Middletown transcript., 1903-08-08

and eyes. He did not answer
and after a moments pause she
continued more lightly
I am of the world worldly,
cousin Paul, and, although ! know
how small and petty my ambitions
are, 1 am incapable of anything
higher or better-now. l intend
to marry a rich man and be a
leader of society. Nothing less
than that will content me.
And love, Hilda-what OF that?
Is that a thing entirely apartfrom
the programme you sketch out?
Does it hold no place in your life?
The girl gave little cynical
laugh.
Love! My dear Paul, that is one
of the obsolete virtues, she an
swered. It went out of fashion
with our grandmother's hoops
longago! Look--and sheglanced
quickly up the lane-who is com
ing?
Paul turned and looked in the
direction indicated. Along the
shady lane a young girl was ap-
preaching. AS she drew nearer
Hilda saw that she was pretty,
with childish dimpled cheeks and
soft blue eyes.
1t is my cousin, Hilda-Phyllis
Fawcus, he replied, smiling.
Another cousin? A swift frown
contracted Hilda's brow for an
instant. Ibid not know that you
had any girl cousins but me, Paul,
she said.
She belongs to the un-aristo-
cratic side of the family, Miss
Sullivan, Paul explained gravely.
She is an orphan, the daughter OF
my mothers sister, and lives with
US at the farm. May I introduce
her to you? But she is a timid
little thing. Phyllis, he called
and beckoned to the girl, l want
you.
She blushed, and then, coming
forward unwillingly, stood, with
downcast eyes, beforethe cousins.
Do you want me, Paul? she ask
ed meekly.
Yes, to introduce you to my
cousin Hiida.
Miss Sullivan smiled and nod
ded.
If you are Paul's cousin, you
must be mine also, Hilda said.
Paul, why did you not tell me be-
fore that I had another cousin?
But I am not your cousin, Miss
Sullivan, Phyllis said shyly. I
am Paul's mothers niece, not Mr..
Sullivan's. So you see that l am
not really any relation to you.
Hilda's interest in this expla-
nation had subsided long before
the sentence was finished,
By the way, Paul, I have never
asked after your mother. Is she
quite well? she inquired.
AS well as usual. She had a |
very severe illness two years ago,
just after Phyllis came to US, and
she has never been really well
since. Idon't know what should
have done without Phyllis-and |
Paul smiled kindly at the girl. |
She has been as good as a daugh-
ter to my mother, and the dearest
little sister to me ever since-eh,
Phyllis?
try to be, Paul, she answered. |
Hilda was conscious of an un-
reasonable feeling of jealousy, at |
which she smiled the next mo-
ment.
Will you come in and see my |
mother? Paul asked. 1t is close
upon our dinner hour-you can |
call the meal luncheon, you know, |
he added, with careless laugh.
But Miss Sullivan shook her
head.
must hurry home. I prom
ised to take mother for a drive
this afternoon. By-theby, Paul,
| promised to make a sketch of
the lighthouse for my brother
BERTHE. Where can l get the best
view?
From the Heron's Crag, Think.
Don't you know it? Oh, you
must! as Hilda shook her head.
You and I have spent many an
hour there together.
I forget. Will you show me
the place?
Certainly, whenever you wish.
Let me see, Hilda said medita-
lively. Tomorrow I am engaged.
Shall we say Thursday morning?
If you like. You know the
coastguard's cottage? l will be
there at eleven. Will that time
suit you?
Quite well. | will be there.
She nodded and took up her {
handful of wild flowers from the
lo,,1- o,,l r-s4l, r-xa | j.,