The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-12
TIE EVENING .yTOR =
Her Guardian.
by Frank H. Sweet

~ +
girls eyes were misty with Gears.
What makes you so thoughtful of nne2
At school there was no other gtr! who
had such beautiful and dainty things
And it was not money. for many of
them were wealthy. They said I nad
and then bestowing taste, and it was not
at ALL but you WAC procured them ami
VINO influenced me into the way of
wanting such things. And it used to
pc the same before wen. to school, ana
mas psen SO since 1 g se(sEated and came
iolns. 1ou are always influencing me
toward what is more beautiful in life
ana then bestowing it on me so lavish
~"
Mr. Barclays hand moved uneasIly
among the papers.
1 promised your Gather" he be-
gan, when she interrupted with an i'm
perious motion OF her head.
Hes, yes, I know. But most guard
lans would have been satisfied with
Keeping general oversight and paying
me bhis; You have been my most IN
innate friend from the tirna my father
dled, when I was only twelve. Why"
laughing and her voice quavering 8
little, I have told you my secrets and
love affairs as few Of the girls I know
tell their own mothers. 1t has seemed
perfectly natural. You were interested
Ia then-or appeared to be-and never
requested me to keep away from the
boys. Indeed, I think you always Ia
vored my going with them, only you
were careful to inquire about their
habits
She was in a reminiscent mood, and
though her eyes were still moist and
tender, her lips were half parted in
amused recollection.
What lot Of boys must have told
you about, Mr.. Barclay she went on
all those of my early school days, then
the ones I met at college, and now the
young men who have been calling on
me during my six months here. You
know about the ones I like best, and
those I just tolerate -
I am afraid you are a sad fiirt, Eli
nor" he said.
yes. I am afraid F am" she agreed
But what can I do? The boys seem
nice, and I like them, but some way
when I come to know them better, they
all fall a little short and I have to let
them go. I have felt awfuly sorry for
some of them, but there was no other
way. Two or three who are coming
here now are really talented, and will
make successful men, am sure, but
have premOnition what my verdict
viii be. They almost reach my ideal, "
the lurking mischief again returning to
her eyes, but not quite"
Perhaps your ideal is too high.
Perhaps" demurely, but you fixed
it for me. and you have made it so
much Of my being that 1 cannot stoop
to a lower one now
wen, I am glad. The ideal will come
along some day. and then there will be
no mistake. Are your trunks all pack
ed2"
yes. I can get ready in a few
minutes, and there is over an hour.
That is why I came down to have IA
last talk with you, Mr.. Barclay"
He WINGED ever so slightly. She had
always called him uncle until the past
few months. Now it was Mr.. Barclay
She was older, of course, and was
growing away from him. And she
would be absent for two whole years
What would it be like when she re-
turned?
YES he said, his voice a little
dreary with the thought, 81 was wait
ing for you to come down. It viii be
a long, delightful two years for you
and I hope you will enjoy them thor
oughly. Mrs. Carruth has the reputa-
ton of being the best chaperon in tbs
cOun5ry. She Will take you every
where, and you will meet nice people
will give you letters to some I wisf
YOU to know. DR.. Laurens IS going
abroad on the same steamer, 1 hear, 81
you will have a chance to meet hin
after all. I was sorry for his per
emptory summons to the hospital tina
day I invited him here, but of course
his professional duties should come
first. / shall ask him to look you up
and request Mrs. Carruth to presen
him Dr. I.aurenS is one of the mos
brilliant and noble men know, ane
is making himself an enviable reputa-
ton, and he is only three years Older
than you are, ElinOr.
Don't, Mr. Barclay she implored,
with sudden pain in her voice: please
do not talk that way. You mean wen,
bat II do not like it, just now. This
is the only home remember mucn
about, and am going away for a long
long time. When I left college 1 look
ed forward to coming home and living
quietly, as we did before / went away,
when we read books and played chess
nok lud -sSuIq4 L5Ao p7TIel pus
thought 1 should go into society and
meet people, so you left your books and
took me everywhere and introduced me
to everybody. think I must have met
all the noted people-especiall the
young men-in the whole city and sur
rounding country And now am TO
and peopIe! suppose it is for the best
and my good, but I am not brilliant
enough to appreciate it. II should
have liked the chess and books SO
much better" -
His face was turned away from nen
now. hut his voice was steady.
yes. it is for the best, Elinor. 1t is
right for girl to marry, and she
should know men before she IS READY
10 make a choice. Some girls are ac-
o1,ainfed with only a few and the best
Of these is her standard of manliness.
Perhaps just outside her limited area
there are a hundred who are stronger.
and nobler in every way. ms girl mas
teer cheated. do not want your life
ike that. I have done my. best for
You in the way Of an education; as
conscientious guardian could I do less
for the rest of your life? It IS not tnat
I have any inclination to be a match
maker. It is because-because can
do nothing else. being myself He He look
ed at his watch abruptly twenty
minutes" he suggested.
$50 late? Well, 1 viii go and get
At the door she paused, looking back.
you must excuse my tax apout your
lfberaiitv Mr.. Barclay" she said visit
fuIly .sBut-but I could not 90 away
without saying something