Middletown transcript., 1904-02-27

lips when she heard Stella address him as
cousin Tony.
am afraid that We can make out no
real claim to cousinship, she said. l wish
You were our cousin, Anthony-even q
very distant one.
Anthony looked at Stella rather guilt
lily.
Miss Mary is quite right, he said. I
was mistaken about that family tree, Miss
Stella. Your Priscilla Dewar was not
the Priscilla Dewar who married my
great-great-granduncle, but another lady
Of the same name. Mr.. Deane proved
that to us. l wish he had not.
Don't let US accept the proof cried
Stella brightly. l want you to be my
cousin, and I believe you are. How
could there be two Priscilla Dewars living
at the same time? No, Molly; l refuse to
admit the possibility. Please do not try
to convine me. Throw as many facts at
me as you will, I shall refuse to be con.
vinced. Ican't 20 on calling cousin Tony
"Mr. West" 1t sounds absurd when
we have known each other since we were
the tiniest mites.
Her gay glance seemed to run through
Anthony's viens like wine.
Even if We are not cousins, he said, I
don't think that you should call me "Mr.
West" 1t hurt me yesterday; it seemed
as if you had quite forgotten how long
our friendship had lasted.
Before Stella could answer, James, the
old manservant, came in with the letter
bag. This, until quite lately. had always
been taken up to Miss Passingham's room
and unlocked by her there, but since her
illness Molly had been entrusted with the
key. Though Stella went on talking to
Anthony, she kept her eyes rather ner-
vously on Molly as she unlocked the bag
and began to distribute the letters.
Here is packet for you, Stella. she
said after moment, passing it across the
table. The rest are for the servants and
Catharine.
Stella took the thick packet and hur-
riedly broke it open.
told Simpson to send my letters under
cover, she said, giving hasty glance at
the contents Of the big envelope and then
thrusting it into her pocket. 1t would be
ruinous if had to pay postage on each
one separately.
Have you SO many correspondents, ,dear7
asked Molly, little surprised.
Stella laughed. blushing the while.
My letters will be mostly bills, I am
afraid, Molly left so suddenly that I
could pay nobody. and 1 just sent post
cards to ask for my accounts. I have
been very extravagent this spring. Don't
ask to look at them; you would be shock
ed. But have some pretty dresses. She
stole glance at Anthony. Does cousin
Tony ever come to dinner?
Molly smiled at him. and, seeing the
eagerness in his eyes, she said
Will you come tonight, Anthony?
You will like to see our little girl in her
fnery. But don't wear your prettiest
dress, Stella. Catharine wants to have q
dinner.party next week in your honor.
do not know if she will be strong
enough, she added, looking at Anthony
again. But she seems bent on it. Would
you 60 up to her for a moment or two,
Stella, if you have finished your break
fast? She would like to see you. But do
not stay long. She is very weak this
morning.
Miss Passingham's room opened from
the gallery that ran round two sides of
the panelled hall. Beyond her room at
the end Of the gallery was an embrasured
window with three diamond-paned case
ments. A broad window seat with cush-
ions had made comfortable resting-place
for Stella many summer afternoons in the |
old days. Hidden behind the heavy
tapestry curtains, che had felt like bird |
in its nest.
Passing Catharine's door with quick |
light step, she sought the shelter OF the |
window and drew the bundle of letters |
from her pocket. All but one were bills
-unmistakably bills. She put them
hastily aside and broke open the square
white envelope that bore the postmark of
New York. There was little smile of |
gay triumph on her lips as she read her
letter.
1t was not long one. Only three sides
OF the sheet were filled, and the writing
was large and bold. But she had not ex-
pected long letter. She knew how busy
the writer was, and he had told her be-
forehand that he never wrote long letters.
But he had managed to get q number of
delightful things into the short epistle.
He meant her to be presented at court, it
seemed. He was having the family dia.
monds reset for her, and he was bringing
home pearl necklace that had caught
his fancy at a sale Of FIRMLY jewels in
Washington. The pearls were very fine
ones, he had added carelessly. And he
wanted to know if she liked Cadogan
Square. He had heard Of house there
that might suit them for London resi-
dence. She must think it over and let
him know when he returned. He would
be back in about fortnight, and he
meant to ask her aunt and uncle to come
to Newlyn on a visit and to bring her
with them. Then she would he near her
sisters and could visit them. He was
anxious that all family differences should
be forgotten.
1t will surprise him to find me here,
Stella said to herself as she put the letter
away. l wonder how aunt Lydia will
explain matters to him. Poor aunt Lydia!
She will be sorry already that she let her
temper get the better of her. 1 must
write and ask her what she thinks of
Cadogan Square. 1t will be delightful to
invite them from Streatham to our par.
lies. But what horried wretch 1 am!
What would Molly think of me il che
had heard me saw that?