San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-07

| SopyIlbHt, if-0s fnAhB S1lN
"Will / be Arlette Valleau's guard
ian?" I echoed. "Or is it asking too
much?'
The living room Of The Birches took
on a sudden unrcality. 1t seemed al
most farcical that l should be asked
to act as guardian to Arlette Valleau.
With a sudden clutch at my heart re-
called the times when l had seen Ar
lctte and Jim together in this room,
the times when l had wondered if she
was to be the next" in his procession
Of flirtations.
Its such ages since Jim has philan-
dered," found myself recalling. "And
Arlette is just the kind of dainty lit
tie creature to appeal to him-vastly.
The kind to come and perch on his
hand. I've thought that all along. q.
And now I'm asked to be her guardian.
I'm not old enough. That puts me
in loco parentis.' I'm not old enough
10 be her mother-n6t old enough to
have it suggested or insinuated that l
could be her mother
Il want to draw my new will to-
morrow" said the old doctor gently.
and l want sou to be Arlcttc's guard
ian."
"Then 1 guess 1 couldn't be a wit
ness?" | said. II couldn't be wit
ness and person named in the will,
too. could /? Ii they wanted to con-
test it later, they might say ! had
used undue influence or something.
You'd better let me just be witness.
This seemed such a simple way out.
I was rid of vast, overwhelming and
altogether unwelcome obligation. i
drew a breath of relief. But l didn't
stay relieved for long.
Il can get plenty of other witnesses
Any of my neighbors will come to my
lawyers office to act as witness for
me-" said DR.. Willis simply. But tC
get the right guardian of trust fund
the right trustee or the right person
to look after a-nymph like Arlette is
not so simple a matter. | was hoping
you would turn out to be the one. >,
Sand you think am the right one
asked as simply as the doctor MN
self might have spoken.
II know YOU are, my dear.
"You don't know me very well. You
overestimate me. 1t is very latter
ing Ill,
in. Il know n good woman when
see her. You are young; perhaps M
more than ten years older than AR
lctte. A big sister. But the righ
kind of big sister for the flower child
You are a flower yourself, but fol
all your delicacy your face shows pois'
and sanity and strength, as well a.
fine feelings and vast and tremend
ous sensitivencss. You will sense Ar
lette. You will know her needs ant
her problems and her dangers and he
possibilities. 1 feel she will be SAT-
with YOU. Her happiness"
The old man paused. In th'
moment that elapsed L wanted to or.
out: -.
, "How can her happiness be SAT
|
: is safe with herr" ,
: Rut as I thought of the nobilit!
! and unsclfishness of this old man, ant
looked at the lines pain had etche'
: on his face. and recalled how he ma
! toppled across my dining room ta0l
r only n short while before. | knew
could not torment him with argumen
! or discussion.
4 "You understand Arlette so vel
!. Why not let me 20 to May and plea
C with her to give Arlette into you
!, keeping?" / asked suddenly. Ma
!, is devoted to me-"
I 81 can well understand that. Sh
u worked for you," said the old doctC
c without a vestige of false pride fo
r the word his grandchildren had see
y fit to do.
e MAY likes me-" went on. Ma
will listen to my advice. 1 feel tina
]. if you were 20 take Arlette-to ltal,
U perhaps-to study-to see the Ian
y where a dryad such as she fits
3 well-to warm to life and to flower
" real womanhood in that war
. Cline"
= Il shall not live to go far" Il
~ doctor said quietly. Il have no rig
It to such joy. Berthe would not wa
- me to be guardian of our grandchil
q, "a Rosine would not have me for h
~ father. Do you think their sor
~, ~ would rest in peace If came and sto
:. their little Arlette now? No. l ha
N =, no right to touch Arlette while l a
II alive. 1 watch her, know her.
II think of her. She gives me back n
N youth and the wild boyish drcal
II that Berthe called to life and cou
NJ not make a part of my reality. u
n it is not for me to have Arlette."
81 will be her guardian" l So
&c. quietly, though with sick forebodins