The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-20
EVA'S
STEPMOTHER
OoOoo


face bathed in tears and her black
eyes swimming amid a mist of them.
You shall always remain, though
hundreds of miles separate us, Kate
the dearest friend that / have ever
possessed"
Eva spoke thus on the day OF
graduating from boarding school
She and Kate Broome were bidding
each other a long farewell. Kate ;
protestations we're not so warm as
Eva's, tor hers was the calmer as al
so the stronger nature of the two
When Eva returned to the spac-
lous country home in which her ear
nest childish days had been passed,
she had a feeling of intense loneli-
ness. she missed boarding school
and she missed the dear face of Kate
Broome, her idol and idea.
Evas mother had died in her
childhood, she had been the only
offspring of Mrs. Challoner's youthful
union. Eva loved her father. and
perhaps If he had been at home dur
ing the present period she would
nave felt far less lonely
At first Eva and Kate correspond
ed with great regularity and fre-
Iuency. In one of her letters Eva
eoniidentially wrote:
1t makes me sad to have papa
tway for so long a time. But now
md then, Kate. another wretched
'nought enters my head Il is
thought that fills me with actual
horror. | have a dread lest papa
nay marry again. You can't imag-
ne how l destest the idea of step
mother. | shiver. now, as | write
he word.
Mrs. Russell Ogden, a distant rel
alive OF ours, is now in Washington,
md she writes me quite often. The
)ther day she had a sentence in her
'etter which set my heart beating. 1t
referred to papa. suggesting that OF
course the chances of his marrying
again were decidedly strong.
Now, Kate, as i know you are GO
ng to Washington before very long.
want you to promise me that you
viii keep sharp eye on papa dur
ne your visit there. Tell me, If he
s devoted to anybody, and, in that
ase, just how devoted. You will no
toubt move In the same social cir
les. DO not forget my injunctions.
'ow; there is dear, good girl"
Kate Broome did go to Washing
on. not long afterward, and there
ne met, for the first time the faith
OF her dear friend. NJ. Challon-
{ was very much courtcd in society.
md deserveoly SO; he was brilliant,
1alented and ham 0me.
Kate said nc tling whatever about
er friendship with his daughter on
er first meeting with Mr.. Challoner.
he somehow had a curiosity to OBJ
rye this famed politician, as one
nom he believed a perfect stranger
9TH to him and his.
Kate was never what Is termed
good letter-writer, and she now
iglected Eva shamefully. She
'und that she could not go to balls
ID receptions and at the same time
'rrespond at all faithfully with Eva
nd she now wrote her friend an oc-
1sional scribbed sort of note, say
7g so.
Meanwhile Eva became miserablv
1urt. and almost wholly ceased writ
g TO her friend.
But one day Mrs. Russell Ogden
INT her from Washington a COM
'uication that burst upon her ike
actual bomb-shell. Her father
as reported to be engaged.
Mrs. Ogden could not give the
tme OF the lady as absolutely GER
in. She had heard it but then her
emory for names was so peculiar.
EYa's relative then went on to say
at she had met Mr.. Challoner and
new fiancee together on Pennsyl-
mia avenue that very day. At the
I'd of the letter came a postscript
1ich ran thus:
nave remembered the lady's
ame. 1t is Brush. But of course
our father will write you immedi-
ely"
Eva was in perfectly wild state.
ne next mail brought note from
er father, telling her of his engcge-
ent to Mrs. Browne, and promis-
that he would very soon write
r more fully.
The note was in her fathers pro-
'rbial handwriting, which was so
egible as rule, that only those
ost familiar with its dark ways
iuld make 1t out.
Eva was by no means sure whether
title was Mrs" or Miss
'owne, though the Browne" part
emed indisputable.
Eva now wrote her father a pas
)nately reproachful letter. She
Imed him for being a heartless
uel parent. Sne spoke with bitter
rebuke of her dead mother.
emory.
IL was the sort OF letter she hat
possible right to send. And 1
is followed by three weeks of dea,