The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-12-05
"YOur ward,

"Your ward.
JUDITH MAYS"
In Strobel's opinion his ward was dis
PLAYING more faith than common sense,
but had she not always proved herself
perverse? In the end, he said, after pc
rusing the reply to his note, she would
see her folly-one had to be patient with
sentimental girls Of eighteen, Preju-
dice? That was a harsh name for what
he insisted was his interest In her well
fare-but which was really his love and
an ambition to win her for himself, But
he would wait until reason asserted It.
self
The circumstances were indeed
against Rufus Dent He was young
lawyer with reputation and fortune
yet to make, but Miss Mays guardian
was the only one who believed that he
was not living within his income insig-
ulhcant as 1t seemed to man Of means,
| That he might get cheaper lodgings, he
had even secured a boarding place in the
country a couple Of miles distant from
the little county seat His arrest on a
serious criminal charge came about In
/ this way:
! The nearest neIghbor Of his landlord
was Jacob keef, the county trustee
| This man had been a small farmer all his
| life, not very successful from a business
standpoint, and unused to handling con.
siderable sums OF money; but he was
| joyial and n good mixer" and this
seemed qualification sufficient to his con.
/ stltucuts for being lntmstcd with GOV.
meut funds" At the beginning Of
/ February his collections had been great
/ Il was the last month In which taxes
/ could be collected without a penalty at.
| tached for delay, and he was consequent.
| " rushed to write his necessary re-.
cepts, even with the help Of an assist.
ant by dark he found himself IN Tho
possession OF six or seven thousand dol.
lars Of the peoples money
with this sum on his person-thort
was no bank In the yIllagc-he very nat.
urally felt somewhat nervous, and hi,
nervousness was increased by the facI
/ that number Of robborIes had been
committed throughout the county dur,
Ing the winter, His sense Of responsl,
| bllIty made him n coward, and as h,
drove on h0meward after night, II was d
relief to oyertake young Dent on the
road.
Get In the buggy and ride, Rufus" nc
said, u don't mind saying that I'm
/ loycd at seeing you, haIn't told any.
body else, but I've got IN my wallet NOR,
money than ever saw before In ono milo
aud hang me II II don't weigh as hony,
on my mind as n ton Of lcadl Did Won
see them two felers folorn' me from
store TO store to-day while maxim collcc.
lions, Well II strikes me that tho,
seemed n little too Interested not TO b,
taxpayers thoIrsoyoa"
"Oh, suppose they meant nothing ,
said Dent II saw them, but gome an,
said they had been InQurng for d
small farm for sale, What you nccd /,
Ngood warm supper and then youIl for.
get your un0asInoss,"
"PrhOps, sun, wish you'd 10 HON,
with me tonight ! would feel bc,,o,
with some ono In the house bcsldes m,
ana my wife, Spose you 10 oyoryo
Thank you =" said the young man. &c,
nm Obliged ia put In late hours to.nlphl
trading up the authorities ON lorls
That big suit Of bay Va. Long eomes of,
next week. YOU know, and | wan, N
MAKE MT IN managing the suit II non.
slble," ''' - P'''
Teaching lanc, Dent 10, on, Of IN,
Nohlolc ana went TO HIS room, The
trustee soon reached homo aIso. Alto,
warm supper, and with many remarks
concerning the responsibility Of an ~.
mccr OF the revenues, ho retired plaeIpp
low '' '"''' hs p'''
Worn out with the days duties hesna
al s,' VIE soon fell into deep slumber
me moon was shining brightly and
.nere was hosouhd ,hroughou, the coln.
"sSlde save nav and then the lowing OF