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

ne htcplHOtueI.
I'm the stepmother," said the lady
Thomas turned and surveyed he
speechlessly
. He gazed at her masses OF soft. rip
pling hair. her tender, hazel eyes, hel
: delicate oval face.
t "You!" he said, incredulously. Hi.
. disappointment was obvious.
The stepmother flushed
"Then-then-you won't beat me, OF
, lock me up, or starve me-" said Thomas
in tones OF heartfelt regret
She laughed TREMENDOUSLY.
No. no-of course not"
They said you would" he said, re
proachfully.
How silly of them" she laughed.
But what 'zactly is a stepmother
They never really told me- / had a
real mother once he said with pride,
but she went to seaven. P'r'aps,"
with sudden inspiration. you're her
come back"
mo, no." she said.
She knelt down as near him as she
dared, and put one hano timidly on his
little brown knees.
I'm just stepmother, and well be
great friends, you and l. Well have
grand times together And-and wen
play here in the garden. and I'll put
you to bed and kiss you and"
But" broke in Thomas. solemnly,
we cant do that II you aren't a real
one. William says he'd like to see any
woman kiss him 'cept his mother
and you aren't real mother, are
your"
The stepmother answered eagerly:
Not a real one, dear, but"
We can't do it If you aren't a real
one,' said Thomas, decidedly.
There we're some new puppies in the
stable, and new horse that James
SAID belonged to the stepmother, and
ne had tea with James and James
wife In their little cottage, and every.
thing seemed as new and exciting as
1t always does the first day of holi.
days.
1t was half past seven when he wan.
dered into the drawing room His ia.
ther was there with the stepmother,
We'll. young man." said his ia,
Their, this is fine hour for little bows
to be up. High time you were asleep.
Come and say good night He bent
down, and Thomas stood on tiptoe
and kissed his cheek.
Now go over and say good night 10
your stepmother"
Thomas walked over to her and held !
out his hand, politely.
Good night" he said, in his quaint |
serious way.
The man frowned.
Aren't you going to kiss her, Thoin. |
as?" he asked.
Thomas turned to him.
Il don't think So" he said. You |
see, she's not a real one"
Thomas put himself to bed. He al. |
ways performed the operation alone, |
although one or other of the house
maids generally volunteered their
services.
There was a dull pain at his heart.
tie wanted some one He wanted
some one with soft, fluffy hair and
lark eyes like the stepmother, some
'ne to say good night to and kiss.
He was used to being By himself, but
low the depth Of his lonely little soul
cried for her. He wanted her. he
her, he wanted her. He wanted
Ter SO much that it hurt.
He sat up in bed and gazed with
n 10 hnh oh S,nt1 -.
lug his fingers into his palms, and
ut his lip to keep it still. Surely he
vas not going to cry! What would
William and the other boys say il they
new that he had cried because-just
did cry.
The stepmother was sitting alone in
he drawing room. Thomas father had
ust gone into the library to look for
'ook she warted. But she was not
of Thomas father-she was
linking of Thomas.
She was thinking of his blue eyes.
is untidy mop Of hair, his little seri-
us mouth. She would so love to hold
I'm on her knee. to kiss his little
rown legs.
one wanted TO go and look at him In
ed, II only she were sure he was
sleep. She dared not go unless she
'ere certain. A great loneliness was |
her heart, a loneliness that even
'homas' father could not satisfy. The ,
DOR opened.
Found 1t. dear?" she said. raising
er head. 4
But 1t was not her husband. t
1t was quaint little figure in a tiny 3
eeping suit. little figure with blue, r
'ar-flled eyes. and a tremulous baby 4
louth
i want you" he walled Il want }
Oh. anyway. An 1t doesn't matter 4
bout your not being a real one. tn {,
just the same. An / want you to a
~ good night. too, and" a
But he got no further. Somehow u
other he was there, pressed against
pr warm, white throat, and the soft.
agrant waves of her hair. He could