Daily Republican., 1885-02-06
HER GUARDIAN.
by EVELYN MALCOLM.

"I hope you will be very happy
here"
THANK you, SIR"
"There ia nothing you want TO ask
me, no request TO mako before j go|
away, Madeline ?"
"None, sir you are very good to
me-" answered the girl,
Richard Blanchard looked down at
his ward sitting on the rug before the
fre and staring into It fixedly TO the
entire exclusion of himself, her great,
black eyes mysterious In the freight.
She certainly was q strange girl.
Then win you kiss me good bye,
Madeline 2"
She rose dutifully, and lifted her lips
to him |; for q second her eyes met his,
then looked away. He touched the
scarlet mouth gently with his bearded
lips.
You will be quite q young lady
when l return, Madeline" no said,
passing his hand through her soft
black hair. My sister will be ~ a
mother TO you; be attentive to your
studies, think Of me, write TO me. pray
He had reached the door, but fancy.
ing be heard his name called, turned
quickly. Madeline was crossing the
room TO him, hsr hands outstretched,
her Ups parted.
q" Oh, wai'-jurt wait r. she said,
brokenly, there is one thing, m,
guardian, would AK you, and you
will tell me, will you not Lift til.
cloud from my life-ah /! how many
years l have been silent. Tell me now
ere YOU 60. who was my mothrr-wh,
am % She had fallen at his feet, bu
gently, pityingly, he lifted her, ant
there was q strange sadness on hi
brave, quiet faos.
Your mother, my child f! Woult
you know OF her? Oh, Madeline, tn,
story Is 'hort, but it lis n sad one T.
me-"
He PAUSED for n mcmeui, and tn
| girl could ste how bitterly his thought
y ere OF the pat.
| Not now" he murmured, "no
now, my DARING. have lot oourag
70 resurr ect my eorrowa, and besides
am pressed for time but you shall 300
hear the simple tale. Have patienc
for . little longer. Farewell! God b
with you 20
In few moments Ficbard Blanol
ard was In q carriage whirling dow
Broadway in The ruhh OF wintr
storm. Not bleaker the scene outsid
his carriage windows than the hsal
within his breast a., his thoughts bus,
with the memory Of his youths low
he rat with bowed head aud close
eyes.
do not deserve your reproaches
How Am TO blame for your loving IN,
Have encouraged you? Have 1 n,
rather shown you from the first no
impossible 1t would I've for any man
win my heart now ?''
Nov Then have q rival! Ha,
come too late? Oh, Madeline, I
one could love you as dearly rs do
} The scene WAS cottage lawn Mt Blu
phur Springs. in the dim light und'
tho trees . young girl WAS sitting, ella
in soft, white silk, her eyes lookir
steadfastly, but without . Rlimmsr
emotion, into the pleading. boyish fa,
30 near her own. 1t was Madeline, al
, ! the strange girl of seventeen, wi
black, sombI eyes, had developed in
q belle ana q beauty, although cold
} An ice flower u the lovers throhsir
about her.
"MSy 1 not hope that sometime
the Young man continued.
mo, DO not nope at all. Indeed
; will not be of the slightest use. Bett
!, Is It not TO faoe reality, however u
Kind, than live In . FOOLS paradise.
Il Good bye, then, since , on will 1t 8
L / shall leave the place to night"
J. said, hopelessly, and taking the har
she carelessIy offered him in hinge
ing clasp.
r Good bye. would have spar,
you this, but you were rash.
u She watched his tall, young fau
ACROSS the lawn till lost under the AT,
j. Of the hotel.
Another unfortunate lover dispost
Of. Why wonld they not let her al,n
10 think her own thoughts, to live h'
J. own inner lite, to p-ay-as he 9TH
'. beloved, absent one) had told her
pray for him She went slowly dow
- to the gates, and across the road TO Il
I. dim, fragrant woods beyond. In Il
St centre Of the woods, led 10 by vel
y kept, sbadoUy paths, and snrrounde
y by marble stops, q wide lake nestle'
Here she paused, and leaning on u
= wide white balust. ade took from b.
d bosom picture and gazed At 1t Viii
r the light lasted, her tears failing thic
aud fast. oh when would be return
= -Four years had passed since he ha
Il uttered that loving "God he with you!
,e Four years-.and In that time she In
heard her mothers story In Richar
= Bianchard's early manhood no ha
n loved her, and won her promise to =
81 ~ his wife, " hen another lad caught be
willful fancy, and In msment OF In
= pulse-how bitterly hmented durln
4 after years l-she had cheated hi
ID strong, proud heart, though he Low
80 her better than his own lik, 20 follo'
the fortunes of his ryal through tn
IL world. Years afteJ, when Madelin
st was little child, md be bitter, dil
satisfied wandeIer far from his ow
a. land, he found them iu one OF the pool
'' est a quarters Of J, n ioI, is old low
wido we'd, feded, uyiDg |; ut the Las
= ebb. when help had Gene too late to b
10 of any avail. The catalogue of vicissi
tudes that had brought her to this pas
was long and pit,frl-but Throughout
n the whole rat the cd story OF the gam
b bler's passion, and following 1t, rui
n and death. She died in Richards armi
g. and he buried herin that distant Ian
beside her husband, whose memory
., with a wonan's constancy, was Still
o. dear to Ter. Fer child he brough
ID home, and nothing that affection an
wealth duld deto obliterate her shori
% unhappy past tas spared.
But IadeliIb was a thoughtful chill
"A aud pdideredover the MYSTERY of he