Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-02-18

i
She ignored his fippancy. "How do
you think she will take 1.-THE news
that she's an heiress?"
"Then you acknowledge her claims"
he quickly asked.
"She claims the money, Of course"
"She knows nothing Of it. l have
not even told her her name"
"Why have you not?
"I thought 1t best to find out first
whether you would credit my story.
It would have been cruel to raise her
hopes of being ali heiress only TO dis
appoint them in case you are unwilling
to make over to her her fathers for.
tune"
Unwilling? Is 1t question Of my
being willing or unwilling?' she asked
with touch Of bitterness.
81 must tell you that however sure
you and might feel of her Identity.
the legal proof Is too weak to establish
any claims
She looked at him keenly. "Well?
What are you driving at?'
mo one can force you 10 part Win
a dollar of this money"
Indeedw
"That is my conviction"
ut is very interesting" she said.
struggling her shoulders.
He looked at her obviously.
81 think ! see your point" she add
ed
T believe I've lost 1t ,1yscif." lie
declared. Just what IS it. anyway?
Help me out"
"You are doing me the honor to be-
lieve me capable Of Withholding my
niece's fortune: Of being unwilling to
make restitution to her."
81 am presupposing nothing. Miss
Wolcott." he hastily atfirmed-not
quite candidly.
81 do not deny that your news Is
bitter to me. But. DR.. Kinross. the
prospect Of losing the money is the
least part Of the bitterness
"Is the discovery of a niece 50 great
calamity|
II suppose can't expect you to
appreciate my feelings about the way
my brothers. child has been reared"
she said with 4 diguitied melancholy.
II think Go appreciate them. Miss
Wolcott"
"Not so mu.h, Peter. as you think
you appreciate" my loss Of money"
81 mercy pointed out to you that
there could be no legal compulsion In
the case"
"Co.apulsion. Don't you think you
use strange expressions? You said
you believed this girl to be my niece.
| I tell you now l also believe 1t. How,
then, cun there be any talk of COM
pelling' me to return TO her her IA
Tiers money, of which she has been
deprived for twenty years? What the
| loss OF the money may mean to me-
| She dismissed that side of 1t with an
other shrus, though she was very pale.
Kinross sprang to his feet and held
out his hand. Miss WoicOtt, blood
does tell If you were man I'd call
you a bully fellow. You renew my
long lost faith in womankind."
"BecauGc you discover that I'm not
q scoundrcl"
"YOu have most uncomfortable
way of making fellow feel small"
"Sit down and talk sense. We must
| decide what Is best to do with the girl
You have not told ne how you think
| she will take 1t when she learns she's
an heiress."
"Now, do you know, I've not the
least idea. Pm curious myself to find
| out"
"Do you think 1t will turn her head"
"She is Incredibly unsophistlcated
and ignorant of iife-so much so that
she will probably not realize ut all
what 1t means In worldly way to
come into great wealth. So II you
manage her wisely you may save her
from having her head turned"
Miss Wolcott sighed heavily. ut
seems to me have herculean task
on my hands"
81 suppose" said Kinross gravely.
'T have seemed heartless In my way
of bringing you this unwelcOme news.
But. believe me, l do most sincerely
feel the disaster that itfs to you-not."
he quickly added. "in the discovery Of
your niece but in the loss to you of
wealth which you have enjoyed so
long that don't see how you are go
| ing to get on without It."
"I managed to worry through thirty
years of my life without 1t, so ! sup
pose l can do 1t again" she curtly dis
missed that phase Of the matter.
A victoria containing two ladies' had
driven In at the gateway and was
coming up the drive. kinross rose and
| took up his hat from table close by.
1--WE will arrange details tomorrow
morning?" she asked as he held out
his hand. 81 shall have the girl come
| to me as soon as possible" she an
nounced stoically.
81 wish | were a medieval knight!
| I want to bend the knee to you and
kiss your hand!'
"Your enthusiasm at finding me hon.
est is positively insulting. Peter Kin
rossT
"NIiss Wolcott, believe in my heart
that you will not be ashamed of the
girl. / believe you will love her."
Indeed! But what you believe
could have no weight with me. you
know. your standards are SO impossi-
bly, absurd"
With this exchange Of civilities
they cordially shook hands and Kin
ross took his leave.
CHAPTER XXI.
TN the uncomfortable restlessnes.