Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-13

II wv lAsNtss KNOW NllhN any HHfHhtf
" Of men have been guardians SOME
times (as ] ann to young and pretty
ward
But my wife and ! agreed one day
that, among the lot Of them, nobody
could possibly give more food for
thought and anxiety than did Maureen
O'Connor, our niece and ward.
To say she was pretty sounds tame,
She was as fresh and sweet as a wild
flower. She was as wild as any deer
on our hills. She feared neither man
nor beast, rode horses many boys would
have declined to mount, could swim Ike
fish and run like hare. When | add
that she was just II. and had shut up
her lesson books with a decided bang
the day before her birthday, you will
perhaps understand why my wife and |
were sitting looking at each other, dis
cussing Maureen.
She was, or would be, an heiress, and
she knew about as much on the subject
Of money as those birds yonder near the
marsh She could spend It, though. for
she loved giving No tale Of distress
was ever told TO her in vain, for she had
the warmest OF Irish hearts. The only
way, indeed. one could influence her, /
found out long ago, was 10 appeal to
that-it was no good lecturing Maui
reen.
Ny wife was looking rather helpless.
Maureen adored her, but ruled her
absolutely. My wife worshiped Maui
reen. and spoiled her horribly, but to
me she always played the role Of duti-
full ward, though she knew perfectly
well that il never deceived me for one
moment
"she ought to go to the city and
make her social debut, she said. firmly.
~ quite agree with you" said I, but
will she go?'
I'll don't know"
"Ahi" / laughed, "you see, we can't
exactly make her 60"
"Haye you ever been able to make her
do anything" my wife asked, soorn-
fully.
She spoke as II she had been in the
habit ofenforcing obedience on Maureen
every other minute, and was riled.
II haven't heard that your attempts
in that direction have been so very
successful" l said, GROSSLY.
Whereupon we both laughed 1--WE |
possess a sense of humor-a thing |
which saves so many situations from
becoming serious).
Just then, through the open win
dow, we caught sight of a dainty,
figure, in the simplest OF
draperies. tearing across the lawn,
three or four dogs at her heels.
went to the window and called
her back. She came reluctantly.
"Am / in for a scolding?" she
asked. her lovely face mutinous, her
eyes so full of laughter that they
would have disarmed the severest
guardian. ! almost think.
"Come in here" | said, 1--WE want
10 speak to you seriously"
She groaned and gave a backward
glance across the fiower-spangled
meadows and the sunny garden.
Fancy being serious on such a
iayi" she said Its wasting ones
line positively, / do assure you"
However she lifted her dainty
,kirts, and with one bound was in
Il the window.
"My dear" l said, you're grown up
low, YOU know"
Her answer was an affectionate hug,
md: IF YOU only knew how funny
-ou look when you try to look solemn,
aid she.
Wen. we sat down, one on each side
4 her, and we propounded the social
Iebut. / talked what l believed to
,e common sense. My wife said a good
Zeal about parties and beautiful
owns. and seasoned the lump with .
title worldly wisdom. which firmly
,elieve she had learned out Of book,
: she hasn't a particle Of her own.
Maureen sat there as quiet as
mousse and listened patiently, but she
aid nothing until we came to a fun
top. It is a trifie difficult to go on
ddneing arguments in support Of 4