Middletown transcript., 1903-08-22
COUSIN PAUL

second marriage. If further
proof is necessary, Mr.. Simmons
his solicitor, the clergyman who
him and visited him in
his last illness, his friends in
Australia enclose their ad-
dresses, and one is at present in
England-all can prove his iden-
tity. Whether John Sullivan
has made will or not do not
know; he will have some personal
property to leave, but the estate
must be yours. In the eyes OF
the law John Sullivan's mar
riage is illegal-his children are
illegitimate.
Paul had read the startling
communication with growing sur
prise and bewilderment. Now,
as his eyes fell on the last terrible
sentence, he dropped the letter
with a low cry of pain. Proud
beautiful Hilda-who only a few
days previously had gioried in
her stainless birth and her long
lineage-was illegitimate. Was
it possible? Could this strange
story really be true, or was it
only the creation of brain dis
ordered by long brooding over
past wrongs and a wild longing
for revenge. With all his heart
Paul hoped that it might be so.
Mother, dear, I cannot believe
it! he calculated, pushing the
papers from him and bending
over the bed. It cannot be true!
1t was pitiful to see how the
sick woman struggled to answer
more pitiful still to watch the
spasms of pain and disappoint-
ment which crossed her face as,
despite all her efforts, she only
succeeded in making an inartic-
ulate moan.
The tongue was silent, but the
eyes-terrible in their intensity
and passionate eagerness-never
moved from Paul's face. They
seemed to scorch him with their
strange fire. He impatiently
pushed back the hair from his
forehead; his head was whirling;
every pulse in his bedy was
throbbing with excitement, and
he scarcely knew what he did OF
said. The room seemed unbear-
ably close, although the window
was open, and the sweet evening
air was blowing the curtains to
and fro, and rustling the leaves
of the roses that wreathed the
easement.
Mother, what is it you want me
to do with these? he asked, point.
ing to the scattered papers on
the bed.
Mrs. Sullivan motioned that
her slate and pencil should be
placed in her hand.
Do nothing-yet. Wait-as
have waited, she wrote.
Paul started, shuddered, and
turned deadly pale. Wait? What
did waiting mean? What was
there in the future but certain
shame and possibly poverty for
the girl to whom he had already
given all the love of his heart:
How beautiful she had looked
that morning as she passed him
in the lane, riding her pretty
chestnut horse, with Sir Hilbert
Brooke by her side! She had
given Paul a little careless smile
and wave of her hand, and he had
been conscious that Sir Hubert
looked at him curiously and in
quired his name. He had not
heard Hiida's answer, but he had
seen the Baronet look around
with an interested air.
What had Hilda said? he won.
dered. Had she pointed him out
to her new lover as a country
cousin who had dared to admire
her and to declare his admira.
ton? Scarcely that, Paul thought
bitterly. Sir Hubert was mar
Of the world and would be chary
of believing that Hilda herselt
was quite blameless. Paul had
turned and retraced his steps
raging inwardly at Hilda's in
difference and coldness. In an
other moment however he hai
heard the tread of horses fee
behind him, and Hilda had beer
at his side, bending from her sad
| die with outstretched hand and /;
sweet smile in her eyes.
| Paul, I wanted to tell you.
could not when Sir Hubert wa.
there-how sorry I am for you
| trouble, she had said, and Jus
| for an instant her soft fingers hat
clung round his hand in a tigh
clasp.