The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-22
at, ,yOhn,s Ward.

When up these stairs my ieet sn n iaaGi
1t, Johns Ward.
"I don't know what Pm to do"
Mr.. St, John thrust his hands into his
pockets. and walked meditatingly across
the floor. <<, -, ,r
nothing whatever about taking care OF III,
tie Girls. If she was young lady should
understand what my duty would be; but IN
this case things are different"
He picked up letter which was lying on
the table and reperused 1t. 1t was dying
REQUEST from a valued friend Tor 81. john
to become the guardian OF the n wsl.eT only
Of course st. John could not refuse, and
in consequence was quite at a loss to know
what to do with his newly-acquired family.
However, said he, Frightening up at
the thought, "I'll send her q lot of presents
and keep her at school for while yet"
And so he did.
which In due season reached Madame
Polisher's Fashionable Passionate, where
girls are Sc made to order," and sent home
to parents and guardians as modei young
ladies ready for homes and husbands OIL
their own.
ga box for Mademoiselle LIE Brune,"
said the voluble little French woman,
presenting Mr.. St. Johns gifts to tall,
slender young lady, with wide open grey
ewes, and satin brown hair, and clothed In
the deepest mourning.
The box was opened in the privacy OF
her own room, and with feelings divided
Between amusement and rage, the contents
were exhibited to her schoolmates. First
came q huge wax doll, dressed in the latest
style, with eyes that would open and shut,
and which, by touching wire in the side
OF the body, would give vent to a success
sion of screams.
"Just like a baby for all the world"
cried little Alice Maydew, between her
shouts of laughter, as Miss LIE Bruno
touched the wire, and the "infant" went
of into spasmodical fit of weeping.
Then there was dollhouse, aud china
tea-set, mammoth tin rattle, and, In fact,
everything q little girl of five or six years
was short letter, beginning, "My little
ward" and ending, "From your guar
DIAM in which the writer stated that he
would see that she had everything she de.
sired, hoped to hear from her long and
glowing accounts of her studies, etc.
Margaret scarcely knew whether to be
offended or otherwise. Evidently her guar
dian thought she was mere child, and she
determined not to undeceiye him.
When the vacation came, she accepted
an invitation from one of her school friends
TO spend the few weeks which interviewed
between the past term and the one in pro-
spective with her, at pleasant country
village on the Hudson.
"By Jove! Splendidly done!"
The exclamation was drawn forth by the
appearance of horse apd rider flying over
five-barred gate, and disappearing down
the broad road leading to the beach.
St. John, for it was he, looked after the
equestrenne until she was lost from view,
and then loitered along the path, on his
way to the hotel.
Presently she rode past again, but this
time more slowly, and he saw pair OF
large grey eyes, and coronet of brown
hair, dusky, oval face, and dainty
mouth.
"My fate" said he, watching her as she
passed him, his heart gives q great bound
against his yest-pocket. 81 wonder who
He waited every day for another sight o
her, but was doomed to be disappointed. ;.
The Sabbath came, and out or Sheel
WEAKNESS and want Of something to 90 d
went to the village church, and the mrs
person he saw was the unknown. I'm no
positive that he heard the sermon, or any
thing else. / do know, though, that b
neighborly manner, which caused the dusk
face to become very apparent crimson
and the grey orbs to flash rather defiantly
When the services were ended, he KEEP
close to the entrance-way, and as the youRi
lady approached with party Of friends h
heard somebody say, "That's Miss May
dew, and" The rest of the sentence wa
lost but St. John was satisfied that tina
was her name, for who else could there b.
In OF h1ooo 70 ftroo Of IL,
attention or elicit any remarks. Nobody
Of course. And he went home delighted.
He watched and waited to see her again
and at last heard some one say that " Dir
Maydew's daughter had returned to schoo
again.
Thereupon he was almost disenchanted
"Only school girl, bread-and-butte
Miss, after all" sighed he, packing hi
"And that reminds me of nv ward.
suppose it's time for more presents"
And directly after Miss lie Bruno re
ceived prodigfously large package of COZ
fectionery, much to her aInusement, an
the delight Of her companions who taste
it.
Two years rolled around, and twice S!
John had seen the owner of the eyes an
hair, once In the cars, where he gave her
seat, and once at a concert in an adjoining
Cikyp 0AcIo nuC WAC sponunS q saSotlV'
with an aunt. $500
Margaret remembered him distinctly, blu
had no idea who he was, and in speaking 9
him to her friend, Alice Maydew, jocularl.
designated him as "the party with imper
tinent eyes, whom the gods evidently de
signated for her worse half" d 80
The months passed on, and at Last hel
schools days were over. st. John, about
this time, took the idea into his head to In
vite his ward to his home to spend few
weeks. 80. 4, IS 4 !.s,:!.t.
"l'l go-that is if you win, accompany
me, Alice. / think we'll have pleasant
time. I've never seen him, but probably
he's an old fellow, with red whiskers and
false teeth, not at all likely to be dangerous
Besides, il is perfectly proper for us to go,
since he 10 my guardian. - ST.
She notified. him Of her acceptance, and
also ,announced that she would bring Q
friend with her. ,.,,.... 80 %
st. John sent.a carriage for them OF the
depot, anduponarriving at his elegant resi-.
dence theseryant showed them their rooms,
quite astpHtshed 20 sind two young ladies
visit them for some time.
They went down to the parior after wash,
Ing and dressing ST. John sat near the
window, but, hearing footsteps, rose to re.
ceiYe his little guests hut; seeing Miss lie
Bruno, he started back in establishment,
She was no less surprised, 4
Here was this fellow AGAR, and albeit Fhe
felt just the least bit pleased OF his persistent
attempts to make her acquaintance, yet II
would never do to LET him know It.
Permit me to offer some seats, q said se,
suittng the action to She word, and wheel.
Ing 9 couple OF pelyeG.co iored chairs around