The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-22
HIS LITTLE WARD
A Story Having More to Do With
the Child's Governess Than
the Child Herself.
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1t was very annoying. Leslie Thorn
as threw the letter impatiently on the
table and gazed for some time into the
glowing embers of his bachelor fireside.
What had he done? He, sober
minded, single man, to be saddled with
child for the rest Of his days; he,
who disliked children, to be the guard
ian and protector of girl who was
nothing to him until she should arrive
at an age to take care of herself. Yet
he had promised the child's father.
With an impatient sigh. he picked up
the letter again and read the contents.
Dear Mr.. Thomas-I trust you will not consider
this piece Of interference my part. but
thought it necessary for you TO know that your
little ward, Eva Gresham, has now reached the
age Of five, without once having seen the face OF
her guardian. ] am anxious to know what you in
tend to do in the way Of her education and
thought perhaps you would better judge by COM
ing down soon to her. Yours faithfully,
Rose HERscHEL
"a piece of impertinence," said the
devoted guardian. biting his nails.
what is it to do with Miss Rose Her
Il SGuel, i SuOulu lihe W hllON uS Chllo
| is nothing to me. However, l suppose
1 l must do my duty by her. I'll run
down to Sevenoaks and set matters
fright straight away. packing my ward
loft to a boarding school and Miss I'm
iipudence about her business. She has
had nice, soft time of 1t looking after
llthat child, and now perhaps she will
be sorry she had finger in the pie"
That was how Mr.. Leslie Thomas
| found himself the following afternoon
outside snug little villa at Sevenoaks.
He hesitated before knocking. The
| cottage, he thought, looked rather fine
| for such humble inhabitants, and yet
there was the name written up over
the porch right enough-Woodbine Cot
| tage-in big gilt letters. Filmy lace
| curtains fluttered at the windows,
| through which a glimpse Of a daintily
| furnished dra wing room could be seen.
The window boxes were gay with flow
ers, and the whole house had thor
oughly well kept appearance.
| In some surprise Eva's guardian
reached up and lifted the shining door
knocker, wondering in spite of himself
that he had never had the curiosity to
| venture here before. The door was
opened by a spruce maid. to whose
skirts clung little. girlish mite of five.
miss Herschel?' he inquired, with
| glance of interest at the child.
"Will you please come in, sir?" said
| the girl, and Mr.. Thomas followed the
girl into the snuggest little drawing
room ever furnished. He had hardly
taken a chair ere Miss Herschel enter
ed, with Eva on her hand.
She was a tall. graceful girl of about
eight and twenty, with sweet, wom-
anly face, frank eyes and a rich, glow
ing color.
"Mr. Thomas! I'm so glad you've
come. | thought you would" she said,
with a smile, betraying a bewitching
dimple in either cheek. 81 did so want
you to know your little ward. Isn't
she a darling?"
"a nice little girl indeed" stammer-
ed Leslie. 81 am glad you sent for me.
She is now at an age when she should
mix up with other children. | will see
about a boarding school at once"
"a boarding schoolv' The color deep
/ ShSo III .'i'So A1NhSNhN ~
cheek, and her eyes flashed indignant
ly. "A boarding school," she repeated
warmly, "for a delicate child like that!
Nonsense! She wouldn't live a month
of it. Besides, l love her and cannot
part with her."
The haughtiness and assurance with
which she spoke surprised and irritated
Mr.. Thomas. who considered himself
masterful man in his way.
Indeed" he said dryly. But the
future of the child must be considered
before personal desires"
"She could go TO day school about
here, or-or could spare time to teach
her."
''Thank you, but prefer the idea OF
boarding school," said Leslie Thomas
You forget am the child's guardian
"And you seem to forget that | have
taken the place of the child's mother,
said the girl quickly.
"Well, you have been paid for it."
= They were insulting words. and Les
lie was sorry the moment he had utter
, ed them. Even then he was surprised
, 10 see the effect they had upon the
girl.
She rose instantly, trembling in ev
cry limb, the color coming and going il
1 her cheeks and with her eyes ablaz'
3 with Indignation.
2 Paid for it! Yes" she said rapidly
r "And for all you knew and for all tn
, interest you took in me and the child
, might have been a wicked, WORTHLESS
, woman who accepted the money TO
her own use and shamefully neglected
and i'll used the child"
|, With this she swept him look of ut
ter disdain and contempt and, walking
over to her writing table, unlocked
s drawer and drew forth small box Il
8 which reposed little hoard of ban
J. notes and golden coins.
"Here are Eva's savings" she sal