The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-07-24
HOW THEY GOT AHEAD
OF THE OLD FOLKS
toriginal.l

toriginaLl
Miss Julia Wardwell had breakfasted
and was attending to her canary when
the postman arrived and left aietfer
for her.
Good g.aciousI she exclaimed.
"Mamma to be married Sorry she
can't come home quite as early as ex-
pected.' MIR. Arbuckle'. Hopes III
not be naughty abort it What in the
world al to do? can't get used to
q strange man in the house. ZIP
A maid entered and handed her a
card on which was written, Henry
Durand Arbuckle."
'Well, 1 declare" the girl went on
with her soliloquy, after telling the
maid to say that she would be down
soon, this is disaster following fast
and following faster 1 hardly learn
that am to have stepfather when /
am called to face him. I wonder II
mamma has gone and made a silly Of
herself by taking a young man. She
always dlsllked old ones. So l suppose
she's got boy. Heighol wish 1 had
some one to marry myself"
She prinked a little before the glass
and then went down into the drawing
room. A handsome young man of twen-
ty-t1ve arose as she entered. He looked
rather embarrassed and stammered a
few incoherent sentences.
BEG pardon, Mrs. Arbuckle-I mean
Miss-no, Mrs. Wardwell, for calling
so early. 1 have but a few hours In
the city. and"-
you are quite excusab,e, Mr.. Ar
buckle. received letter tits morn.
ing
$50 did l. Quite charmed, 1 assure
you, to find SO young person.
feared"-
"And am quite surprised In you"
Il think / shall love you very much
My mother died when l was but four
years old, and have no remembrance
Of her."
Miss Wardwell looked surprised.
"His mother!"
II remember my father" she replied,
''and 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. "The
love of soni Is mamma to marry
lunatic?"
Meanwhile Miss Wardwell had tax
en- seat on sofa, and Mr.. Arbuckle,
who had taken chair, got up and sat
down beside her.
"You have no idea," he said, chow
charmed 1 am in finding so agreeable
young person. I'm sure we shall get
on famously. You will find me dutiful,
obedIent, loving"
"And l." she replied, "am equally
pleased. Just before you called l made
up my mind that couldn't endure'-
Same here. We have both felt
alike. How delightful to have dissat.
lsfaction turned to pleasure! oh.
mother, let u.s.
Mother" she exclaimed, drawing
back. "What do you meany
II mean that father couldn't have
chosen a more satisfactory stepmother
for me-"
"Stepmother! Why. I'm to be your
Stepdaughter"
"What do you take me for"
Mammals new husband that Is to
be-"
"Are you not Mrs. WardwelIT"
81 am Miss Julia Wardwell. Do
look old enough to be your step
motherf"
'"rhls is very astonishing. sup
posed was calling on fathers fan
eee."
"And 1 supposed you were my moth.
sr's fiance."
"Father wrote me that Mrs. Ward
we'll would arrive In the city yester-
day and, as | was passing through,
asked me to call on her."
II have Just received letter from
mamma saying that she has been de.
layed. l supposed she had chosen a
young man. She has never liked old
ones"
"Well, well! Upon my word! And
you're not to be my stepmother after
ALI"
~ should say not! And you're not
to be my stepfather, and I'm to have
an old man in the house! I'm disap.
pointed"
"And I'm to have an old woman for
stepmother"
~ shall not live with them"
"Nor l."
II shall take apartments and live
alone, with maid and other serv-
ants"
"You can't do that"
"Why not?"
You're too young-and pretty"
"Oh, dear! I'm disgusted."
$50 am 1. shall go into bachelor
quarters"
"Why will parents make themselves
happy by making their children miser.
ablew
"It's very selfish of them"
They've had their fling and should
1efer to their offspring"
"Id like to get ahead of the gov.
ernor. 1t would serve him right"
"I'd marry clown to get even with
mamma"
81 wouldn't mind helping you out"
Miss Wardwell turned away her
head. Her stepfather that was to
have been moved closer.
do you know when our parents ars
to be married? he asked.
ION the 1st of July, mother says
Your father has business in England
In that month, and they are to sail as
soon as married."
every we'll. Well beat them by two
weeks"
Fathers fool"
$50 is mother"