The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-06
His Ward
BY EMILY C. BOND

mkcn care VI ny uu otu Wohi"h WV
had been in the family for many years
sat down to breakfast alone. Sew
eral letters that had Just been brought
by the postman lay on the table. one o.
which was from firm Of lawyers, In
forming him that by the Will or the
late Edward Burroughs he wilkins
was appointed guardian to the de
ceased's daughter, Alice.
"Ned Burroughs dead!' exclaimed
wilkins. much affected by the news
and for time he gave himself up to
reflections upon the loss OF chum OF
his younger days. Burroughs had gone
to live In different place. They had
correspondent for awhile, but that in
evitable separator continued absence,
had come between them, and for ten
or fifteen years they had not met
Presently the purport of the letter,
his guardianship, occurred to him. He
could not think of Burroughs as any
older than when he last saw him and
assumed that his ward was Il little
girl.
What this guardianship meant.
whether he was expected to take care
of his wards property or his ward her
self he had no idea. but his mind was
soon set at rest upon opening another
letter, from his ward herself, which in
formed him that she was without a
relative In the world that she had ever
seen and did not know what to do.
1t seemed to wilkins that he must
see the child and learn something about
her property-if she had any-and how
she was to live. But just then he
found II inconvenient to get away. He
wrote her that the only thing for her
to do was to come to him. He told
Der how he was situated and that Mrs.
Hawkins, his housekeerer would take
excellent care of her. A reply to this
letter informed him that Alice would
arrive in n few days. wilkins told
Mrs. Hawkins to prepare for her re-
cepti0u.
How old Is she?" asked the house
keeper.
How old is she? 1 don't know. |
She may be five or six or ten or eleven
or something like that
Mrs. Hawkins asked no more ques-
tons. but prepared bedroom for the |
little girl adjoining her own in case
Alice were still too young to sleep en-
tirely alone. Perhaps she wouldn't care
to sleep alone anyway
On the morning of Alice's arrival VIII
kins told his housekeeper that he
would have n busy day and must rely
on her TO meet his ward at the sta
ton. He would send carriage to the
house at a certain hour. Mrs. Haw-
kins was to bring Alice home. and he
would be on hand for o'clock din
ner.
He was so much occupied during the
day that he scarcely gave the matter a
thought, but on his way home he re-
membered 1t and wondered what he
would do with child in the house.
However, he could tell nothing about
The matter till ne hadiseen his ward. i,
On entering his living room he was
to see young woman dress :
ID for dinner sitting there writing. It I
lid not occur to him that she was S
Alice Wilkins. But who was she7 Q
The young lady rose-she was appar- a
ntly about nineteen-and advanced to Il
meet him.. She seemed herself some
vhat taken aback at his appearance
I'm waiting for Mr.. Wilkins" she A
Beg pardon. VIII you tell me-who
on areT
I'm Mr.. wilkins ward" C
your Mr.. wilkins ward! / am Mr.. ci
y
Dear me! ! expected to meet per- !,
IN the age Of my father" a.
your father was Just my age" ~
Papa was forty. You don't look ro
,uch over thirty be
During this brief dialogue very Ia
sensation was yelling up or
! the bosom of Mr. wilkins, and at pc
he same time he was perplexed at the u
,sult Of the mistake. ~
WELL" he said. after a welcome 10
rasp OF the hand, you're here, and fr
ere you will have to stay till we can to
title what you're to do. Fortunately.
RS. Hawkins will make very good
laperon and will take care Of you
lmirably, Has she made you COM FL
rtableT'
"She has"
"I'll be ready for dinner In a few sv
inutes." da
1t seemed that evening to Mr.. VIII da
ms that his dining room looked diff sn
rent from ever before The lights
lrned brighter. the dinner tasted bet ra
r. the flowers on the table smelled nc
Teeter. wilkins took up the subject ~
his wards. future. but made no II
ogress In settling IT, AS to her for ,
ne. her father had left her nothing. idl
d she must either marry or make pc,
r own living.
After dinner the two adjourned to
e library and continued to seek for
solution of the problem. About IL
lock Wilkins said:
If were ten or fifteen years young
we might find a way out. very de-
able way-to me-"
Hiss Burroughs made no verbal re-
! to this. but cast her eyes down 10 .,
; floor. Mr.. wilkins maintained a =,
'longed silence. Both were thinking
I'd.
You might make your home here"
said at last Still the girl made
renlv "But Won would b.va 20