Middletown transcript., 1903-09-12
COUSIN PAUL .

JefoQ anu l6IG. one KNEW MOS
of the waltzes by heart, rarely
needing to glance at the music
and her fingers few over the
keys mechanically.
An hour or two passed, and
she was beginning to feel weary
and to long for supper-time and
the brief interval that would
bring rest to her tired fingers,
when a little commotion near the
door arrested her attention:
Some guests were just entering
the room. Hilda glanced up cur
iously and saw Paul, while by
his side, looking a little nervous
and timid, but very pretty in her
whitedress, with a stringof pearls
round her throat, and a bouquet
of gardenias in her hand, stood
Phyllis.
Hilda started, turned very pale
and her fingers struck the keys
so uncertainty and hurriedly that
Signor Historic glanced at her
in surprise. In another moment
she recovered her self-posses-
sion; but it was well that the
music was so familiar to her, for
the lines and notes on the page
before her had grown dim and
indistinct, and in all the crowded
room she could distinguish but
two faces-those of Paul and
Phyllis. They were standing
near the door, and he was smil-
ing and bending over her as he
whispered some reass ng
words.
Don't be a little goose, Phyllis!
You look half scared! he said
lightly.
Hilda could not hear the words,
but she saw the smile and MOTTO
ed the grateful look which Phyl-
lis gave in answer, and her heart
sank. So this was the end Of all
his VOWS of fidelity-of eternal
love!
Of course l never expected
had no right to expect-that it
would last, Hilda thought scorn-
fully. But it is a little humiliating
to be forgotten for her-to know
that that little doll can fill my
place! Well, it serves me right,
and I only hope that they will
not see me.
But, even while the thought
crossed her mind, Paul's glance,
wandering carelessly round the
room, fell on Hilda's face, and
she saw-by the sudden flash of
lighs in his eyes and by the de-
light and surprise in his face
that he had seen and recognized
her. She realized too-she who
could read Paul's face so we'll,
and what exquisite delight it
caused her-that the old love was
still as strong as ever. He
might be engaged to Phyllis, but
he was still faithful to that.
The sudden revulsion of feel
ing-the change from dull de-
speir to exquisite happiness
was almost more than Hilda
could bear. She turned sick
and giddy; the color left her face;
and her hands fell on the piano
with a loud crash. In an instant
however she recovered herself,
and although her fingers trem-
bled violently she contrived to
finish the dance. AS she struck
the last bar she looked up and
saw that Paul was standing by
her side. He looked pale and
excited, but very handsome and
happy, she thought-just as he
used TO look in the old days
when she had challenged him to
some trial of skill, and he had
beaten her. He held out his
hand to her.
You look quite exhausted,
Hilda. Let me take you to have
some refreshment, he said, in
quiet authoritative manner.
She smiled but shook her head.
I am not one Of the guests, Sir
Paul cannot leave me post,
she reminded him.
Nonsense! | told Lady West
that you were my cousin, and
she has promised to send her
daughter to take your place for
a time, Paul replied, in his i'm
perative tone. Come at once.
Signor Historic looked any
thing but delighted when Miss
West came forward, and with a
Few pleasant words sent Hilda
away from the piano. He dis
liked amateur musicians, and he
still more strongly disapproved
of the cool manner in which the
tall handsome Englishman drew
Hilda S hand through his arm and
1od hor anau