Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-08-31

eAAOh WAbh PNi BOoSy AhoAAy WIN
sidelong glance. The advertisement which
had caught his attention was coarse en-
craving of half dozen heads, arranged il
a circle, with one in the center. Under
this last, which was larger and more star
ing and less to be evaded than the others
appeared the words, "Miss Kittie La
touche." He went on with shiver, cross
ing here and there to avoid the hoardings
but only to fall in with a string of sand
wich men bearing the same device, and tc
plunge into the haven of Soho as if he
were a political conspirator.
The portrait and the name Of his ward
In few days he would be left in charge Of
an actress whose name was known to all
London-guardian IN loco parents, what
you will, of the closest and most responsi.
BILE, to giddy girl Of unknown antece.
dents and too-well known name! He
wondered whether an Archdeacon had ever
been in such a position before, a position
which it would be hard to acknowledge
and impossible to explain. He could talk
of his old friendship for her mother, the
actress, and his duty to a dying woman.
But would the world believe him? Would
even his wife believe him? Would not
she read much between the lines, though
the space might be as white as snow? He,
a man of over fifty, grew red and white by
turns as he thought of this 81 will tell it
all to Jack" was his first resolve ~ will
tell it to him at dinner tonight" he
groaned. But would he have the courage?
He had a secret respect for his sons prac-
tical nature He had heard him called
"as hard as nails" And when he found
himself opposite to him and eyed the cool,
close-shaven young lawyer, who looked
decade older than his years, he resorted to
a subterfuge.
"Jack," he said, 81 want your opinion
for friend of mine"
at is at your service, sir" said his son,
his hand upon the apricots. "What is the
subject? Law?
"Not precisely" replied the Archdeacon,
clearing his throat. ''It is rather ques-
tion of knowledge of the world. You
know, my boy" he went on, tthat l have
a very high opinion of your discretion"
"You are very good" said Jack. And
He blushed, but the other did not observe
it.
"My friend, who, 1 may say, is clergy
man in my archdeaconry," resumed the
elder gentleman, "has been appointed
guardian-it is a ridiculous thing for
man in his position-to IA young actress.
She is quite a girl, l understand, but of
some notoriety already"
Indeed" said, Jack, drily. "May l ask
how that came about? Wards of that
kind do not fall from heaven-as rule"
The Archdeacon WINGED. "He tells me-"
he explained, "that her mother was an old
friend of his, and when she died, some
time back, she left the girl as a kind of
legacy, you see."
"a legacy to him, sir ?"
TO him, certainly. You follow me?"
said the elder man in some distress.
"Quite so" said Jack. "Oh, quite so !
A common thing, no doubt. Did you say
that your friend was a married man, sir ?"
"Yes," replied the Archdeacon, family.
"Just so just SOP his son said in the
same tone, tone that was so dreadful to
the Archdeacon that it needed Jacks
question, "And what is the point upon
which he wants advice" to induce him to
60 on.
'What he had better do, being clergy
man."
"He should have thought of that earlier
-ahem Il mean it depends good deal
on the young lady. There are actresses
and actresses, you know"
81 suppose so," the Archdeacon admitted.
He was in mood to see the
darkest side of his difficulty.
"Of course there are !" said Jack, for
him quite warmly. And indeed that is
the worst of barristers. They will argue
in season and out of season if you do not
agree with them quickly. Some are as
5ood-as good girls as my mother when
you married her, sir"
"Well, well, she may be good girl
10 not know" the elder man allowed.
"You always had rather a prejudice
against the stage, sir"
The Archdeacon looked up sharply,
linking this uncalled for; unless, horrible
hought! his son knew something of the
matter and was chatting him. He made
IN effort to get on tirmer ground. "Granted
'he is good girl, he said, "there are still
TWO difficulties. Her father is rascal,
and there is man, probably rascal, too,
hanging about her and likely to give
trouble in another way"
Jack nodded and sagely pondered over
The position. 81 thing | should advise
your friend to get some respectable woman
to live with the girl" he suggested, "and
play the duenna, first getting rid of your
second rascal"
"But how will you do that? And what
would you do about the father"
BUY him OFF, said Jack curtly "As
to the lover, have an interview with him.
Say to MIN, DO you wish to marry my
ward? If you do, who are you? If you
do not, go about your business.
'But if he will not go" said the Arch
deacon, what can my friend do ~
''Well, indeed" replied Jack, looking
rather non-plussed, 81 hardly know, unless
you make her ward of Court. You see,"
he added apologetically, "your friends po-
sition is little-shall | say little anom-
alous"
The Archdeacon shuddered. He dropped
his napkin and picked it up again, to hide
his dismay, and plunged into fresh sub
iect When his son, upon some excuse,
left him early, he was glad 10 be alone
He had now, however, a course laid down
for him, and acting upon it, he next day
saw the landlady in Sidmouth street, and
requested her to take charge of the young
lady in the event of the mothers death,
and to guard her from intrusion until
other arrangements could be made "You
will look to me for all expenses" added
the Archdeacon, seizing with eagerness
upon the only ground upon which he felt
himself at home. To which the landlady
gladly said she would, and accepted Mr..
Yale's address at the Athen@um Club as a
personal favor TO herself.
So the Archdeacon, free for the moment,
went down to Sudbury, and as he walked
about his strawberries with the scent of his
wife's old-fashioned flowers in the air, or
sat drinking his glass of Leoville IA after
dinner, while Winnall the butler, anxious
to get to his supper, ratified the spoons on
the sideboard, he tried to believe it
dream. What, he wondered, would Win
nall say if he knew his master had a ward,
,,1axr oatroca . Stt1J