The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-18
Way Of a Guardian
By ALBERT FOSTER

"a -
lege fellows. bankers, lawyers and nner-
chants + was regarded as fatherlys old
chap whose favor was worth having only
by virtue of the relation in which l stood
to the+young lady in question. This was
calling to me, 5assl was ready to take my
oath that at least half of the idiots would
EHeverssee my age again. l think Miss
| Ellen OWNED my resentment or else the
auizzical twinkle playing about the corners
of her eyes belied her thoughts.
went prepared to stay three days. The
end Of a month found me still there. had
fallen head over heels in love with my own
ward: When had succeeded id diagnos-
| ing the case to my own satisfaction-and
despalr-I concluded that must take my
self out OF the way of danger Accord
FinglygI announced my intention at lunch
con one day. The aunts were politely sor-
| ry;Saild / could almost have sworn that
Ellen looked sad for at least thirty Sec
onds.
After luncheon the aunts cornered me
I in the library and asked me fatty Whit I
thought about Ellens matrimonial future.
protested that hadn't thought about it,
didn't know that 1t was any concern of a
| guardians anyway.
/ "Of course it's some concern of yours"
said Miss Henrietta, the elder, taking UP
| the last point that had made and going
through my argument backward woman
| fashion. She must marry, naturally,
and she must marry wellss' meafing. as
guessed, that she must induce Dan Cupid
to lead her in the direction Of a well
4 We'll, what do you think of the cnunt7"
\ grown bank account.
I asked Miss Angela, the younger. re-
piled that would rather not think Of
| him If she didn't mind. I didn't object
i to counts for people who liked to spend
their money that way, but 1 preferred
| men for myself Miss Angela shifted and
| 0njninn nj ha off az
railway magnate. l replied that 1 con-
sidered his whole claim to the respect and
graft Of mankind to lie in the fact
that he was not twins. Two of a kind,
of that at least, would have been alto
gether too much for long suffering world
to bear. The mining baron, as 1 in
formed the good ladies, might much bet
ter be preparing for the next world. The
,aunts- shifted in chorus. -,--- s.~s.-s
| "Then what do you say to Mr.. Caw-
cus?' inquired Miss Henrietta.
| Politics isn't bad for a if he is
well shod and doesn't mind muddy roads,
but the woman who travels with him is
apt to get splashed Bit" Another sniff
from the aunts. ?
1 The other candidates were trotted out
= in turn. and all seemed to me equally I'M
desirable. Apparently the aunts were sur
prised, for after they had gone over the
most likely Of. the applicants only to find
more unfriendyz Miss Henrietta turned
upon me with as near a glare as her re-
gard for the observances of polite society
would permit and remarked in icy
tone: well. Mr.. Crossley. it would ap-
pear that your regard for the other MEM
bers Of your sex in tie capacity of hus-
=, band for your ward and our niece is every
, low. Perhaps you are thinking of apply
, ing for the vacancy yourself"
This was bombshell with a venge-
ance. I eyed her sternly for at least ten
3 seconds. Then I said. with polite en-
phasis, Madam, it is little short of an in
suit to accuse me Of so far presuning
upon my relations with your niece as to
fall in love with her After which I
, bowed in my very best manner and went
out
+ In the hall I came face to face with
Miss Ellen herself, apparently in great
: hurry to get away from somewhere. I
stopped and stared at her. She stared back
y and tossed her head.
II wouldn't stop here if were yo,l."
she said. Some enc might insult you
by thinking that you were talking to me-
: ELLEN. YOU heard - gasped. She
I nodded. Then you-you-fistened-
"At the keyhole? Yes she replied
q calmly. ''Since it was my future that was
4 being discussed it seemed to me thai
had a slight interest in the matter. Eut
g I never expected''-here she began to
bristle up again-"I never eXected to hear
. man say that it an insult to be told
to have it thought-that he-that L
= Actually there were tears in her eyes.
+ This would never do.
f But, my dear girl don't you under
stand that was only trying to conceal
+ the fact that-well. that 1 am already your
t slave The last words came with rush.
''There it is. Now it's your turn TO be
d insulted.'
n She looked down and then up at ME.
d IF your love is an insult she said very
V slowly Il think that the best that can
a do is to accept the insult. don't =you?'
: And I agreed with her.