Middletown transcript., 1903-09-05
COUSIN PAUL +.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

a clear voice, father died half al
hour ago. But, all the same, i
was kind to come after-the vivit
color again stained her cheeks
the way he-we all-treated yol
and yours. Oh, I know all, h
was able to speak at the last, ant
he told me. I realize now tht
meaning of those words which
you refused to tell me. | know
we have no business here-th
everything is yours! But yol
will allow US to stop for a few
days, will you not, Mr.. Sullivan
Sir Paul, I ought to say now,'l
suppose? How odd it sounds
and she gave a dreary little smile
Neither my mother nor BERTHE
knows-yet.
Paul took her hands.
You should never have known
at all could l have prevented it,
he told her, in voice so broken
and hoarse that Hilda scarcely
recognised it, but | could not.
Surely you know how willingly
would give up all if I could only
spare you one moments pain?-
and Paul looked at her with pity
and tenderness in his eyes.
Hilda regarded him sedately;
then a little odd smile curved her
lips.
Would you? she asked.
There was a tone of half f-amused
incredulity in her voice which
made Paul vince. But then she
pulled her hands from his and,
with a little bend of her head,
walked out of the room.
Poor girl, it is hard on heron
them all, Mr.. Grey said sympa-
thetically. wonder if there is a
will am inclined to think not.
I feel sure that Sir John would
not have entrusted the making of
it to any firm butours. Possibly
Miss Sullivan may know.
Remember, if there is no will
Paul looked steadily at the law
yer-I take nothing of the per-
sonal property.
But, my dear Sir Paul-the
young WINGED a little at the un-
familiar title-you cannot help
yourself. If you refuse to exer-
else your rights, Mr.. Ralph Sui
livan is the next heir, and he will
not be SO quixotic, l fancy. Let
US trust however that Sir John
may have left a will. ] wonder
if this-and Mr.. Grey looked at
Paul thoughtfully-will make
any difference to Sir Hubert
Brooke. The marriage was fixed
for the autumn, l believe. I am
half inclined to think, from all I
know of Sir Hubert, that it will
never come off now-he will con-
trive to back out of it.
Is he here now? Panl inquired.
Unfortunately all the guests
left yesterday. Well-Mr. Grey
rang the bell gently-I must go;
can do no good here. And you?
l shall stay a little longer in
case my cousin needs e,~Paul
answered.
1t was characteristic of the
young mans nature that he, who
had previously ignored his rela-
tionship to Sir John and his fam
lily, should openly assert it when
evil times bad come upon them, |
and the relationship reflected
disgrace rather than honor upon.
him. For an hour or two after
Mr.. Grey left he remained alone
in the library. A servant after
wards entered, lit the lamps,
broughta tray with wine and food
on it, and suggested in a respect
full undertone that Mr.. Sullivan
must require some refreshment.
Paul noticed that the man hes
itated over his name and seemed
uncertain how to address him; he
wondered vaguely if the ill news
had already spread to the house
hold. He sent message to
Hilda, saying that he was still in
the house and would gladly re-
main all night il, his presence
would be any help or comfort to
her. He hoped that she might
answer in person. and was dis.
when the man returned
and said that Miss HiIda was
very grateful, but it was quite
to detain Mr.. Sulli-
van. She had already sent tel
egram to her brother, whom she
hoped would arrive in a few
hours.
Paul accepted his dismissal
quietly, but his heart ached with
love and pity as he rode j
home slowly. 1t was late, but
Phyllis was sitting up for him, {
and, in a hutter of excitemant {