The Virginia enterprise., 1903-08-21

Now this telegram, followed by q LETT
ter from old Penroy, Arthur's lawyer,
10 far more 8disquie ieting. .k>
I find myself the appointed guardian
of young girl of whom I know abso-
lutely nothing, whose sudden orphan
age thrusts her upon me and makes
her entirely dependent on my decis-
ions and judgment.
II this overwhelming and stupendous
charge was Arthur's son, would well
come him but with distrust, recollect-
ing his fathers many failings, but I
would cheerfully do the best could
! for him. S*s3- ,.... :.
would have brought him here for
his vacations and shipped him of to
college, and looked after him as we'll,
or as badly, as fathers usually look
after their offspring. l would have
stood by him, and pulled him out Of
the inevitable difficulties he would
have gotten into. as is the way with
youth.
But the ward Providence, in its fan
tastic DEGREES. has seen fit to afaict me
with girl.
Her name is Alma, ind she is grow
ing up to womanhood, so Penroy says
in his epistle.
OF course, she must come to Bran
leigh Hall. have instructed my
housekeeper, Mrs. Brown, to prepare
for her, and it is evident the advent of
this disturbing element in our orderly
household is no more to her liking than
| to mine.
Well, it can't be helped. Fate has
willed it. The child will be here this
afternoon and until have arranged to
send her to some college-there again,
difficulty No. looms up. What do I
know which college is fitting for a
girls education? What influences
should surround an uniformed feminine
mind on the verge of womanhood?
My gray hairs and that experience
which pride myself is varied and ex-
tensfve, for having been accumulated
at vast cost to myself, stops short
at the education and bringing up of a
girl.
! Perhaps she will bring herself up,
with a complete scorn of my authority.
1t she is at all discerning and realizes
on what uncertain theories and ideas
it rests, she will certainly disregard it.
All, my boasted quietude! My life of
calm, and undisturbed contentment-
what will become of you, with this un-
welcome element thrust upon US?
Alma came last evening.
Penroy was wrong. She has already
reached the threshold of a very mag
ni6cent womanhood. Alma has her
mothers beauty idealized, and, if I
mistake not, an energy neither of her
parents ever possessed.
Has she Arthur's clever, subtle
brain? His unscrupulous egotism.
l believe absolutely in inherited
traits. Our acquaintance is too short
for me to decide
I have retreated to the library, with
orders not to be disturbed on any ac-
count, IN order to readjust conditions
| and work out this terrible problem,
| made ten times worse by Alma's
beauty.
What am to do with her? In JUS
tice to her youth, cannot shut her up
and keep her prisoner in Branleigh
Hall. But the college idea is out of
the question. You can't send a re-
| markably handsome girl of 18 to COL
lege to get rid of her.
"Come in! Who is that? You, Mrs.
| Brown? Anything the matter with
| Miss Alma? I'm afraid she will find it
pretty dull out here in the country.
Have you any suggestion to make,
Mrs. Brown"
There are always surprises to man,
| In the feminine way of looking at
things.
Now, my greatest dread had been
that Mrs. Brown, the most faithful
soul in the world and most admirable
housekeeper, would resent Alma's
coming to break up the methodical
routine of our uneventful lives was
afraid she would not be as cordial as
| would have desired.
l 1AAuo AoU uOl UcSu L4 uOUTS at
Branleigh when she owned Mrs. Brown
body and soul, so to speak
Mrs. Brown came to my study to
suggest horse riding and rowing on
the lake for Alma. and driving, cro-
quet and tennis court, and music les
sons from the organist of the town, a
German artist, so that Alma would
not brood and be unhappy and want
| to 60 to live elsewhere.
do you mean to say, Mrs. Brown,
you would grieve If Miss Alma left
us?" asked in establishment.
~ do, SIR" she answered with en-
phasis cher broad, pleasant face twitch-
ing slightly. Il do, sir. She is like
sunshine in the house, and her voice
is like the twittering of birds. Bran
leigh Hall will be the brighter for hav-