Smyrna times., 1906-04-11
Her Guardian
By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright. 1905, bU Mcclure, Phillips & Co.
By FRANK H. SWEET

Then you think you have everything
you will need, may needT'
Everything? oh. Mr.. Barclayr'
The girls eyes were misty with tears.
What makes you so thoughtful of me?
At school there was no other girl who
had such beautiful and dainty things.
And it was not money. for many of
them were wealthy. They said | had
such exquisite taste, and it was not 7
at all. but you who procured them and
who influenced me into the way of
wanting such things, and it used to be
the same before l went to school and
has been so since l graduated and
came home. You are always infuenc-
ing me toward what is most beautiful
in life and then bestowing it on me, so
lavishly."
Mr.. Barclays hand moved uneasily
among the papers.
Il promised your father he began.
when she interrupted him with an i'm
perious motion of her hand.
"Yes, yes, l know. but most guard
ianS would have been satisfied with
keeping a general oversight and paying
the bills. You have been my most in
innate friend from the time my father
died, when l was only twelve. Why"
laughing, and her voice quavering a lit
tie, Il have told you my secrets and
love affairs as few of the girls know
tell their own mothers. 1t has seemed
perfectly natural. You were interested
in them, or appeared to be, and never
requested me to keep away from the
boys. Indeed, think you always fa-
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 1 must have told
you about, Mr.. Barclay" she went on,
'all those of my early school days,
then the ones met at college and now
the young men who have been calling
on me during my six months here. You
know about the ones 1 like best and
those just tolerate"
81 am afraid you are a sad firt, Eli
nor" he said.
Yes, am afraid l am" she agreed
readily, her face becoming clouded.
''But what can l do? The boys seem
nice, and | like them, but some way
when come to know them better they
all fall a little short, and have to let
them go. have felt awfully 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, l am sure, but
have a premonitiOn what my verdict
will 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."
"Well l am glad. The ideal will
come along some day, and then there
will be no mistake. Are your trunks
all packed?"
| Yes. l can get ready in a few min
utes, and there is over an hour. That
is why l came down to have "a 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 besabsent for two whole years
What would it be like when she re
turned?
YES" he said, his voice a littl'
dreary with the thought. 81 was wait
ing for you to come down. 1t will be ;
fong, delightful two years for you, anC
/ hope you will enjoy them thoroughly
Mrs. Carruth has the reputation of be
ing the best chaperon in the country
She will take you everywhere. and yol
will meet nice people. / will give yo1
letters to some | wish you to know
DIR. Laurens is going abroad on th
same steamer, hear, so you will hav
a chance to meet him after ALL l wa
sorry for his peremptory summons t
the hospital that day l invited hiT
here, but of course his professional dr
ties should come first. l shall ask hiI
to look you up and request Mrs. Cal
ruth to present him. DR.. Laurens
one of the most brilliant and noble me
! know and is making himself an el
viable reputation, and be is only thre
years older than you are. Elinor."
Don't. My. Barclay" she implore
with sudden pain in her voice. "Pleas
do not talk that way. You mean we
but IL do not like it just now. Th
is the only home l remember muC
about, and am going away for
long, long time. Let us not talk
other people. When | left college
looked forward to coming home al
living quietly, as we did before we
away. when we read books and play
chess and talked over things. But "
thought / should go into society a;
meet people, 30 you left your books al
took me everywhere and introduced