The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-08-08

find myself the appointed guardian
OF a young girl of whom know abso
lutely nothing, whose sudden orphan
age thrusts her upon me and make,
her entirely dependent on my decis
ions and judgment.
IL this overwhelming and stupendoui
charge was Arthur's son, would wei
come him but with distrust, recollect
ing his fathers many failings, but
would cheerfully do the best 1 coult
for him.
l would have brought him here fol
his vacations and shipped him off t.
| college, and looked after him as well
or as badly, as fathers usually lool
after their offspring. l would have
stood by him, and pulled him out Of
the inevitable difficulties he wouli
have gotten into, as is the way with
youth.
But the ward Providence, in its fan
tastic DEGREES, has seen fit to afflict me
with a girl
Her name is Alma, and she is grow
Ing up to womanhood, so Penroy says
in his epistle.
OF course, she must come to Bran
leigh Hall. l have instructed my
housekeeper, Mrs. Brown, to prepare
for her, and 1t is evident the advent of
this disturbing element in our orderly
household is no more to her liking than
to mine.
Well, 1t 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. l 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-
tensive, for having been accumulated
at vast cost to myself, stops short
at the education and bringing up of
girl.
Perhaps she will bring herself up,
with complete scorn of my authority.
II she Is at all discerning and realizes
on what uncertain theories and ideas
1t rests. she will certainly disregard it.
All, my boosted .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.
reached the threshold of a very mag
nificent womanhood. Alma has her
mothers beauty idealized, and, IL
mistake not, an energy neither of her
parents ever possessed.
Has she Arthur's clever, subtle
brain? His INSCRIPTIONS egotism.
l believe absolutely in inherited
traits. Our acquaintance is too short
for me to decide.
l 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 I'D
and keep her prisoner in Branleigh
Hall. But the college idea Is out of
the question. You can't send re-
handsome girl Of IS to col |
ege 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 1t |
pretty dull out here in the country.
lave you any suggestion to make,
Hrs. Brown" -
There are always surprises to a man,
n the feminine way of looking at
hings.
Now, my greatest dread had been
hat Mrs. Brown, the most faithful
oul in the world and most admirable
would resent Alma's
oming to break up the methodical
outline of our uneventful lives. I was
fraid she would not be as cordial as
would have desired.
Alma had not been "a hours at
when she owned Mrs. Brown
ody and soul, so to speak.
Mrs. Brown came to my study to
uggest horse riding and rowing on
he lake for Alma. and driving, GRO
uet and tennis court, and music les
ons from the organist of the town, a
erman artist, SO that Alma would
OF brood and be unhappy and want
, go to live elsewhere.
"Do you mean to say, Mrs. Brown,
Oh would grieve IL Miss Alma left
81" asked in astonishment.
81 do, sir" she answered with en-
basis cher broad, pleasant face witch
lg slightly. 81 do, sir. She is like
lnshine in the house, and her voice
like the twittering of birds. Bran
Ugh Hall will be the brighter for hav-
lg young thing like that running
p and down the stairs and filling the
IONS with talk and laughter. But
e must not let her NOPE, II you'll
tcuse my saying so, sir. Perhaps a
tile company would cheer her bit"
So 1t had come to this. Branleigh ,
all must be thrown open to callers,
J be invaded at all hours of the day
Y our neighbors, and Alma's youth ,
nd legitimate pleasures are to Danish
10 uuiet drowsv life of nerfoct cou-