Middletown transcript., 1903-08-29

slender throat and q bunch of
| yellow roses in her belt, the tall
handsome young man by her side,
made quite an arcadian picture.
And so Mr.. Grey-Sir John
Sullivan's lawyer thought as he
rode up to the gate and, dismount-
| ing, threw his reins to a boy who
came forward ut his approach.
Paul looked up listlessly at the
sound of the opening gate, but
| his face flushed wildly as he rec
ognized the newcomer, and he
looked at Phyllis.
This gentleman has come on
business, dear. Would you mind
leaving US a few minutes? he
asked, and Phyllis, with a blush
and a dainty little bow in answer
to Mr.. Grey's salutation, tripped
across the garden and left the two
men alone.
They were slightly known to
each other; they had met in the
hunting field and on various pub
lie occasions and once or twice
had dined at the Vicarage to-
gether. But this was MIR. Grey's
first visit to Hazel Farm, and he
thought what a charming old
house it was. The twomen chat
ted together on different subjects
for a few minutes; then Mr.. Grey
after a short pause and with
quick glance at Paul, said:
| I suppose you are aware of the
nature of my business, Mr.. Sulli-
van?
Paul bowed as he replied:
You come from Sir John Sulli-
| van? I have expected to hear
from him for several days. Is he
satisfied of the truth of the state
ment I made to him?
Satisfied? Mr.. Grey shrugged
his shoulders. That is scarcely |
a fit term to apply to his present
condition of mind. Heis anything |
but satisfied. We received the
papers you forwarded, Mr.. Sulli-
van; We have made all inquiries
about your claim to the heirship
of the Durnford estate, and we
have most reluctantly come to
the conclusion that your claim is
a just one-that, most unfortu-
nately for Sir John and his fam
lily, his marriage was illegal. We
have felt it our duty to advise our
client that the proofs of this are
too strong and overwhelming to
be refuted.
You have thoroughly satisfied
yourselves of this, I suppose? Paul
queried.
I am sorry to be obliged to an
swer Yes to that question. May
I inquire how long you have
known of this, Mr.. Sullivan?
I have not known very long-I
acquainted Sir John with the fact
a few days after I learned them.
! heard that he had not yet made
a will, and although am not law
yer enough to know whether this
discovery would have made any
differencein the disposal of willed
property tohis children, thought
for their sakes, that he ought to
know the true facts of the case.
The title and entailed estates of
course must come to me, but he
has, believe, considerable per-
sonal property.
Not so much as you imagine
perhaps. 1t was Sir Johns ambi-
ton to make the Durnfurd estate
the finest in the county, and be :
spared nothing to accomplish his
purpose-fortunately for you,
the lawyer added. So far as 7
know, he has not made will. He \
has-like many other foolish
people-an objection to doing so.
broke off suddenly as
man on horseback came down the
that Is one of Sir 4
Johns servants, and how fast he
S riding! | hope there is nothing
at the Hall.
The horse, covered with foam,
stopped before the gate. The
nan looked agitated as he touch
I'd his hat to the gentlemen.
have been sent to you, sir, he
said, looking at Paul. Sir John is
very ill; he was thrown from his
horse this afternoon and brought
nome unconscious. The doctor
says there is very little hope of
1is recovery. He has only spoken
,nee, when he asked that you
night be sent for.
Paul turned very pale and
ooked at Mr.. Grey, but he did
1ot speak.
You will 60, of course? Per-
naps had better accompany you,
he laWVaP ramarkad