Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-11-10
"A MUTUAL SURPRISE.

my Dear Daughter: have long felt
how much my home and children need
cd a mothers love and care. | have
been willing In this respect, as In every
other 10 sacrifice my own feelings to
their good. but 1t Is not an easy matter
to find just the right person to ill 30
important II position, and do not wish
to act hastily.
"a few weeks ago | was introduced
to widow lady by the name of Nor
ton, finding her, on further acquaint-
ance, to be all that could desire,
either as companion or as IA mother
to my children.
She Is II most kind and excellent lady,
and | trust that you will be prepared
to extend to her that respect and affec-
ton that are her due
she has one son, who Is away at
school, which will be pleasant for you,
As you have no brother.
1--WE shall be home Thursday.
Your atfectionatc father,
Howard Leslie"
II. S.-lOu were very wise in not
engaging yourself without consulting
me TO the young man you mention. a
young girl like you don't know what
love Is. Five years from now will be
time enough for you To think of such Il
thing"
This was the letter that Anne Leslie
received from her father, in reply to
the one she had written him, overflow
Ing with the glad anticipation TO which
her new born love had gwen rise.
For time she sat speechless with
anger and amazement.
The Idea of her father ever marry
ing again had never once entered her
mind.
why should he? Was she not there
to keep house for him? And when she
left AS, of cOuse, she shouid III tinc
would not Marion then be ready To
take her place? She never heard OF
anything 50 ridiculous
Ana TO think that her poor mother
who had been hardly two years IN her
grave, should be 50 soon forgotten!
IL she thought that her adored
Charles Edwu,us wound r>et uc 50
false TO her memory, she was sure that
II Would break her heart.
But the postscript was the unkindest
cut Of all. The slighung manner IN
which her father ALLUDED to The young
man, whose name she had written to
him in full Charles Edward + Itzllenry
Stubbs-was more wounding than the
hHrshest inVective.
And to presume to think that she
%
enced 1t In fullness aud power.
Full of these indignant thoughts
Anne sat down and penned an epistle
to her ndored Charles Edward, detdl-
ing her grievances, ana ending with
the declaration that she would never,
never submit to be domlneered over
by step mother, and that she would
ever be true To the first and only love
of her life.
The next mail brought II reply, stat.
Ing together with many protestatiOns
| OF undylng affection, that he could
truly sympntizc with her feelings. In
view OF her fathers marriage having
| just received the intelligence that his
mother was TO take another husband.
| She had given him one step-futher
when he was IL boy, and lie would
never submit tn the rule of another.
lie would be there In pelsson 10 de
mand, In person, her hand of her faith
er. II he refused they would fly to-
gethcr 10 some happy place where
cruel fathers and stepfathers were I'M
known"
Charles Edwards was as good us his
ward. Promptly, on the following
Thursday, he made his appearance at
the house of the father OF his adored
Anne
Scarcely was the first rapturous
greeting over when the SOUND vi cur
riagc wheels were heard.
Anne turned pale.
"'rhey have Gomez she cried, start.
Ing 10 her feet.
Let 'em come" responded Charles
Edward, deiantly. You are not
afraid, hope, when am hcrcT
As he said this curiosity impelled
him to turn his eyes to the window.
Ing from the carringe, why IL looks
they fell upon the lady who was alighI-
Ing from the carriage, why 1t looks
like-but no, II can't be-"
Mr.. Leslie led his wife up TO where
his daughter was standing
As Mrs. Leslie turned from the con.
strained greeting of her new dnugh-
ter, her eyes fell upon the young man
back Of her, who stood staring at her
in speechless amazement
"Why, Charles"
"Why, mother!
II never thought of seeing you herer'
Nor | YOU"
"Who IL thisf' inquired Mr. Leslie,
looking Ia bcwldermcnt from one to
the other.
"It Is Charles Edward that wrote
you about" said Anne blushing.
IL IN my SOI, ' IiTItH, NHlU MTS. LEES
lie. Charles, this Is your rtep-fnther."
And my future fathcr-in-law, |
trust responded Charles Edward, AZ
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 pissed very pleasant
evening Charles Edward voted his
step-father one Of the incest men he
ever met, and Anne thought no lady
could be more agreeable than her new
mother.
Charles Edward remained Mt home
n week and then went back 10 school.
taking with him the assurance that II
he studied diligently and II both he
and Anne were Of the same mind at
the end OF the yenr no opposition
would DE made to their marrlage.