Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-06-24
CHAPTER XIV.
IN
A Will is Changed.

since Tony Devon had entered the
Pendlehaven home, the greater part
of which she had spent in school, had
brought about many changes. Paul
PendIehayen had taken his place
among the worlds workers, but this
does not say that he did not still long
for the child who had gone from ms
life eighteen years before.
Mrs. Curtis was no nearer giving
Cousin John to Katherine as a father
than she eyer had been, and Ithaca
had caught no sight of Reginald
Brown since he had fed from it with
the notion that he might follow Uriah
Devon behind the prison bars. Phlllp
had carried on his wonderful WORK.
living in the joyous letters he re-
ceived from Tony and spending MS
spare time in answering them.
One morning Tony came to PAU
Pendlehaven. smiling and blushlngly
girlish, and he motioned her to a 1T
tie stool at his feet.
Darling" he began in a moved
tone, 81 sent for you because I've
come to perhaps the most important
decision of my whole life"
Tony glanced up at him wondering
ly. He appeared solemnly sober and
looked as if he hadn't slept.
IF it affects me, Cousin Paul, 1t
can't be greater than the one you
made over two years ago when you
took poor little me into your home"
she asserted.
His hand fell lovingly upon her
curly head as though in benediction.
They both lapsed into long
silence, the girls dreamy eyes fixed
on space, and the man gazing at her
shining head.
''TQny," he calculated at length.
There was something in his voice as
he pronounced her name that dis
PEELED her revery instantly.
Eyes," she breathed. Eyes, what is
it,"
Pendiehaven cleared his throat.
81 would never have believed that
anyone could have wormed her way
into my heart as you have" he told
her. "How would-how would you
like me for your father?"
Tony tried to speak but, seeing he
had something else to add, waited ex-
pectantIy.
"Once, as you know" went on the
doctor, 81 had little girl of my own,
but the years have been so long and
so many since she was taken away,
feel shan't have her again in this
world"
Tony's dark head dropped against
his knee in silent sympathy.
"Could you think of me as your IA
Their, dear?" he said after an emotion
al silence
"Pm not fit for that" sighed Tony.
'tNo, no. not that. / come from .peo-
pie who are not your kind, Cousin
Paul. You know that! Everybody
does! Then I'm not so good as you
think am. First of all 1 haven't al
ways told you the truth"
$50 my brother told me-" remarked
Doctor Paul. Long ago he took me
into his confidence about the poison in
my medicine I've watched you for
two years, Tony, and it seems to me
that know every secret of your soul.
I'm sure you love me, dear child. I'm
going to adopt you legally for my
daughter. After this I'm your father,
and give warning to my Captain
MacCauley that if he tries to take you
from me, he's going to have some fight
on his hands. From now on, Pm not
Cousin Paul. / am-what?"
my father" gulped Tony. "It
seems as if l couldn't stand so much
happiness. And if you're my father,
that makes Cousin John"
"Your uncle" laughed voice from
the door. $50 Paul has told you, has
he, little girl? Well, Tony. you
wouldn't have slept wink one night
if you'd heard our argument about
you. We spent several hours wran-
Cling which of us should adopt you. |
said / should because saw you first,
and Paul"
"Has the prior right because you
saved me, Tony" interrupted Paul.
''Now [ think the family had better
know of our changed arrangements
Paul Pendlehaven acted as spokes-
man when Mrs Curtis and her daugh-
ter, Katherine, had been summoned to
the library. He told them very grave
ly that as his will now stood, his
brother, John, and his cousin. Sarah,
were the benefciaries of it. Mrs. Cur
lis smiled at him and arranged the
lace ruff1es around her neck.
you've always been most gener-
Gus, Paul DEAR" she simpered.
"But now" went on the doctor, pay
ing no heed to the ladys remark, "our
households going to have Mistress
katherine lifted her chin from the
palm of her hand, and Mrs Curtis
straightened up. Were her ambitions
going to be realized after all? Was
It Paul who was going to put her in
her rfghtful place? The smile broad
ened on her lips, and she sank back
with a happy sigh. She had to adj
nit Cousin Paul looked very hand
some, yes, even handsomer than Cou-
sin John. What fool she had been
not to have caught him sooner.
"The woman you put at the head of
your home will be most fortunate and
happy, dear Paul." she murmured.
ST hope so," returned Pendlehaven
and Doctor John pulled at the corners
of his mouth to keep back a malicious
grin.