The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-05
My Guardian
By RUTH GRAHAM

Mother died when l was still a girl
think l had just turned seventeen.
During her last illness she worried
great deal as to what was to become
of me after being deprived of her care.
II wish you were few years older"
she said to me one day, II would pick
out husband for you. Then there
would be no need for me to be anxious
about your future"
Would you expect me to marry a
man without love, mother?'
II should rely on his good qualities
to win your confidence and respect
which would he better than romantic
attachment. Certainly 1t would be
more enduring"
Mother had often told me that she
had been engaged before she married
my father. but gave me nothing more
than the bare fact I often wondered
why she had not married this person
instead Of father knew that he was
several years younger than she, and
since a woman prefers a man older
than herself l fancied that this might
be the reason of her breaking her first
engagement.
When mother died and her will was
opened learned that her property had
been left to certain Horace Ogilvie
in trust for me till should reach the
age of twenty one, when 1t Eas to be
paid to me. My guardian way to have
the legal care of me during my minori-
ty, to provide a home for me and d.
rect my education. remember that
few days after the opening Of the
will very pleasant looking gentleman
about thirty-hve years old came to see
me and announced himself as my
guardian. He told me that he lived
with his mother In another city and
was to go with him and make my home
with them.
He seemed to take such kindly In
terest In me and was 80 sympathetic
with me IN my bereaved condition that
felt greatly comforted. I accompa-
MED him to his home, where was re-
ceived by his mother, an old lady who
was as cordial as II were her own.
During this first day l spent with
my guardian l constantly found him
looking at me with very singular ex-
preston. 1t was as though l was con-
nected with something beyond myself.
fancied that there was tenderness In
his gaze Could it be that he felt that
he was placed toward me In the posi-
ton of a father certainly did not
have for him corresponding feeling.
thought him a very interesting man.
Why my mother had appointed him
my guardian | did not know, and /
was not informed Somehow since mel
Their he nor his mother said anything
from asking. Mrs. Ogilvie took entire
charge of me, and soon came to look
upon her as my second mother. Mr..
Ogilvie from the day he assumed my
legal guardianship treated me with a
certain reserve which I did not relish.
wished that he would not keep a
barrier constantly between him and
me. At twenty left school and was
certainly not the half child, half wOm-
an. that | had been when | came to
live in my second home.
The difference between man OF
thirty-eight and woman OF twenty
Is not what 1t is between a man of
thirty-fve and girl Of seventeen.
When l came home from school for
the last time my relations with my
guardian had changed. His treatment
Of me was more reserved than ever.
had no acquaintaDces among young
men near my own age and this seemed
to trouble him. He hunted up several
youngsters and brought them to the
house for my companionship. They
seemed very boyish to me.
One day one OF these youngsters in
vited me to 60 to a play with him that
evening. Mr.. Ogilvie came home to
dinner tired and Respondent about
something that had gone wrong during
the day. His mother suggested that
he go to some place of amusement. He
demurred on the ground that it would
not benefit him to go alone.
why not take me?" l suggested.
II thought that you had an engage
ment," was his reply.
"I'll break it."
He looked at me, surprised, and said
he would not have me do that on any
account
assured him that preferred to go
with him, but could not make him un-
derstand that would choose to spend
an evening In company with an old