up the long avenue that led to the
house. The Fosters priued themselves
on their well-kept grounds, especially
the drive from the lodge gate to the
house. which was border6d on either
side by maple trees.
They gave delightruul shade dur
ing the summer months and their
gorgeous foliage, in the fall. made the
Foster place the glory of the neighbor-
hood.
But neither Richard nor Gertrude
thought Of the naples ais he was driv-
ing under them that afte rnoOn. He had
been abroad two years. his only
thought was that, at last, he was real
ly 10 be with his fianceG 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
20, Dick" she said. Father is mar
ried again. | received "a note lust a
few minutes before you came. telling
me about it, He said he shouId he
home III few days and wanted me TO
have everything done td make her
homecoming pleasant.
Dick looked grave-then replied:
well, it will be only TOR a little time.
but" cheerfully, Il will take YOU away
right off, If you like"
Gertrude laughed. "Oh,I I guess 7
can support her presence a few weeks.
but isn't it dreadful-for man 70 GET
married u second timer
Awful" he returned. with convic-
tion' men, AFTER seconds pause: II
mean as IA rule; OF course there are
exceptional cases That reminds me -
he added, you have hearh me speak
of my aunt MarionT
The aunt who, you 5av. has re-.
deemed the race OF old maids in vour
estimation asked Gertrude.
The same" he answered. well
mother wrote me some time ago that
she was going to be married. I supnose
| shall hear all about il tonight. when
l 20 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 affection. they had
not confessed their mutual attachmen,
when her nearest friend came To boa ri
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 estima.
ton. She had recourse to strategy,
told numberless falsehoods to both of
them, and managed, lin a short space
OF time, to provoke n quarrel between
| them.
Aunt Marion was proud and sensi.
| tive. sought no explanation from ber
whilom admirer. trusted her friend
and lost her lover.
I'm year or two she heard of their
marriage, which opened her eyes a lit
| tie and caused the glflsh friendship II
be broken OF. Two years ago she re-
ceived letter from this woman. who
it seems, was dying, confessing the
whole truth. She also left an explana
ton for her husband, which he found
when she was dead. After awhile
| Aunt Marion acceded TO the widower'.
repeated entreaties TO pA allowed &c
call-and in a few months they were
engaged. | guess my prospective uncle
made the other woman good hus
band, but he did not REALLY love her
for his wife wrote that he had never
| forgotten his first love, land only mar
ried her in gratitude for the sympathy