The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-12-21
JOHN GRANTS WARD.

John Grant was in love with his ward. He
regarded his condition as a hopeless one. he
had been led to think so because he was 40,
while she was but 20, and because Of the diff
ference in their tastes, temperaments and
pursuits.
He was selfish, reserved, r%eticent, wrapped
up in his books. She was conflding, commu-
NEGATIVE, ~vivacious, fond Of out door life, re-
bellious under restraint and restless under
mental discipline. he was tall, spare, care
worn, misanthropic, his face homely in its
sedateness, his step slow, his gestures tardy,
his u~tterances heavy. She was 1.-the, agile,
graceful, bright faced, charming in her out
bursts Of girlishness, serene in the conscious
ness of womanhood, her voice low, sweet,
emotional.
He had been selected as her guardian when
she was 5 years old, and for the remaining
fifteen years, save when at boarding school,
she had been almost constantly under his
eyes. He had directed her associations,
nodded her opinions, corrected her faults,
anticipated her needs. He had noted her
development from a shy, awkward, impulsive
child into a lovely, self possessed, graceful
woman.
He was not over susceptible-in fact, he
was not sufficiently so; yet, thrown SO much
into the society Of his ward, and enjoying SO
much Of her esteem and confidence, it was
not strange that he had imbibed an affection
for her which grew into a passion-a passion
which was consuming him because he SO sed-
ulously concealed 1t.
He had never been made so aware Of the
extent Of his love for her and the conscious
ness that she could never be his as the bright
spring morning when he stood watching her
from the library window.
She was strolling up and down the wide
walks, in the cheerful sunlight and under the
blossoming trees, listening to Vincent Delisle's
pretty speeches or answering them with
saucy, incredulous retorts. Her rich dress
glanced in the sunshine and settled itself into
fresh folds with every movement of her 1.-the,
graceful figure.
The young couple seemed made for each
other. He was rich, intelligent, attractive
in face, handsome in figure, genial in man
ner, faultless in attire, kind in heart, ap-
preciative in spirit.
John Grant turned away from the window
with sigh, the troubled look upon his face
slowly giving place to a look of resignation.
He was absorbed in his writing and re-
searches, for he was preparing the second
volume of a text book, the first volume Of
which had been received with great favor.
In q little while he detected a sweet, subtle
odor; next be heard the noise Of a dress; then
he knew that his pretty ward was beside his
desk.
"Oh, for goodness sake stop porting over
these books!' she cried moro earnestly than
~flippantly. "They are sapping the life out Of
you. am beginning to hate them simply
because you love them"
She leaned over his shoulder, her curls
touching his cheek, the contact Of her dress
making his pulses beat faster.
'Astrology became the stepping stone to
astronomy" she said, reading aloud from
his manuscript "'Alchemy led to chemis-
try. Thus the dream Of one century became
the science Of the next All that sounds
very-very stilted, and it is a question
whether it is true. Pray, come down from
the stars and out Of your laboratory and
your aimless Dreams"
He made no reply to her rapid comment.
He was accustomed to such intrusions and
such criticisms-and rather liked them.
"Has Mr.. Delisle gone?' he asked, looking
up, no traces Of his previous struggle per-
ceptible in his face or tone.
"Yes," she said.
"Why SO soonT' her guardian asked.
. "Well, I sort of dismissed him" she re-
piled, with a little laugh. HE tired me.
he is altogether too-too-worshipful."
: "Ah!" circulated John Grant, trying to
catch her meaning, II didn't think a lover
could be too worshipful, though I can under
stand how he can be too impetuous. You are
in q queer mood, this morning, Valeria."
ut is breaking away, then" she said,
laughing softly again. Mr.. Delisle. too,
charged me with moodiness. I nm certain l
did not yawn. But / am not moody when !
am with you, gardy. At least ! don't want
to be. Can't you leave this work for q little
whilei There is still time for you o become
over to the deserted fort. Iwant to gather
some moses, and tho change will do you
good"
remarked John Grant.
Eyes" assented she.
Didn't he ask you to take a driver
"Oh, yes. He is very thoughtful"
And you declined7'
Eyes, gardy."
"But-whyr'
'"Out of pure contrariness. maybe. Per-
haps because l preferred to 60 with you.
Please don't question me so persistently."
TIL color came and went in her face, anda
girlish pout hung to her red lips for a no
ment
"Al right = John Grant said, as he put
aside his books. Il appreciate the prefer
ence."
The reply would bave delighted her had
his tone been less even and his air less serene.
Tho drive was a pleasant one, and the
ramble about the old fort and its e~nvirons
more pleasant still.
She charmed him with her smiles, her
gurgling laughter, her sallies Of wit, her con-
fession Of ignorance, her thorough abandon
ment to the enjoyment Of the hour. He said
to himself, as no sat alone in his room that
evening:
live in two a~tmospheres. One is evolved
in my books, musty, abtruse, circumscrib-