The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-03-25
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
CHAPTER III.-THE LETTER.

CHAPTER III.-THE LETTER.
The next morning, Helen was at break
fast on time. As she entered the break fast
room by one door, one of the servants
entered by another, carrying the mailbag
"Good morning Ben, put the bag by
my chair, l II open it this morning." Helen
said
eyes missile, hope you spent a pleasant
night?'
eyes, thank you, | slept very well "
Just then Miss Pierson entered and Ben
withdrew.
They coldly exchanged good mornings
they had finished, Helen opened the mail
bag and handed Miss Pierson two letters
81 guess the others are all for papa" she
said aloud. "Oh, no, this one is for me, in
papa's handwriting too, | wonder il any
thing could be the MATTER" and she left
the table, without another word. Gaining
her own room, she settled herself in an easy
chair broke the seal of the letter, and read
"DEAR DAUGHTER:
have something to say to
you, which scarce know how to put into
words. | cannot tell whether it will please
or pain you. Perhaps you have often
thought that might marry again
Helen got no further. She threw the
letter down, and burst into tears. Presently
partly gaming her composure, she picked
the letter up looked at it sptetully, started
to tear it up, seemed to think better of it,
and read on.
81 met, some time ago, beautiful young
lady, with whom | fell in love. l cannot
describe her, so 1 shall not try, she is so
sweet and good. You will remember that
of late, l have been paying frequent visits
to Savannah? 1t was for no other purpose
than to visit that young lady, whom |
asked to be mine. She consented, and So
my dear, l shall bring my bride home on
Wednesday, of next week. | only need
add, that | hope you will welcome her
kindly, which l feel sure you will and
tell Vernon about his new mamma |
have written to the housekeeper, and told
her of all the necessary arrangements, so
all want you to do, is to be your own
sweet, pretty self, so that your new mamma
can see what jewel of a daughter l have.
Your Own Loving Papa"
Helen sat for minute perfectly still, it
seemed so like dream, she couldn't realize
it. But when, finally, it all dawned upon
her, she burst into tears and for full half
hour, she lay sobbing and crying, then she
got up, wiped her eyes, and exclaimed
aloud, 'That wicked, cruel man, | hate
him, hate him, and that worse woman,
that pretty Gladly" who is coming to take
my place, and going to make papa hate
Vernie and me. l suppose l shall have to
give all my nice silk dresses away, and
dress in calcoes all summer and winter too.
She will take away all the money papa
gives me, and buy things for herself. She'll
beat me, too That's the way that step
mother did in the book Grace loaned me,
and so of course that's the way it will be
here. o dear, l wish | was dead. Papa is
Just trying to flatter me, and l pont look
nice, I'll wear my very oldest and ugliest
dress, and I'll try to make Vernon hate her
too. I'll never speak to my father again
Pm going to make up with Miss Pierson,
for she's thousand times better than a
horIid old stepmother, and every bit as
with Miss Pierson, because maybe now,
she won't make up, and she'll try to make
the stepmother hate me more. 0 dear,
what shall | do then. But I'll do every
thing can to make friends"
With this resolve, she unlocked the door
and went quickly up the hall, straight to
Miss Persons room. She was in such
hurry, that she forgot all about knocking
and went right in. Miss Pierson was there
reading, and Helen, without word, offered
her the open letter.
Miss Pierson received it with surprised
look, but no comment, and Helen threw
herself on a hassock, at Miss Persons feet,
with sob She read the letter, and handed
it back to Helen, with the remark, "Well,
my dear, suppose OF course you will do
exactly as your father asks you to ?"
"No indeed, l shall not, returned Helen
Indignantly. 81 intend to treat her just as
oddly as l can"
evil you not try to love her, for your
fathers sake? ?" questioned the governess
ono, know | can't love her, not even
like her, so | don't intend to try. And
don't expect to love my father any longer.
He has q wife to love him now. Pm sure
he won love me, and l don't intend to
love him." Helen said, hotly.
so hush, Helen" said the governess,
gently, "those are idle words, and you'll
be sorry enough for them some day, when
its too late perhaps. Your father will love
you as we'll as ever, I am sure, and your
new mamma will soon learn to love you.
You must not set Vernon against her, what
ever else you do"
"I'll not tell him to call her mamma,
she can teach him that, if she wants to,