Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-12-12
His LITTLE WARD.
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? 7 was very amusing. Leslie Them
B as threw the letter imDatiently on
\ the table, and gazed for some time
into the glowing embeIs CT bis
bachelor iceside.
What had he done? He, sober
minded single man, to be saddled with
a child for the rest Of his days. lie,
who disliked children, to be the guar
dian and protector OF 4 girl who was
nothing to him, until she should ar
rive at an age to take care of herself.
Yet he had promised the chi1d's
father.
With an impatient sigh he picked
up the letter again and read the con-
tents.
Dear Mr.. Thomas" it ran. II trust
you will not consider this piece OF
interference Oh my part, but thought
1t necessary to know that your little
ward, Eva Gresham, has now reached
the age of five, without once having
seen the face of her guardian. I am
anxious to know what you intend to
do in the way Of her education, and
thought perhaps you would better
judge by coming down soon to see
her. Yours faithfully,
''ROSE HERSCHEL."
y piece OF impertinence," said the
devoted guar,iian, b..sing Ills, nails
what is it to do with Miss Rose
II oLo1 TN.
child is nothing to me. However, l
suppose / must do my duty by her.
I'll run down to Sevenoaks and set
matters right straight away, packing
my ward off to boarding school, and
-.-4ss 1mpudence about her business.
She has had nice soft time of it,
looking after that child, and now,
perhaps, she will be sorry she had a
, finger in the pie"
That was how Mr.. Leslie Thomas
found himself the following after
noon outside a 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 - WoodDine Cottage, in big
! gilt letters. Filmy lace curtains fut-
tered at the windows, through which
a glimpse of a daintily furnished
drawing + om could be seen. The
window boxes were gay with flowers,
and the whole house had a'thoroughly
well-kept appearance.
In some surprise Eva's guardian
->acned 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 spruce maid, tc
whose skirts clung little girlish mite
Of fve
Miss Herschel?' he inquired, with
a glance of interest at the child.
"Win you please come in, sir?'
said the girl, and Mr. Thomas fol
lowed the girl into the snuggest littl,
drawing room ever furnished. HI,
had hardly taken a chair ere Mis-
Herschel entered with Eva on he
hand.
| She was tall, graceful girl O
about eight and twenty, with sweet
womanly face, frank eyes and rich
glowing color.
II Mr.. Thomas! I'm so glad you'y
come; l thought you would" she said
with smile, betraying bewitchin
dimple in either cheek. II did S
want you to know your little ware
| Isn't She darliuo9, -,
"A nice little girl, indeed" stan
mered Leslie. II am glad you ser
for me. She is now at an age whe
she should mix up with other chi
. dren. will see about a boardin
; school at once"
, "A boarding school!' The colo
deepened suddenly in Miss Herschel
cheek and her eyes flashed indignan
~. "a boarding school!' she repea
ed warmly; FOR a delicate child Liz
, that! Nonsense! She wouldn't live
month in it. Beside, I love her an
cannot part with her.''
The haughtiness and assurance vi,
which she spoke surprised and il,
tated Mr.. Thomas, who considere
, himself a masterful man in his wa,
Indeed" he said. dryly. ''Eut tt
future Of the child must be consi
cred before personal desires.''
"She could go to day school abo