Middletown transcript., 1903-08-15
COUSIN PAUL

ed on the grass. Hilda took it
up and twisted it absently round
her fingers. She had given it to
him only that morning and had
told him gaily that it would bring
him good fortune. She smiled
sadly as she recalled his answer
Anything that comesfrom your
hands must bring good luck to
me.
Paul, where have you been?
Oh, I have felt so anxious. | sent
Jim to look for you hours ago!
1t was Phyllis who spoke, and
she came out of the porch and
ran down the garden to meet
Paul when, an hour or two after
his parting with Hilda, he re-
turned home to the farm after
long tramp across the moor. It
was almost dark in the garden,
but it was not too dark for Phyl-
lis's quick eyes to discern how
pale and tired and sad he looked.
| All, I see-you know already,
she remarked.
| Yes-I know. The mans
thoughts were so full of Hilda
that it did occur to him that Phyl-
lis might be alluding to some
thing different to that which had
wounded him so sorely. She
told me herself this evening"
Phyllis stared at him in sur
prise.
Told you? Nonsence! How
could she tell you? She has not
spoken since, and it is so dread
full to see her trying to make us
understand. Perhaps now that
you have come she maybe better.
| She has wanted you, I know, but
you could not be found.
What do you mean? The alb
sent look in Paul's eyes vanished
and they became bright and full
of interest. What is the matter?
Is my mother ill? he asked.
Very ill-and he rose to Phyl-
lis's eyes. She was as well as
usual this afternoon, and after
tea we were in the garden when
all at once she gave a queer
sound and fell back in her chair.
When I ran to her she could not
speak or move. Doctor Jones
says it is paralysis.
II will go to her. Is the doc
tor still here?"
"No-hewent an hour ago, but
he said he would call again first
thing in the morning" Phyllis
continued, with her voice almost
choked by her sobs. "He is not
surprised and says that he has
been afraid of this for sometime.
Why, surely you have noticed
and she looked at Paul re-
proachfully-"how i'll she has
looked lately
"No-I never noticed"
A keen pang of self-reproach
shot through Paul's heart. He
had been absorbed in his selfish
dreams and wishes-his every
thought had been given to the
girl who, "for a pastime," had
won his love and thrown it back
to him with careless mocking
words! The mother who had
loved him with more than ordi-
nary love, who had risen early
and gone late to rest, and eaten
the bread of carefulness for his
sake, had grown more and more
fragile daily! And he had never
noticed!
He was filed with pity, re-
morse, and love when he entered
the room where she lay, and,
standing by the bedside, he
gazed at the form that lay there,
rigid and motionless-so familiar
and yet so awfully unfamiliar.
The only signs of life were a
faint twitching of the lips and
the passionate appealing eyes.
Did she know him? Paul won
dered as he bent and kissed her
and lavished tender words into
the dull words and cares
ses which, for the first time in
his life, met with no response.
He sent Phyllis and the servants
to bed and sat there by the bed.
side, watching through the silent
night for some sign of
conSclOusneSS-of returning life.
Who can tell what solemn
thoughts came to Paulduring that
awful vigil, when the imprisoned
soul looked out from the eager
eyes and vainly tried to force the
silent tongue to give utterance to
It's eager request? He stood face
TO face with something approach
.ng deaths solemn mystery. How
small, puny, and Insignificant
-ao,,o ad fho o4oy,v,o of .raI1