Middletown transcript., 1903-07-25
the craft nearer the shore.
You will wet your feet-I had

| OOOuOA Soii JOu, uO Sfliu.
Hilda hesitated, drew up hel
little head with a stately air
glanced down at the water-deeI
enough to reach almost to Paul's
knees-then gave reluctant as
, sent, and in another minute found
| herself sitting in the boat. Very
} shortly afterwards she waslandeo
, on some fiat rocks, and, having
made the boat secure, Paul held
out his hand to her, saying
, The rocks are slippery-take
care you don't fall!
But HiIda tossed her head and
pushed away his hand.
: I am not a baby! I can take
; care Of myself! she asserted.
All right and Paul laughed
and shrugged his shoulders.
Don't blame me if you fall and
sprain your ankle, he added care
lessly. There-what did ] tell
you! He caught her arm just
in time to save her from an ugly
fall. Now don't be a little idiot!
Take hold of my hand, and I'll
help you along.
Hilda obeyed in silence, but
there was an impatient frown on
her brow, and the mutinous look
about her red lips showed that
obedience went sorely against
the grain.
Paul led her across the rocks
and shingle and up a deep gorge,
through which a tiny brook ran
down into the sea. Then they
crossed some fields, full of sheep
and cattle, who were lazily crop
ping the short sweet grass, until
they came in sight of farm
house. There was long garden
in front of it with a lawn in the
centre, and beds Of sweet old
fashioned flowers. A great elm
overshadowed one corner of the
lawn, and under this tree a table
spread for tea was standing.
Hilda's eyes frightened at the
| sight of the cups and saucers.
She was tired and hungry, and
the crusty loaf, the golden pat of
butter, and the dish of ruddy
peaches and purple plums that
graced the centre of the table,
looked very inviting.
AS Paul and the girl passed
through the garden gate, tall
woman standing in the porch
came forward to meet them. She
was peculiar-looking, and yet her
face was not without certain
beauty, and her finely-moulded
figure was full of grace and dig
nifty. Paul used to say that she
was more like an Egyptian than
an Englishwoman. She had the
low brow, the lustrous eyes, pout-
ing lips, and rich brown coloring
of the Eastern woman; but her
face utterly lacked their langupr
and voluptuousness and was full
Of power and intellect. She was
dressed in black and wore a
widows cap, although many
years had passed since her 'hus-
bands death. Paul had often
tried to persuade her to put it
aside, but so far in vain.
You are late, Paul-it is long
past six! And who is the child
with you? she asked, in a low rich
voice, as her son and his COM
panion drew near
He looked at his mother with
an amused smile; yet there was
latent defiance in his bright gray
eyes as he answered.
I met this young lady on the
downs. She had been thrown
from her pony and had lost her
way, SO she graciously conde-
scended to accompany me home
and share our humble meal. It
is somewhat of a condescension |
on her part, for she is not accus-
toned to associate with common
kind of people like ourselves,
but under the circumstances she
has consented to overlook that
fact. Her name is-and Paul
looked steadily at his mother,
and she lives at Durn-
ford Hall. K
One of Johns children, | sup
pose?
Mrs. Sullivan's face hardened,
and her voice became cold and /
harsh. She looked so oddly at
Hilda that the child first colored
and then turned away
and looked at Paul.
Ishould like to 60 home, please, Z
she said. No, I don't care for {
any teal am not hungry.
The wistful glance which she
cast at the tea table contradicted
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