Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-11-12
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
THAT SCHOOL FOR STEP.
MOTHERS

sufficiently interested to keep on read
ing
"Hullo, Dad" he said when he had
finished, here is something that will
interest you"
"Huh?" said Wilkinson, Sr.
Il say, here Is something that will
/ interest you. II is a letter from a Miss
BatIey-Helen Bailey Ever heard OF
herr"
"Huh-uh." grunted the elder man
with aboriginal simplicity. who is
she?"
blessed II know. but she seems to
have spotted us, all right This Is what
she says:
Mr.. Dwight Wilkinson.
Dear Sir:--l beg to inform you that
the spring term Of my school for step
mothers has just ended, and that can
now recommend to you seventeen wO-
men, all perfectly Cabable Of assuming
the duties Of stepmother. no matter
ages Of the children. These ladies' are
possessed OF most cstimublG char
|aotcr. Moreover, they are OF excellent
|bith Those gifts Of nature, augment
| ed by the manifold accomplishments
IaudpraCtiCal virtues acquired at my
. school, constitute the most exalted type
OF womanhoOd, and any man who IL
considering the Encouragement OF his
} household by the introduction of q
btcpmOther will do well to cultivat,
the acquaintance OF my pupils before
looking elsewhere. II you are contem.
plating any such step, kindly inyesti-
gate. For particulars as to the object
I Of this institution and the methods OF
training, inquiry may he made either
OF myself or the graduates Of the class
OF 1908, although, IL just AS convenient
tor the investigator, should prefer
that all Inquiries be addressed To me
Jas can, perhaps give more compre,
hcnsiye ana impartial answers than
! the students. Kindly let me hear from
you. sincerely yours.
HELEN BAILEY.
Wilkinson, Sr., listened. pondered
and finally waXed indignant.
Il don't see, he said, what that in.
sane driyel has got to do with me
don't want stepmOther."
No, but you are thinking of giving
ne one, whether want her or not, and
I've got right to ask thai you do the
square thing by me. Considering that
she can make things pretty uncomfort-
able for me II she happens not to like
me, it Is nothing more than fair that
/ have a voice in selection of the lady
! am going down to Miss Balley's place
this afternoon and see II any one OF
Tier seventeen pupils meets with my
appreciation"
| You had better stay away" advised
his father. "Juuglng by that letter Miss
Bailey and her corps OF trained step.
mothers are all on the nutty list"
Il agree with you there. Neyerthe'
less, | am going to investigate. II
lind that Miss Bailey really is at the
head of "A private insane asylum that
OF course, tets us out"
Miss Batleys appearance, wheI
Dwight looked her up few hours
later, did net betoken mental un,
soundness, but her opening remarks
were less reassuring Dwight explain,
ed his presence by mentioning that ht
Rad received her letter. She smiled
cordially.
"Oh, | see" she said. Then | pre-
4.
err"
We'll yes, something Of that kind,
answered Dwight. THAT is, an
seeking information"
Exactly" returned Miss Bailey
Everybody to whom | sent out letter.
Is after the same thing, Those circu
lars made tremendous hit. hav
had eighteen calls in regard to then
this afternoon"
Eighteen" repeated Dwight. An,
you have only seventeen stepmOther
ready for business. am afraid an
too late Your stepmothers have prob
ably all been snapped up
"Oh, no, noneof them is yet apprc
Prlatsd ! have not been able, as yet
to arrange an interview between an
of the applicants aud my pupils, S
, you stand as good show us anybody
Is it for yourself that you wish a step
mother"
"Y-y-yes, stammered Dwight "Tha
isl thought might"
Il see" Miss Bailey broke in. "Yo
: look rather young to be in need q
/ such things, but | suppose everybod
! knows his own business best. wi
Ill out your application at once.
. take it, from your manner, that your
! is something Of rush order, therefor
| / will attend to you as soon as pos
siDle. ! will try to get time to loo
! you up tomorrow, but | have so niue
other work on my hands that cannC