The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
T0M'ssTEPMOTHER
ey RANDALL LEXINGTON.
fCopynght.)

pa-atory school gazed at the youngest
boarder curiously over his spectacles.
The youngest boarder, wholly IN
abashed, returned the gaze, his hands
plunged in his tiny pockets, and his
bare. brown legs planted firmly apart.
Thomas" began the head master,
Il have received this morning letter
from your father, in which he wished
me to inform you that heVer-that
you-er-in fact, that you have step
mother"
Yes, sir" The tone was politely
noncommitta
"Er-do you know what a stepmoth
er is. Thomas"
mo, sir"
The head master looked surprised.
Before he came to Washington pre-
paratory school his world had consist
ed Of cook, James and the housemaids.
with rare glimpses Of delightful in
dividual called father.
We'll -er-your stepmother is
your-er-your fathers second wife"
Yes, sir" Again the tone was po-
lite, but uncomprehending.
That will do, then, Thomas. That
was all wished to say to you. You
may 60"
Yes, sir"
The blue eyes lit up with sudden in.
terest. Please, sir" eagerly, are
they nice. SIR"
The head master again regarded the
youngest boarder over his spectacles.
What, Thomas"
"Stepmothers, sir"
"Er-some are and some are not.
Yours probably will be-" He thought
of the handsome. perfectly hammered
gentleman who was Thomas father,
and corrected himself. Sure to be-,
he ended.
Yes, sir"
Thomas shut the study door after
him and wandered of toward the
schoolroom.
He had new possession-a STEP
mother, but he was not quite sure
whether 1t was creditable one or not.
In the schoolroom was William with
| a crowd of boon companions. William
was a boy Of prestige.
He was the tyrant Of his form-it
was Thomas, too-and he had ia.
Their who had shot lion.
Thomas approached him.
I've got stepmother," he an.
nounced. The reception Of his news
was flattering. Williams mouth opened
to its fullest extent.
What" he roared. "A stepmother?
l say, you chaps, Thomas CORA step
I mother"
Of an admiring crowd of small boys,
to whom he solemnly confided his ig.
norance on the article in question.
There was babble Of voices.
Why. they're big. ugly black WON.
; en-" They beat you" They starve
you" They lock you up In dark
rooms"
Thomas received the information
stolidly. In the same way he received
all subsequent glances Of envy or
! sympathy.
For Thomas life suddenly changed.
All the rest Of the term he was the
, central figure, the observed Of all OBJ
/ servers. William regretfully. but Of
; his own accord, relinquished his posi-
ton.
, The head master had patted each in.
. dividual head, and shaken each indi
! vidual hand, and hoped that each in.
dividual pupil would be a good boy
: during the holidays, and there they
! were on the platform, waiting for their
? trains.
There were many parting presents
for Thomas from plying, sympathetic
little boys who were going home to
/. nice, kind mothers and nurses. instead
) Of cruel stepmothers.
In the train Thomas feelings we're
{ those Of pleasurable excitement. He
had never been starved, he had GER
5 tainly never been locked in a dark
{ room. he did not remember ever hav.
ing been beaten.
Z All these sensations would have the
+ charm Of novelty. At the station he
leaped out eagerly. Was she there?
No, there was no ugly, black woman
8 on the platform; only James and the
9 trap at the gate.
XII The drive home was also exciting.
= James manner seemed to have an
3 added respect, touch Of that SYM
& patty that had made those last few
q weeks at school 80 pleasant
Z At last they we're there. Up the
: long. shady avenue they drove to the
& great front door,
Il Your fathers in the library, Master
< Thomas" said housemaid, who was
new since last holidays.
& Halo. son." said his father, az he
= entered How have you been gettinl
x on! Carried OF all the prizes, eh!
Z What tall young man YOU are grow
! ing. wonder what We can do to keer
Z you small. Seen your stepmother!"
! NO" said Thomas. His blue eve,
Z danced with excitement In his eager
= ness he rumpled his untidy COLDER
! hair with his little brown hand.
Z We'll. think she's on the lawn
! Go and say how do you do to her"