Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-05-05
By GRACE MILLER WHITE

make this statement when Mrs. Cur
tbs jumped to her feet.
"You couldn't do that!" she cried.
THAT would be wicked, Paul, abso-
lutely wicked! Oh God, don't DO
that! I"
Without needing in the slightest his
Cousins bitter ejaculation, Paul Pen
dlehaven picked up box that lay at
his elbow. With much ceremony he
opened 1t and took out an exquisite
pearl necklace.
II do not need to remind any of
you," he said, turning his eyes from
his brother to his two white-faced
cousins, "that these belonged to M
dear wife, / have always considered
them the property of her daughter
too. That is the reason, Katherine,
why I've always refused your request
to wear them. But now have a
daughter" He turned smiling eyes
upon Tonnibel. II shall allow her to
wear them whenever she wishes, and
Tiff her lost sister isn't found, then
they are hers-hers forever"
A long kissing breath broke from
Sarah Curtis, and gasp came from
Katherine.
81 couldn't wear them," Tony got
out at length, 81 simply couldn't"
"Not to please me, your father,
Tonnibel" demanded Paul, almost
brusquely.
"And me, your new uncle?' laughed
Doctor John. "Why, honey, little girl" "
| ne reached out and took TonnibePs
hand, "dont look as If you'd lost your
last friendw
Then Paul Pendlehaven drew Ton
nibel Devon to his side, and, when he
had clasped the jewels around her
neck, he lifted her face and kissed
her
"There. little daughter" His voice
choked with emotion, but he con-
quered his feelings and went on,
they're very lovely, very precious,
Tony, doubly so because you're wear
ing them"
"Oh," she exulted, show happy /
ami It isn't the pearls,
though they're simply great, but it's
that have some real people," She
turned flushed and radiant face to
each man. Somebody that's my very
own. My mothers dead, and my ia
ther-"
"Is in prison." snapped Mrs. Curtis,
vindictively. "Pm wondering what
he'll say to all this when he comes
home"
Ellis opinion won't make any differ
ence to u.s." Paul Pendlehaven stated
coolly. "He has forfeited every right
to any claim on Tony"
| "Hideous!" exclaimed Mrs. Curtis
and "Well, never" dropped from
Katherine.
"And," went on Doctor Paul, re,
lentlessly, for he knew the barbs that
were being thrust into the souls of his
two cousins. 'Tm going to change my
will in favor Of my new daughter
here"
"And / mine in favor of our youne
Salvation Army captain who is COINS
to marry my new niece" chucklet
Doctor John. 81 guess that's all We
have to say, Paul."
In silence Katherine and Mrs. Cur
It's faded from the room, carryint
with them bitter humiliation anC
nursing outraged feelings.
"It's all your fault, mamma" scold
ed Katherine, bursting into tears wheI
they were in the seclusion Of their owl
apartments. you've whined and wep
yourself right out of Cousin John'
life, that's what you've done. God
how hated that girl when saw Car
dimes pearls around her neck !"
"What are you doing now?" thrus
back her mother "Aren't you crying
as If your heart would break? / tel
you tears"
"Oh Lordy, tears! What good d
they do?" came sharply. Here w
are without future, without home
That interloper will see we go tn
moment Paul gets out those papers
oh, what shall we do7"
II wish that man-her father,
mean-was out of JAIL" unused Mrs
Curtis. II really believe he could d
something, Katie Perhaps, Reggie
Katherine wiped her eyes with
! sudden movement.
Mamma, why don't you send 70
). ReggieT she questioned. "Now, lii
3 ten to me. Reggie confded in m
before he left that he really was fon
!. Of that girl, and If Oh, mamma, Nv
thought of wonderful thing. Sen
!. for Reggie, shove the girl under h
+ nose every minute. Let him cut Phil
" out"
! "And perhaps have my son MARI
4 that thing" objected the mother curtl
! "That thing, as you please to ca
4 Tony Devon, liz one Of the prettiei
d and richest young women in this couI
i ty," Katherine snapped back. "She
k heiress to the Pendlehavens, and e.
!. gagged to be Married to man WI
i owns half the town. Thing, ehf We
/ / think she's little higher up in Il
a world at this moment than my hal
brother, Reggie, If you want my OPT