The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-08-21
4 MAYNARD WARD.


explanation Of eyery enigma. For what
other purpose does he exist than to
throw light on tho surrounding dark
ness? He is a torch bearer to human
ity's ignorance. If now and again, by
reason of a pessimist temperament or
defect of training, the rays he sheds
around intensity rather than dispel the
gloom, and cast shadows as of Egyp-
tian night across mars forward path,
surely he misconstrues his mission.
Butt the wisest head is sometimes puz-
zled, and the shrewdest explorer Of the
all.enyironing mystery is sometimes
confounded. A problem presents it
self which cannot be resolved by any
Of the familiar processes. The why of
some suddenly disclosed fact is as in
scrutable as the Sphinx Of the Eastern
desert. 1t was thus with Bernard Raj
ston.
Those who thirst for fame, as misers
thirst for gold, or coquettes for admir-
alton, would have found much to envy
in this young mans position. At an
age when q statesman is currently sup-
posed to be studying his parliamentary
primer, and when a future general may
still be writhing under the sarcasms of
q barrack-room instructor, Bernard
Ralston had been welcomed into the
front rank of philosophical thinkers.
His book on Instinct, Conscience and
Reason" was read and criticised by the
few, praised and avoided by the many.
The noisy heterodox claimed him as a
new and promising recruit; and SO also,
to the amusement of the onlooker, did
the stanchest m~aintainers of old land
marks. He was flattered, feted and the
lion of his season.
II was from this suddenly acquired
distinction that his embarrassment had
approached. The solicitors letter that
was the beginning of sorrows made this
clear. It ran thus:
DEAR SIR: We have to inform you
that by the Will Of our late client, Mr..
Humphrey Power, you are appointed
sole guardian of his only surviving
daughter, Olive. As this may be in the
nature of a surprise, we beg leave to
quote the precise paragraph of
the will: sand / hereby empower
MIR. Bernard Ralston to act in
every respect as the guardian Of my
child. i am sure that Olive can have
nc fitting or wiser protector, none bet
ter qualified to advise and to regulate
her life; and should he-as / earnestly
b-eg-accept and fulfil this charge, /
give and bequeath to the said Bernard
Ralston, over and above such reason
able expenses as he may have incurred
on my daughters behalf, the sum of
95, 600, to be paid by my executors on
my daughters t~wenty-irst birthday, as
a small tribute of my gratitude"
The young lady is avery considerable
, heiress, In her eighteenth year, and at
present at a private pension in France.
Further particulars will follow IN your
reply. We are, dear sir, yours. obedi-
entity,
VANsHAwE & FITcH.
The gift of the p~roverbial white ele-
plant could have produced in no heart
O greater CONSERVATION. What should
O retired and solitary student, cf se-
rious pursuits and uncourtly manners,
answer to such a challenge? If Clee-
thorpe Hall were large, it by no means
followed that he wanted more life with
in its bounds; and a girl in her teens, a
mere child, as with the sage wisdom Of
fye-and- thirty years he considered her!
How could her presence by his Preside
be harmonized with the quiet current
Of the life he elected to live?
Yet, the bait Of FIVE thousand pounds
was q temptation. The glories of Clee-
thorpe Hall had been sadly furnished
through the improvidence Of Bernard's
father, and PHILOSOPHY is not a partic-
uIarly ~remuneratiye hobby to ride. Mr..
Humphrey Powers legacy, if not pre-
cisely a fortune, would be al assistance
III Tue keeping up Oh the TtStIlcteu
Cleethorpe establishment.
The matter was debated long and
anxiously, and as the result Miss Olive
Power arrived at the hall one snowy
February morning. Slight OF figure,
winsome of feature, with merry, violet
tinted brown eyes, and lips continually
parting in q piquant emile over teeth Of
whitest pearl, Bernard Ralston was
forced to admit that. if he was properly
to protect his ward, his position might
not prove a ~sinecure. Neither did it.
The girls beauty attracted suitors as
clover blossoms allure bees and it was
soon an open secret m the countryside
that Miss Power, as well as being 9
lonely and q lovely young thing was q
richly lowered one. This brought the
/ uorrntsxu ou1u vnfco ~