The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-08
HOW THEY GOT AHEAD
OF TIE OLD FOLKS
IOricinal.l-

[OriginaL]
Miss Julia Wardwell had breakfasted
and was attending to her canary when
for her.
Good g:aciousr she exclaimed.
Mamma to be married. Sorry she
can't come home quite as early as cN.
pected.' Mr. Arbuckle. Hopes I'll
not be naughty about it, What in tie
world am to do? l can't get used tc
a strange man in the house I'll''-
A Esaid entered and handed her q
card on which was written, Henry
Durand Arbuckle.''
We'll l declare,'' the girl went Oh
with her soliloquy, after telling the
maid to say that she would be down
soon, ''this is disaster following fast
and following faster hardly learn
that / am to have stepfather when !
am called to face him. l wonder If
mamma has gone and made a silly Of
herself by taking a young man. SHE
always disliked OLD ones. So suppose
she's got boy. Heigho! l wish had
some one to marry myself"
She prinked little before the glass
and then went down into the drawing
room. y handsome young man of TWEEN
ty-fve arose as she entered. He looked
rather embarrassed and stammered a
few incoherent sentences.
Beg pardon, Mrs. Arbucl1le-I mean
Miss-no, Mrs. Wardwell. for calling
50 carly. have but few hours in
the city, and
You are quite excusable, MI. Ar-
buckle. received a letter this morn,
ing
50 Gid l. Quite charmed, assure
yo!, to find so young a person
fearel"
And am quite surprised in you'
Il t.ii..k | shall love You very much.
My mother Gied when was but four
years old, ana l have 10 remembrance
of her"
Miss Wardwell looked surprised.
'.Eis mother
Il remember my father" she replied.
land I'm quite sure no other man can
take his place, but
You will not object to the love of a
SOM"
Miss Wardwell paused again "Tho
love of Il son. Is mamma to marry &
lunatic?''
Meanwhile Miss Wardwell had tax
Ell Il seat on Il sofa. and Mr.. Arbucllle,
who had taken chair, got ,lp and sat
down beside L ".
1,.,,- al Ia
charmed am in finding so agreeable
a young person. I'm sure we shall get
on famously. You will find me dutiful,
obedient. loving
And L. she replied IAN equally
pleased. just before you called made
up my mind that couldn't endure'-
Same here We have both felt
alike. How delightful to have dssat-
isfaction turned to pleasure! Oh
mother. let US
Mother she exclaimed, drawing
back. What do you mean?"
II mean that father couldn't have
chosen u more satisfactory stepmother
4 for me-
"Stepmother! Why, I'm to be your
| SlepQauSlter.
"What do you take me for?'
Mammals new husband that is to
be-"
Are you not Mrs. Wardwell!"
4 81 am Miss Julia Wardwell. Do /
look old enough to be your step
mother?"
4 ''This is very astonishing. sup
posed ! was calling on fathers fan
cee."
"And supposed you We're my moth.
er's fiance."
Father wrote me that Mrs. Ward.
we'll would arrive in the city yester.
day and, as l was passing through
asked me to call on her."
II have just received letter from
mamma saying that she has been de
layed. | supposed she had chosen a
young man. She has never liked old
ones"
"Well, well! Upon my word! Ant
you're not to be my stepmother after
ALL"
II should say not! And you're MOI
to be my stepfather, and I'm to have
an old man in the house! I'm disap
pointed
And Pm to have an old woman 70,
a stepmother.'
Il shall not live with them.
Nor II
~ shall take apartments and live
alone, with a maid and other serv
ants"
You can't do that"
"NNhy not?"
YOU'RE too young-and pretty"
"Ch, dear! Pm disgusted.''
80 am |. shall go into bachelor
quarters"
"Why will parents make themselves
happy by making their children miser
able"