The Mount Holly news., 1915-01-26
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TOM'sSTEpM MOTHER
BY RANDALL LEXINGTON.
Copyright,

BY RANDALL LEXINGTON.
tCopyright)
The head master of Washington pre-
paratory school gazed at the youngest
boarder curiously over his spectacles
The youngest boarder. wholly unl
abashed. returned the gaze. his hands
plunged In his tiny pockets. and his
bare, brown legs planted firmly apart.
Thomas" began the head master,
II have received this morning letter
from your father. in which he wished
me to inform you that he-er-that
you-er-in fact. that you have step
mother"
Yes. sir" The tone was politely
noncommittal
"Er-do you know what a stepmotb
or IL, Thomas?"
"No. sig"
The head master looked surprised.
Before be came 10 Washington pre-
paratory school his world had consist
ed Of cook. James and the housemaids.
with rare giimpses Of delightful I'M
dividual called father.
We'll err your stepmother ia
your-er-your fathers second WIFE,"
Yes. SIR" Again the tone was POI
lite. but uncomprehending.
"That win do, then, Thomas. That
was all wished to say to you. You
may go.s
Eyes. siS."
The blue eyes lit up with sudden In
terest. Please. siB." eagerly. 'sra
they nios. sirs@
The head master again regarded the
youngest boarder over his spectacles.
What. Thomas?"
NEtepmothess. stps
'Br-some are and some are not.
Yours probably viii be- He thought
Of the handsome, perfectly hammered
gentleman who was Thomas father,
and corrected himself Sure 10 be-"
he ended.
Yes. sin"
Thomas shut the study door after
him and wandered on toward the
schoolrCom.
He had new possession--a STEP
mother. but he was not quite sure
whether Il was q creditable one or not
In the schoolroom was William with
crowd OF boon companions. William
was boy OF prestige.
was Thomas. too-and he had q far
ther who had shot Hon.
Thomas approached him.
I've got a stepmotheY," he an
nounced. The reception Of his news
was fiattering. Williams mouth opened
to It's fullest extent
What" he roared. "A stepmother?
say. you chaps. Thomas gorEa step.
mother"
Thomas was Immediately the center
of an admiring crowd Of small boys.
to whom he solemnly confided his ig.
norance on the article in question.
There was a 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-.
tion.
The head master had patted each in.
diyidual head, and shaken each indt
vidual hand, and hoped that each in.
,diyidual pupil would be good boy
during the holidays. and there they
were on the platform. waiting for their
trains.
There we're 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 were
those Of pleasurable excitement. He
had never been starved, he had GER
tainly never been locked In a DARK
room, he did not remember ever hav.
ing been beaten.
All these sensations would have the
charm of novelty. At the station he
leaped out eagerly. Was she therei
No. there was no ugly, black woman
on the platform; only James and the
trap at the gate.
The drive home was also exciting.
James manner seemed to have an
added respect, touch Of that sym
pathy that had made those last few
weeks at school so pleasant.
At last they were there. Up the
long. shady avenue they drove to the
great front door,
Your fathers in the library, Master
! Thomas" said housemaid, who was
inew since last holidays.
:! Halo. son." said his father. az he
entered. How have you been getting
onf Carried on all the prizes, chi
What tall young man you are grow
ing. ! wonder what we can do to keer
you small. Seen your stepmother?"
\ INOp bhlu 4uOmdH Ills DAuC OySk
danced with excitement. In bis eager
ness he rumpled his untidy golden
hair with his little brown hand.
We'll. think she's on the lawn
Go and say how do you do to her"
Thomas went out and .gazed round
! No, there was no stepmother there
only princess with goldy-brown hair
! and soft, white dress. So he walked
up to her.
Are you a princess?" be asked.
She turned and looked at him, from
his toualed head down to his little
brown knees, and smiled wistfully.
"No, I'm not" she said.
"Ohl" Thomas seemed to lose al
further interest In her. but he looked
anxiously round the lawn.
Where is she?" he asked at last, in
IN eager whisper.
"Who?" smiled the lady.
~The stepmother."
"rm the stepmother," said the lady,
Thomas turned and surveyed her
speechlessly. .