The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-06-22
My Guardian
BY RUTH GRAHAM


Of me after being deprived Of her care
II wish you were few years Older
she said to me one day, 81 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?'
81 should rely on his good qualities
to win your confidence and respect.
which would be better than romantic
attachment Certainly it 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 woman prefers a man older
than herself fancied that this might
be the reason of her breaking her first
engagement.
When mother died and her win was
opened learned that her property had
been left to a certain Horace Og1lvie
In trust for me till should reach the
age of twenty-one, when It was to be
paid to me My guardian was 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
win very pleasant looking gentleman
about thirty-fye 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 l
was 10 go with him and make my home
with them.
He seemed TO take such q kindly In
terest in me and was so sympathetic
with me IN my bereaved condition that
felt greatly comforted. accompa-
MED him to his home, where was re-
| ceived by his mother, an old lady who
was as cordial ais If were her own.
During this first day l spent with
my guardian ! constantly found him
looking at me with very singular ex-
preston. II was as though was con-
nected with something beyond myself.
| | fancled that there was tenderness In
his gaze. Could it be that he felt that
he was placed toward me IN the posi-
ton of fatherf l certainly did not
have for him corresponding feeling.
| thought him very interesting man.
Why my mother had appointed him
my guardian | did not know, and
| was not informed. SomehowIsince nei-
Their he nor his mother said anything
about the matter / rather shrank
from asking. Mrs. 0gilvie 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 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 WON
an, that had been when-I came to
live In my second home.
| The difference between a man of
thirty-eight and woman Of twenty
| Is not what it is between man OF
thirty-five and a girl of seventeen.
| When ! 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 so 70 a play with him TINT
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. dc
demurred on the ground that It would
not benefit him to go alone.
why not take me?" suggested
II thought that you had an engage.
ment,F 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 prefuTed TO ~
with him, but could not make him I'M
derstand that would choose TO spend
an evening in company with an old
fellow like himself to young mar
near my own age.
Half an hour afterward received
| two tickets with a note from the donor
stating that he was unavoidably pre-
vented from escorting me to the then.
ter and hoped would find some one
to take his place. went merrily TO
Mr.. Ogilvie, waving the tickets over
my head, and asked him to be the
| substitute
That broke the ice between tIs. Mr.
0gilvie permitted himself to show ME
some attention, which j received so
cordially that it was rapidly increased.
To make long story short. there were
u courtship, an engagement and a mar
riage welded my guardian.
1t was not till had been married
some time that discovered that my
husband had been engaged TO my
mother. He considered me the coun-
terpart Of what she was when he had