The evening Republican., 1902-06-21
PARADISE
CORNER" !"
BY GILBERT DAYLE

Durseley's house in Belgrav,
Square. He was shown into tn,
study, where girl was sitting by
the fire with book open befor,
her. He stood on the threshold
smiling at her look of surprise.
Lady Dursley has gone on to the
Countess of Deckenham's, and sh.
asked me to just look in and sent
Sir Charles on to her there" he ex.
planned. HAS he come from the
House yet9"
MOP she answered. "Shall
give him the message when he ar
rives?n
He stepped into the room and
shut the door.
mo, I think not" he said. "I'll
wait-I want to have talk with
you. My gray hairs make the stu.
alton tenable. p
Most people in London knew Her.
vey Crosse and liked HIM. A bachelor
of SO with q pleasant nature and an
agreeable tongue, he was welcome
everywhere. lie was not rich, and
the Income Of eight hundred year
that he had inherited on coming Of
age, had, he declared, made him a
pauper for life. 1t was just enough
to do nothing with, aud he had fallen
into the habit Of doing this with per-
fec: ease.
lie dropped his coat over a chair
and surveyed the girl critically. She
was quite young, barely 2O-very
pretty. lie shook his head sadly at
her.
"l've been hearing terrible ac-
aunt OF you from your aunt" he
said in fatllerly manner. "Yes,"
she continued, Lady Dursley and
she was very annoyed told me that
you had actually refused to marry
young Mallass- Maltass, the wealthy
--Maltass, the perhaps not strictly
beautiful, bat Maltass, the eminent
ly desirable husband for u young
woman"
"Wcl!, it's quite true, nervey,'
said the gil quietly,
lie knew her history well. Her
mother, Lady Dursley's sister, had
been indisereet enough to marry and
lind complete happiness with an Oh.
scurc country surgeon. She had,
however, died, and short time ago
her husband had followed her, lcav-
ing Ellie, their sonIy child, entirely
lnprovdcd for, AS Lady Dursley,
said, it was extremely eXaspcr ating,
but She had done her duty-more
than her duty, Az she frequently as
surcd people. She had Et1ic up to
live with her, and made her feet
acutcly her position as poor rela-
ton, and she had also firmly i'm
pressed upon her that it was her
boundcn duty to marry on the very
first opportunity and relieve her Of
the already heavy responsibility.
"But, my dear girl, ilcrycy Crosse
demonstrated, "think Of the house in
Mayfair, think Of being able to have
cvc'y thing you can't possibly want,
thiuk-'
IL don't love hint" said the young
person in Il tone that admitted Of no
arguaent
"But your aunt!' lie veutursd.
The girl s,ood up before him, and
he saw a & cam come INTO her eyes.
THAT 10 already settled there
has been scene.' she said, and
there was a little trcmour iD her
voice. "Dh you must have seen,
llervey, how hateful it has been
herc-lo iccl Pm Only here on
sutlrance. 10 be reminded OF my
position a dozen times a day.
He knew it well, and his heart
had oitcn been tall of pity Tor her.
so now, as ! cannot carry out
aunt's wishes by marrying Mr..
,Maltass. | am not going to Lrespass
further on her generosity, she
continued. ~ ree l have no right
here, SO I'm gong to leave and be
in dependent!'
'Great Scott!" he exclaimed with
a start; "What on earth are YOU
going 10 do!'
Earn my own living. Don't
laugh, Hervey, I'lngoing to look for
Il situation as typist. I've had
little experience, acting as secretary
to uncle. And I've arranged to live
i'll rooms with an old school fellow
of mine, who is also in business.
Shes delighted, and | go to her to-
morrow"
"Oh. my poor misguided child
get your living as a typist!" he |
groaned. 'Supposing you do-can
you fancy getting up at IN ugly |
hour, having your breakfast in an |
ugly room in an ugly suburb, and
bussing it down to an ugly little of,
tice-and every day in the year,
tool"
But she only smiled serenely.
II shall be independent"
He looked at the slight figure
drawn proudly up to its full height,
the girlsh face set in determination.
Its grotesque' he grunbled-
but hes shad never admired her more.
She sat down quietly, and drew
her chair quite close to his.
Now Hervey, be a nice old dear
and give me your ADVICE she said
persuasively.
Take it-marry Maltass, " he said
weakly. "Oh, that top of bus in
he raw hours of the morning" he
lGded with shiver.
awful healthy" she commented
,heerfully. Then she unfOlled a
'aper before bis gaze. Look here
I've copied these addresses of
ypewriting firms from q DIRECTORY.