The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-23
Mr.. DELMAYNE'S WARD.


Charles Delmayne, decisively, 1.-THE girl
is getting more reckless every day.
"What can be done ?" asked Mr..
Richard Delmayne. looking helplessly
at his sister-in-law, 1--WE cannot shut her
up in a convent"
"No, but we can find her husband
and get her comfortably settled
But she Is so Young
Z" She viii be nineteen in MAY, and l
married at that age. 1t is a great pity
that YOU were obliged TO receive her into
your household. Richard. Guardianship
over a girl like DorotheA, was q great re-
sponsbility for bachelor 70 assume"
- suppose 50. - WAS the reply; "but
could not refuse the dying request of
an old friend"
AT first, l entertained hopes that she
would improve by remaining with us,
said Mrs. Delmayne, plalnuvely; " but,
as l remarked before she Is wilder than
ever. am kept II q perpetual state OF
nervous excitement, for / never know
what lnadcap prank she will play next.
! thought il disgraceful enough when
she donned 8 suit Of Dicks and went
skating on the pond the evening they
had that skating party, but this last
prank Is still worse, If possible"
Mrs. Delmayne folded her plump,
white hands and settled herself comfort
ably IN a luxurious easy chair, and pre-
pared to enjoy her favor te pastime,
which consisted Of retailing Dorothea's
misiemeanors.
lyon know Squire Vonsonby has
been looking for a wife for year or two
now he is quite wealthy, is respect
ably connected, and would be very
suitable match for Dora
Squire Yonsonby T. gasped Richard,
in amazement, "he Is old enough 10 be
her grandfather, and has married
daughter who is considerably older than
Dot"
well" replied his sister-in-law,
"Dora needs a husband who is steady
and sober-minded. she is so fighty her
self. Besides, Mr.. Vonsonby looks full
ten years younger than his real age. In
nv opinion II would have been a very
suitable match. But it is all over now,
she added, with a sigh, ''he viii never
enter this house again.
In answer to Richards look of inquiry,
Mrs. Delmayne continued:
Il invited Mr.. Vonsonby to tea last
evening" had my household duties to
attend to after tea was over, so left
Dorothea to entertain our guest. She
must have neglected him shamefully, for
the poor man fell asleep, and the little
huzzy seized the opportunity to play one
of her ridiculous pranks; she actually
had the audacity," and Mrs. Delmayne
lowered her voice to an impressive
whisper, actually had the audacity to
remove his wig and substitute an old red
one, that she found among some rubbish
in the garnet The poor man did not
discover the trick until he had become
the langhing-stock Of the community.
Dick happened to hear about it this
morning, and I considered it my duty 10
inform you of the affair, as you were
absent at the time.
"Ha, ha, ha !" laughed Richard. "a
can imagine how ridiculous he looked
strutting along in his pompous manner"
90 am certainly astonished at you,
Richard, said Mrs. Delmayne, severely.
al sincerely hope yon do not uphold
the pirl in her disgraceful actions ?"
81 shall Of course reprove her." he
replied. "Dot will improve as she
grows older, l have no doubt-she is
merry and thoughtlesa nov. but think
she will develop into a splendid wo-
man."
Mrs. Delmayne cast an uneasy look at
her brother-in-law's face as she left the
room. She had a reason for wishing
Dot safely disposed Of; she was fearful
that Richard might fall in love with his
fascinating ward, and that would never
do, for if he were 10 marry il would
dash Mrs. Delmayne's hopes 10 the
ground. She had secretly determined
that her son Dick-his uncle's name
sake-should be his heir. Beside, her
brother-in-law's elegant residence made
q very comfortable home for herself and
fatherless boy, and madame had no in
tention of losing it, hence she made the
most OF Dots mischievous escapades.
Just as nadame's silken skirts rustled
ND stairs the hall door few open and
light footsteps danced along the passage.
"Dot Dot - called Mr.. Delmayne.
The appelIation exactly suited the
youpp girl who entered. A dainty form,
a dark, piquant face, Lit up with pair
of black eyes which sparkled with mis-
chief.
"Well. Guardy," she said. with
saucy smile. which revealed dimple in
each soft pink cheek. WHAT'S it
lecturer"
"Yes, Dot" replied Mr.. Delmayne,
gravely, 81 really must lecture you.
Your conduct to Mr.. Vonsonby was ex-
tremely unladylike."
81 don't care, Guardy," cried Dot,
deiantlv. "I can't bear old Vonsonby,
and am confident that Mrs. Delmayne
invited him here to make love to me, so
I resolved to Illustrate her kind inten-
ions. She left me to entertain him all
he evening, and l was just dying to
finish Jane Eyre. Well, 1 gave him
the last number of Scribner'8 and the
Monthly ReUietO, and hoped he would
entertain himself; but no-he wanted
me to play q game of cribbage. hate
cribbage, so told him L never played
the game without stalking small sum
of money. just to make it interesting.
"Oh, Dot!"
HE looked horrifed at the idea OF
gambling, and asked for some music, so
sat down to the piano and made as
much noise as possible. He said that
sort Vi mu>ic was very edifying, but it
made his head ache, and, he inquired if