The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-11-05
HIS LITTLE WARD
A Story Having More to Do With
the Child's GoVerness Than
the Child Herself.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

| n
4 the Child Herself. 9
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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 Preside.
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 childs 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 a piece of interference my part, but
thought it necessary for you to know that your
! little ward, Eva Gresham, has reached the
age of five, without once having the face OF
her guardian. ! 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 see her. Yours faithfully,
ROSE HERscHEL.
"a piece of impertinence," said the
devoted guardian, biting his nails.
"What is 1t to do with Miss Rose Her
schel, l should like to know? The child
| is nothing to me. However, | 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 Miss I'm
pudence about her business. She has
had nice. soft time of it looking after
that 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 oodbine Cot
tage-in big gilt letters. Filmy lace
curtains futtered at the windows,
through which glimpse of daintily
furnished drawing room could be seen.
The window boxes were gay with flow
ers, and the whole house had a 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 chung little, girlish mite of five.
miss Herschel?' he inquired, with
glance of interest at the child.
Il
the girl, and Mr.. Thomas followed the
girl into the suggest little drawing
room ever furnished. He had hardly
taken chair ere Miss Herschel enter
ed, with Eva on her hand.
She was tall, graceful girl of about
eight and twenty, with a sweet, wom-
anly face, frank eyes and rich, glow
ing color.
"Mr. Thomas! Pm so glad you've
come. l thought you would she said,
with a smile, betraying bewitching
dimple in either cheek. 81 did so want
you to know your little ward. Isn't
she a darlingY"
"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 boarding school at once"
ga boarding schoolr' The color deep
ened suddenly in Miss Herschels
cheek, and her eyes flashed indignant
ly. "a boarding school," she repeated
warmly, "for delicate child like thatl
Nonsense! She wouldn't live month
part with her."
The haughtiness and assurance with
which she spoke surprised and irritated
Mr. Thomas, who considered himself
a 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 a day school about
here, or-or | could spare time to teach
her,"
THANK you, but prefer the idea of
a 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.
ven, YOU nave DSeu pau lOI IL.
They were insulting words. and Les
lie was sorry the moment he had utter
ed them. Even then he was surprised
to see the effect they had upon the
girl
She rose instantly. trembling in ev-
cry limb, the color coming and going in
her cheeks and with her eyes ablaze
with Indignation.
paid for it! Yes" she said rapidly.
"And for all you knew and for all the
interest you took in me and the child |
might have been a wicked, worthless
woman who accepted the money for
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 a
drawer and drew forth small box in
which reposed a little hoard Of bank
notes and golden coins.
"Here are Eva's savings" she said
stif1y; fifty pounds yearly for nearly
five years 1t Is nice little sum. VIII
you please take it with her now"
the scornful brown eyes and by way of
diversion picked up the child, who beat
him furiously with her little doubled
fists.
Leslie laughed awkwardly and set
her down.
"She is a little mite" he said. Il
suppose she will not be the worse for a
do vOt
Shall we keep the peace for another
twelve months?'
The girl swept him deep courtesy.
my lord is gracious, she said, with
mock gratitude; and then, with a sud
den change of manner, she turned from
him, with a sob, and caught the child
passi0nately to her breast.
Emboldened by a strong sense of du-
ty, which had never troubled him be-
fore the interview with Evas good
friend, Leslie Thomas paid frequent
visits to the little villa at Sevenoaks.
Miss Herschel was consulted about
school In the neighborhood for his little
ward, her talents were discussed, her
toys CHOSEN ana ner pleasures uIrdhS-
ed, and in the mutual interest for the
childs welfare the alteration at their
first meeting was forgotten, and the
two became fast friends-nay, more,
for the fine color in Miss HerscheFs
cheek deepened to an alarming degree
when the familiar knock came at the
door, and, although Leslie Thomas had
as yet spoken no words but those OF :
kindly friendship his eyes were uncon-
sciously eloquent.
Rut silence could not be maintained