The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-16
His Ward
BY EMILY c. BOND


had been in the family for many years.
sat down to breakfast alone. Sew
erii letters that had just been brought
by the postn,an kiy on the table. one of
which was from FIRM of lawyers, in
forming him that b. the will of the
late Edward Burroughs he wilkins,
was appointed guardian to the de-
ceaseds daughter. Alice.
Ned Burroughs dead" exclaimed
wilkins. much affected by the news.
ard for time he gave himself UP to
reflections upon the loss OF a chum of
his younger days. Burroughs had gone
20 live I'm Il different place. They had
for awhile. but that in
evitable separator. continued absence.
had come between them. and for ten
Or fifteen ye:trs 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 a little
girl.
What this guardianship meant
whether he was exported to take care
Of his wards property or his Ward her
self he had nUyidea. but his mind was
soon set at rest upon opening another
letter. from his ward herself. which in
formed him that she was without
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 prGperty-if she had any-and how
she was to live. But just then he
found il inconvenient to get away. He
wrote her that thet only thing. for hel
to do was to come to him. He. told
her how he was situated and that Mrs
Hawkins. HIS housekeeper. would take
excellent care Of her. A reply to this
letter informed him that Alice would
arrive in a few days. Wilkins told
Mrs. Hawkins TO prepare for her re
reptioD.
Flow old is she?'. asked the house
keeper.
How old is shea, / don't know.
She may be five or six or ten or eleven
or something like that"
Mrs. Hawkins asked no more ques-
lions. but prepared bedroom for the
little girl adjoining her own i'm 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 busy day and must rely
on her to meet his ward at the sta
tion. He would send 4 carriage to the
house at certain hour. Mrs Haw-
kins was to bring Alice home. and he
would be on hand for !, 6 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 it and wondered what he
would do with child In the house
However. he could tell nothing abous
the matter till he ha.i seen his ward
On eiiterius his li.iag ruoDl he was
surprised to see Il W, Dg woman dress,
ed for dinner sitti!:; there writing. IL
did not occur to tim that she was
Alice wilkins. Ei,t who was shet
The young lady she was appar-
emily about nineteen-and advanced to
meet him. She seemed herself some,
what taken aback al his appearance.
I'm waiting for Mr. Wilkins" she
remarked
BEG pardon. VIII, you tell mc---whe
you are?'
I'm Mr.. Wilkins ward
'.Yout Mr.. Wilkins ward. am Mr.
wilkins.
Dear me. l expected to meet per
son the age of my father"
sYour father was just my age"
Papa was forty You. don't look
much over thirty"
During this brief. dialogue a very
pieasurable sensation was yelling up
In the bosom Of. Mr.. wilkins. and at
the same time he was perplexed at the
result Of the mistake.
"Well." he. said. after a welcome
grasp Of the hand. you're here. and
here you will have to stay till we ca.
settle what you're to do. Fortunately.
Mrs. Hawkins will make very good
chaperon and will take care of you
Has she made you c6m
fortable?"
..She has
.I'll be ready for dinner in a few
minutes"
1t seemed that evening to Mr.. Wit
kins that his dining room looked diff
ferent-.from ever before. The lights
burned brighter. the dinner tasted bet
ter. the flowers on the table smeiled
sweeter. Wilkins took up the subject
Of his wards future. but made no
progress Ii settling It AS to her for
time. her father had left her nothing. I
and she must either marry or make !
her own living.
After dinner thu. two adjourned to
the library and continued to seek for
= solution Vt the problem About itS
o'clock Wilkins said:
elf i were tea or fifteen years young
er' we might ind a way out. q very de
sirable way to me.
Miss Burroughs made no verbal rel
ply to this. but cast her eyes. dpwn to
the floor. SIR. Wilkins maintained .
silence. Roth were thinking
hard.
.You might make your home here.
he said at last. Stili the girl made
no reply. but you would have BE-