Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-08-14

miEcs, the hot anger and pain of his
treachery and her loss was over. long
years afterwards | realized had been
too hasty.
Was 1t a trap laid for me? Perhaps
Alinc was also fooled. | have some
| times thought IL.
Well, | iOrgayc her. and when the
news of her death came to me. the
ashes Of memory were but lightly
stirred.
Now this telegram, followed by a let
ter from Old Penroy, Arthur's lawyer,
Ms far more disquietine.
| find myself the appointed guardian
of a young girl of whom ! know abso-
lutely nothing, whose sudden orphan
age thrists 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 bu, with distrust, rccollect-
ing his fathers man failings, but |
would checrfully do the best | could
for him.
| would have brought him here for
his vacations and shipped him off to
college, and locked after him as well,
or as badly, rs fathers usually look
after their offspring. | 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 It's fan
| fugfjp l..rp,t Lng r,n,, ~ ., ,Hli., ...
with n girl.
Her name h Alma. and she Is grow
ing up TO w~OmnnhOod, so pcnrOy says
in his cpistle.
or course. she must come to Bran
leigh Hall. ! have instructed my
Iousekccper, Mrs. Brown. to prepare
for her, and II Is evident the advent OF
his disturbing element in our orderly
household is no more Ia her liking than
to mine.
Well. II rant be helped. Fate has
wiIlcd II. The child will be here this
afternoon and until | have arranged 10
send her 20 some colleee-thcrc again,
diihc'lty f,O. ] looms M What do I
know which college is fitting for a
girls educai;on' Wha' influences
should surround an uniformed feminine
mind on tn" verge of w%omanhood?
Perhaps she will bring herself up.
with a complete scorn of my authority.
IL she is al all discerning and realizes
on what uncertain theories and ideas
IT rests. she win certainly disregard It.
Ali, my boosted quictudo, Ny life Of
calm, and undis'urbcd contentment--
what will become Of you, with this UNI
welcome element thrust UPON MS?
Alma came last evening.
PenrOy was wrong Sh" hoo a,'-duy
reached the threshold of a very .mag-
nihccnt womanhood. Al.Ha has her
mothers beauty idealiZed. and. If I
mistake not. an energy neither of her
parents cVcr possessed.
Has sh. Arthur'S clever. subtle
BRAIN His INSCRIPTIONS cgotlsm.
! h"li"v" absolutely in inherited
traits. our acquaintance is 100 short
for me to decide.
| have rc,rcatcd TO the library, with
orders not 30 b" disturbed on any ac-
count, in order TO rcadjuAt conditions
and work ont this terrible problem,
maj" ten times wor5" By Alma's
beauty.
What an | 10 do with her? In JUS
ticc to her youth, | cannot shut her up
and keep Der IA prisoner in Branlcigh
Hall. But H." college idea Is on, of
the qrestion. Tou cant scnd "A re-
marltahly handsome girl Of IS to col
lego 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 II
pretty duh ont here in the country.
Have you any suggestion to make,
Mrs. Browne"
There are alwa$5 surprises TO "A man,
in IN" 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
housclccpcI. would resent Alma's
coming to break up the methOdical
routine Of our uncyrntiul lives. was
aIFalu She WOnlu nDi VI" aS cOruial aS
! would have desired.
Alma had not been - hours 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 "A tennis court. and music les
SONS from the Organist of the town, a
German artist. 50 thai Alma would