Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-11-12

week.
"A definite answer as to what?"
Easpcd Dwight
AS to your eligibility You see.
don't know whether you are the right
sort or not. and until find out can't
let you know whether ! can let you
have a stcpmothcr from this establish.
mcnt. have to De very careful. !
shall have 10 silt your character thor
Iuughly."
Miss Bailey moved over to a writing
desk and spread out a large sheet OF
paper on which were printed copious
instructions, intorspersed with blank
spaces to be filled in with personalities
/ cleaned from the candidates for mat
rimOnial hOnOrs.
Some Of the questions ! shall put TO
you may seem rather pointed" said
Miss Bailey, but hope you will ex-
Cuse me. What is your name, please"
Dwight nesitated as II unwilling 20
proceed further with the farcical affair;
but presently he thought better, or
worse. Of II and answered, Dwight
Wilkinson" somewhat doggedly.
Instead OF writing down the name
Miss Bailey turned and looked at him
curiously.
We'll, II that isn't too funny for any
thing" she said.
Yes" returned Dwight, icily, I'm
glad you think So"
This school, proceeded Miss Bailey,
was founded ON your account"
"On my account?" echoed Dwight.
/ An these stcpmOthers were perfected
In their vocation on my account? Good
Lord"
"Sh-sh-sh," cautioned Miss Bailey,
Don't become prOfanc, please. Yes,
! II was on your account. She came Ia
me directly after it happened and told
NE all about ii"
oh, she did?" cried Dwight VERY
kind OF her, am sure, and likewise
very sensible"
II can't say as 10 that, Of course, but
' ! really think | have been OF some SER
vice to the poor girl. But ] must say
| am surprised 10 find you 50 young
Why, Miss Conner must be several
years older than yourself but possibly
that Is Just as well in the case of q
slepmother. An added extra year OF
so may give her more authority. How
old are you, may ask?"
"Twenty-eight," said Dwight.
You don't look it, was Miss Bat,
lCy's comment, but possibly II Is your
light mustaChe that makes you look 50
/ bOyish. | have noticed that a man
with COrn-COlored mLs'ach1 always
has hali-baked appearance" She
passed hurriedly on to ;hc next ques-
ton. How many-Oh, yes, ! remem-
Der, now. Miss Common told me
There's only one. Male @" female
boy, TO be sure. II was that blessed
boy that caused all the trouble. Age?
Yes, age comes next. Mr. Wilkinson
how old is your SOM"
Dwight stood up and glared at Miss
Bailey till the flush that dcepened his
own complexion was reflected in hers
Madame" said he, 81 have had enough
OF this tOmfoolery. want TO know
what in the name Of heaven you are
driving at. What this-this Miss Con-
nor told you about me, anyhow? Out
with IT, What did she say?"
"Oh, she didn't say anything really
TO your discredit. She was too loyal
and too fond Of you for that. But
can put two and two together, and
could easily make out from what she
did say that you are a most eccentric
character. As | told you, she came to
me soon after she realized that 1t was
all up between you two. She did moi
know me, but she had heard OF my
reputation in educational matters, and
she thought. ! might possibly be able
to help her, But wasn't. Hers was
the first question ever put TO me on
educational topics that completely
floored me. She wanted TO know II
could put her on the track of any
school where she could go and receiy,
training in the art of stepmotherhood
| was Obliged to confess that | haC
never heard OF any such institution
The poor thing was sick with disap
pointment.
Then | am afraid said she. tina
there is no hope for me. think It {
shameful state OF affairs. think 4
very strange that nobody ever though
II worth while to provide instruction
for that class OF maligned women o
which ! wish TO become a member, bu
cannot because | lack the necessar!
experience, There are schools wher,
people can go to study everything els,
under the sun, so that when they TAX,
8 situation they know what they ar
expected TO do and how to do II, bu
the woman who accepts a situation a
O stepmother has to go it blind. thinl
that very unjust
THAT was what Miss Conner said
explained Miss Bailey, and when
had had time to look into the matte
agreed with her. i wonder why you
1