The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-01-22

1OM'SSTEPM0THER
BY RANDALL LEXINGTON.
(Copyright.)

paratOry scnOol gaZed at the yOunges
boarder curiously over his spectacle,
The youngest boarder, wholly vi
abashed, returned the gaze, his hand
plunged in his tiny pockets, and hi
bare, brown legs planted firmly apar'
Thomas" began the head master
I have received this morning lette
from your father, in which he wishe,
me to inform you that he-er-tha
you-er-in fact. that you have a step
mother"
Yes. sir" The tone was politely
noncommittal
"Er-do you know what stepmotb
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 a delightful in
dividual called father.
We'll -er your stepmother is
your-er-your fathers second Wife"
Yes. sir" Again the tone was Do
lite, but uncomprehending.
That will do. then, Thomas. That
was all wished to say to you. You
may CO."
Yes, sir"
The blue eyes lit up with sudden in
terest, Please, sir" eagerly, ARE
they nice, sir?"
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 off 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
crowd of boon companions. William
was boy Of prestige.
He was the tyrant Of his form-it
was Thomas, too-and he had a ia
Their who had shot lion.
Thomas approached him.
I've got stepmother," he an
nounced. The reception of his news
was fiattering. Williams mouth opened
to its fullest extent.
What" he roared "a stepmother?
say, you chaps, Thomas gorra 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 babble of voices.
why, they're big. ugly black wom-
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
1ividual head, and shaken each indi-
'iduai hand, and hoped that each in
fvidual pupil would be a good boy
turing the holidays, and there they
we're on the platform. waiting for their
rains. I
Ihere were many parting presents
OF Thomas from plying, sympathetic
little boys who were going home to
ice, kind mothers and nurses instead
4 cruel stepmothers.
In the train Thomas feelings were
hose OF pleasurable excitement. He {
ad never been starved, he had GER
ainly never been locked in dark |
DOM, he did not remember ever hav-
ng been beaten.
All these sensations would have the Z
harm OF novelty. At the station he '
saped out eagerly. Was she there? !
10, there was no ugly. black woman
n the platform; only James and the
zap At the gate.
me drive home was also exciting
ames' manner seemed to have an
dded respect. a touch of that SYM
athy that had made those last few s
eeks at school 30 pleasant. t
At last they were there. Up the 4
ing. shady avenue they drove to the
reat front door. y
Your fathers in the library, Master a
said a housemaid, who was b
sw since last holidays. 8
Halo. son." said his father. as he
,tered. How have you been getting o
4? Carried of all the prizes, Ell? b
hat tall young man you are grow Il
g. | wonder what we can do to keep fl
~ small Seen your stepmother?" 81
mo" said Thomas. His blue eyes
lnced with excitement In his eager
ess he rumpled his untidy golden
'ir with his little brown hand.