Middletown transcript., 1903-09-05

4 - 49,
as she entered he rose and a littl
uncertainty held out his HAND
He felt almost like a crimins
4 waiting his sentence as she stoo
before him. She did not seem t
notice his outstretched hand bu
stood, with a stormy light in he
great eyes, looking from one t
the other.
l have something to tell you
BERTHE, she said, in a calm ton
that was yets suggestive of sup
4 pressed passion. Yesterday
wrote to Sir Hubert, acquaintins
him with the.change in our posi-
tion, and offering to release hin
from his engagement. ! hay,
| just received his answer. :
| And it is? The lads eact
flushed hotly as he asked the
question.
He deeply regrets the news
and-accepts my offer of release
Oh, my dear boy-Hilda gave 6
little scornful laugh as BERTHE
broke into passionate invectiye-
it is just what I expected! This
is the first straw which shows
which way the wind blows! We
must be prepared to see frowns
where once were smiling faces
to hear sneers from voices that
were once full of flattery and
pleasant words. But IEhas are
you doing with these? 80
She pointed.to the table. Three
morocco cases, containing some
very valuable jewelry mn that
which Sir John had intended for
Hilda lay there. BERTHE, at his
cousins request, had opened the
safe where 5he jewels were kept
and... separated these from the
others. The cases were sopens
and the sun was flashing on a
diamond necklace and pendant
and on three rows of milk-white
pears that reposed on dark vel
vet cushion. Paul .colored with
vexation, for be had not meant
Hilda>to see them just then.
They are yours, Hilda, he ex-
planned quietly; your fathers
gift. He left instructions to
that effect. Mr.. Grey will ex-
plain all to you. Things are not
so bad as you feared. Fortu-
nately, Sir John had made a will.
Had he? Hilda drew a deep
breath of relief; her eyes bright
ened, and she looked eagerly at
her brother. But her face
changed, for, if that. were true,
why did BERTHE lock SO downcast?
She put her hand on his arm
gently.
Cheer up, dear! We shall not
be so very poor after all, she said,
as there is will.
BERTHE pushed her away i'm
patiently.
1t was never signed-it is only
waste paper! he muttered. We
have nothing but what Sir Paul
chooses to give US, Hilda. He
the boys voice grew husky--he
has been very generous. Il
Oh! The girl closed the cases
and pushed them from her to-
wards Paul, These jewels must
be for your wife, cousin, not for
me, she said. I cannot take
them! Il
She glanced down at her beau
tiful arms as she spoke. They |
were quite bare, and, although |
she wore no ornament of any
kind, Paul thought her hands
and arms had never looked more
beautiful. He sprang to her side
and caught her hand.
You may take them in one way,
cousin! he cried passionately.-
long ago you took my love-my
leart-all I had worth the giving.
See, cousin-he flung open the
;ase of jewels, and, while Hilda
'tood sirresolutely gazing at him
With a scared white face, he took
lp the pearls and threw them
round her throat-you said just
low that these were for my wife
let me clasp them round my
yife's neck now! he exclaimed.
But Hilda, with almost look
# terror in her eyes, shrank back
rom him with a low passionate
ob.
Never! never! she calculated.
have not sunk so low as that
ret! What who scorned the /
owe you offered before take all
rom you now!
She left the room abruptly and
S she did SO, the necklace slip.
'ed from Paul's hand; the string
'roke; and the pearls were scat.
cred on the floor.
Arn Won oroinr ont o,o.