The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-14

Young ward not being forgotten ; al
was arranged and settled, and ther
ne started. The voyage was mod
erately good one, and We found our
selves in ten days' lime before the
mansion OF Joseph Langton- Her,
an unexpected event occurred. IL:
owner had died suddenly from ar
attack Of heart trouble, but, having
taken nv consent for granted, haC
T formally appointed, in his will, tn,
author of 'Brakesdale" as guardian
to his heir. After a little rest at his
house, | asked the imperturbable
domestic who attended me wher,
nv ward was. She said he had
been away, but had returned the
preceding evening
I / suppose be made too much noise
for the patient, was my mental com
ment, and that | said taking up Z
TOT COW as a PASSPORT to my ward (:
favor, please show me the nursery.
In nv pre-occupation | had spoken
English, and the French servant
oalv stared. -'Montrez moi la-ls
-ehambre de lui, | added, desper-
ateiy mixing up in nv dire confu-
sion the words OF this beautiful
{ language in my efforts to be under
stood She silently led the way
and followed, I'LL she reached the
room in question there she knock
ed and left me. The door was
thrown open, and instead of smil,
I ing nurse holding by the had my
childish ward, | beheld g young
man. about nineteen or twenty years
of age, who looked inquiringly at me
l felt perfectly helpless and clutch
ed the unoffending toy COW so firm.
; ly that It turned It's head and gave
a despairing moo. Then | said
with an effort, II think | have
made a mistake in the room. Can
YOU tell me where Mr.. Langton 3
son stays ?"
| am his son, !" he answered
| looking at NE much as if | had been
an escaped lunatie. Yes. nay worst
anticipations had proven enly toe
true. and the whole situation lay
open before me. How stupid Of me
never 10 have imagined such de-
veIopment Of the case. How could
| ever be the guardian OF sGch a
vaung man as this? Ii was too pre-
postersus. No; Gerald Langton
u ust look elsewhere for Invaluable
advice" | could have laughed and
cried when | thought OF the sudden
termination of my many plans, onG
then my wards voice broke in uI.On
nv reflections. and at the sound ]
mentally resolved not to beIrsy my
, self. and listened with the calmnes-
Of despair. He was saying. is this
nv guardians sister ? | heard that
you came yesterday. Yes, | an
swered, in nv same idiotic manner
and then he asked me to come in
and tell him about my brother. Oh
that conversation Alter the first
few seconds all nv timidity or rath-
er. stupidity. vanished, and tailed
! talked, talked.
What | said / cannot even re.
member, but there was a certain
humor in the situation as when my
ward gravely told me that he es-
pecially admired the opinion of a
crustv old uncle in my unfortunate
book, who thought it very unvom-
anly to depart from the beaten
track. as be considered it. 10 females
attempting TO write books. | groan.
ed inwardly and changed the sub
ject by saving, with animation, i
had no idea, Mr. Langton, that you
we're so dreadfully old" He laugh
ed, ard glanced at the toy still
held.
Then that accounts for your as-
tenishment, and perhaps for the COW
also. But my age is more my mis-
fortune than my fault, so | hope
you will not deprive me of the
pleasure o. playing with it, or any
thing else of the kind you may have
brough for my amusement.
Yes if tine truth must be told.
began even to enjoy the position, al
though such thoughts as 'unwoman-
" conduct. unseemly deception, and
my fathers outraged dignity,
would haunt ne at times.
Nv father did not appear that
day, and every time | talked with
nov ward | liked him better and bet
ter He was bar dsome and intelli.
gent, if showing at times strong
preindices, as in his oyerstrained
opinion of female authors. L could
tell. also. that be did not understand
my brothers DELAY in coming. and
felt rather hurt by it. That night
bad a long argument with my faith
er, which resulted in his promising
not TO betraY me. at least without
giving ne warning, although he re-
marked several times that be could
not see the sense of putting of what
had to be done. or indeed in my
minding the position st ell. Still,
girls were queer about some things.
and be would not interfere, since
seemed 80 determined on conceal
ment. This i all | wanted, for /
knew nv aunt would second my
fathers views, and when Il month OF
pleasant eempaniouship with nv
ward had ensured, | began to fancy
that those hslcyon days were TO
continue Indefinitely.
Alas for the fallibility Of human
foresight. just as had assured
myself that my trouble was ended.
at least for some time. | received q
letter from my brother, which COM
pleteiy destroyed nv peace of mind.
In il he said he thought IL time to
resign the doubtful honor which be
held in being generally known az
the author Of Brakesdale." and if
had been bothered with all the let
ters about that old book that he
had, so be wrote, | would think so,
too. His greatest grievance seemed
to be the Communications received
from all women, who would persist
IL seeing close resen1 blance 70 their
dear departed sons, nieces, grand
children or something else, in the
characters of my poor little story.
Then there were applicants who