The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-14
A STRANGE GUARDIANSHIP
MABEL LOUISE FULLER

Twas eighteen, The only girl, and
straugest Of all, Was an authoress-
The circumstances which led 10 this
last named fact were not the oTdln-
ary ones.
Nv mother had died while | was
hut baby, and my father had al
ways marked out i9r me future OF
fame, which be imagined could be
best gained by my pen My elder
brother and his pretty young wife
we're of the same opinion, and as
NV aunt, who took care OF NE,
thought always as my father did, It
seemed that. nolens volens, | should
be an authoress. Fortunately for
the general peace, perhaps, was
not averse TO their desire, and after
some consideration. l determined 10
venture upon a story. and on Its
completion to present 1t as sur
prise TO the assembled G family. But
here | found an unexpected diff
Guilty what could I, Helen Dare,
6nd to say to critical and exact
ing public? At last fortune favored
me with a simple solution of the
problem. | would tell little story
which had always touched ne one
of the simple traditions OF my quiet,
country birthplace. Nv heart was
in the work, ara it was soon finish
ed. Strange To say, 1t met with
much favor, bat as | had written
under the non de plume Of George
Percy. it was universally attributed
to nv elder brother, who tseitly
consented to the deception, and at
this | was rather glad
One day however. my father han
ded NE letter addressed TO him
and bearing a foreign postmark- |
took il with some curiosity. which
deepened TO profound establishment
as ! read it. 1t ran thus, and was
characteristic of the writer:
PARIS. Boulevard des Invalides, }
II August. 1880
DEAR SIR R.-Iou viii be glad 10
know that your sons reputation as
a writer has crossed the Atlantic,
and that | consider Brakesdaie
wonderful book. You probably
have heard who ! am, beng g dis
tant connection of yours on your
mothers side. am an old man,
and | have favor to ask Of you. |
want you to use your influence with
the author of nv favorite book TO
make him accept the post of guar
dian to nv son, for | consider the
advice and friendship of the man
who could write Euch a book as il
valuable. 1 do not expect TO live
very long, and l want to leave my
son In good hands when | die. His
financial affairs will be managed for
him by an old friend when he is Of
age, and l am willing and able TO
make il worth vile for You to gain
his acceptance 10 the proposal Let
NE know your decision bg Return Of
mail.
Your obedient servant,
JosEPH l. LANGToN.
If the skies had fallen | could
not have been more thunderstruek
4" Gracious p was the undigni6ed
and feminine exclamation Of tie au-
thor Of "Brakesdale-
Nv fSther looked reproschfully at
me and said NY dear, there Is no
cause for such surprise. OF course
you'n accept this fattering propos-
al and, IN fact, ! should think it a
good idea for Us to 60 TO Europe and
see this gentleman. | remember
nv mothers speaking of him as
queer, eccentric old fellow. but
withsl ind-hearted and loyal.
But you can't mean II, | grasp
ed.
Certainly, I do,
But be doesn't mean me; he
says, your son expressly. He
means John.
| beg to differ from you. On the
contrary he mentioned several times
the author OF 'Brskesdale,' and he
says that it is the advice, the inval-
liable advice that be wants, and as
you wrote the book you are the only
one who can give II. Just think,
my dear, Of the poor dying man
alone with one little boy to dispose
of, Yeu know you slways had
good success With children, and II
you don't take him who viii ? What
NAV become Of him ?"
All this had its effect. The pic
ture. 10 say the least, was rather
touching, and / did love children
so | compromised and gave my
father the result Of my cogitations-
"I'll tell you what We can do |
said at last. "We viii accept con-
ditionally. If he viii have me with 1
out change of sex, Ill come.
You can't change your sex. OF
course. said NV meihodical father,
who usually crushed my small al
tempts in this way; ''sc We will con-
slider it settled, and your aunt and
yourself can get ready ia start for