The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-10
A MAYNARD WARD.


does be exist than to throw ligh. OF the sur
rounding darkness? He is torch-bearer 70
humaniiy's ignorance. II now and again,
by reason Ct q pessimist tenn erament or
defect 10 training the rays he sheds around
intensity rather than dispel the gloom, and
cast shadows IS of Egyptian night across
mans forward path, surely Re mIsconstrues
his mission.
But the sisest head is sometimes puzzled,
snd the shrewdest explorer Of the all-envi.
roaing mystery is sometimes confounded.
problem presents itself which cannot be
resolved hy any of the familiar processes
The Why Of some suddenly sclossd fact ia
rs inscrufsbis as the Sphinx of the Eastern
desert. II was thus with Bernard Ralston.
3 Thoes Who thirst for fame, az misers thirst
fer geld, or coquettes for admiration, would
nave found much TO envy in this young
mans position. At an age when a states
man is currently supposed to be studying
his parliamentary primer, and when a future
General may still be wrilhiug under the
safcasms OF a barrsck-rOom instructor,
Bernard Ralston had been welcomed into
the front rank of philos optical thinkers.
son" was read and criticised by the few,
sised and avoided by the many. The
Loiiy hetercdox claimed him as a new and
promising recruit; and so also, to the snuse-
men OF the onlooker, did the staucnest main
tail ers of old landmarks He was iattered
fetf d, and the lion of his season.
IL was from this suddenly acquired dis
tinction that his embarrassme at had az
preached. The solicitors letter that was the
beginning Of sorrows made this clear. 1t ran
thus:
DEAR SIR-We have to inform you that
oy the will Of our late client, Mr.. Humph-
rty Power. you are appointed sole guardian
Ok his only surviving daughter, Olive. AS
This may be Ia the nature of surprise, We
beg leave to quote the precise paragraph of
The will: And l hereby empower Mr.. Der.
Dsrd Ralston 10 act in every respect ss the
Guardian OF my child. / am sure that Olive
can have 10 filter or wiser protector. nous
better qualified to advise and TO regulate
her life; ano should be-as | earnestly beg
accept and fulfill this charge. give AID
tequeath to said Bernard Ralston, over aud
above such reasonable expenses as be may
have incurred on my daughter'sb behalf the
sum OF 90 coo, 70 be psid by my executors
on ny daughters twenty first birthday, as a
sDsfftribute O. my gratitude.
The young lsby IS a very considerable
heiTees. IN her eighteenth year, and at
present at private pension in France.
Further particulars will follow on your
reply. We are, dear sir. yours obediently,
FAEsHAwE IL FITCH"
The gift OF the proveTbiaI white elephant
could have produced in no heart greater
CONSERVATION What should a retired and
>olitsry student, OF serious pursuits aod
ccurtly manners. answer 10 such a challenge?
IL Cltethorpe Hall were large, il By no
msars foll.wsd that be wanted more life
within its hounds; al d girl in Der teens,
mere child, as with the sage wisdom OF
I'VE and thirty years be considered her,
Bow could Der presence by bis freside be
oermonlzed with the quiet current OF the
life he elected TO liver
Yet, the bait Of five Thousand pounds was
temptation. The glories of Cleethorpe
ball had been sadly furnished through the
improvideDce of Demands father, and phi
losophy is not particu' arly remunerstive
hobby to ride, Mr.. Humphrey Powers leg
scy, II not precisely fortune, would be an
assistance in the keeping up OF the restricted
C'eethorpe establishment.
The matter was debated long and anxious
~, and az the result Miss Olive Power ar
rived at the Hall one snowy February morn
ing. Slight OF figure, winsome Of feature,
With merry, violet-tinted brown eyes and
lips nually parting in piquant smile
over teeth of whltest pearl, if be wss proper
~ 10 protect his ward his POSITION might not
prove sinecure. Neither Id it.
The girls beauty attracted suitors as clover
blossoms allure bees, and II Was soon aa
open secret IN the country side that Miss
Power, as well as being q lonely and lovely
young thing, was a richly lowered one. This
brought the sometimes lugubrious voice ~
Prudence into reasonable accord the chorus
Of alteration.
But Olive was not minded TO be an easy
capture FOR any OF her wooers. With NO.
mans instructive dexterity she kept them
all at bay, and at twenty had escaped the
necessity Of as yet refusing any offer in for.
oping q taste for study which half amused,
half interested her guardian. One evening
be playfully rallied her on her applica-
tion to sundry big volumes in the library.
II shall be accused OF Transforming a
merry arc bwitching young lady into
blue stockiDg-a disciple OF my own dry as
dust pursuits" he said some enc some
day may have special cause to blame me, 1
fesr.n
sudden blush was on the maiden
cheeks, anu her glance fell. It was impossi-
bic that she should misinterpret Demands
meaning
Theirs is Oswald Hsrbury to think of f"
Oilye's guardian Was daring enough to add.
Two shining eyes were momentarily up
iiitse. Was the flash they gave one of in
oignhbon, OF scorn, or merely OF confusion
al betrayed secxet2 Bernard could not
guess.
The nature of my employments eau
MAKE no difference whatever, in any way
that can imagine. to Mr.. Hsrbury," she
answered. Ihen-it seemed 10 Bernard 4
strange transition-.Will you forgive me
for asking fsvor?" she went swiftly on: Il
should llke-oh, so much!-to help in your
WORK. Could not copy out your notes or
revise proofs sometImes?'
Whist philosopher could have successfully
resisted the volunteered help of such al
smanueDfis2 Not Bernard Rslston.
IL wes summer, three months later than
the date OF tnis conversation. Olives gus
dian wss seeking his ward in her ovn
ooudoir. with eloom upon his face and :
depression Of soul which de6ed his ANALYSIS.
&c has q message to convey aud a proposal
to informally submit, which he had little
doubt would be accepted Oswald Harbnry.
the young owner of q half Cleethorpe baG
asked remission to lay himself and his for