The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-19


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-
pectantly.
"Once, as you Know" went on the
| doctor, 81 had a little girl Of my own,
but the years have been so long and
| so many since she was taken away,
I feel I 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 fa-
ther, dear?" he said after an emotion.
| al silence.
"Tm not fit for that" sighed Tony.
! "No. no, not that. l 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 l am. First Of all I haven't al
ways told you the TRUTH"
$50 my brother told me-" remarked
Doctor Paul. "Long ago he took mo
into his confidence about the peison II
my medicine. I've watched you fol
| two years, Tony, and it seems to me
| that 1 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 l 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, I'm not
Cousin Paul. l am-what?"
MY father" gulped Tony. 1T
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 g. wink one night
if you'd heard our argument about
you. We spent several hours wran-
Cling which of us should adopt you. I
| SdlI UCSouSC "a" SOo LII ASSS
and Paul.
"Has the prior right because you
saved me, Tony" interrupted Faul.
"Now l 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 benef7ciaries Of it. Mrs. Cur
| tis smiled at him sad 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 tc the lady's 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
ner rightiul place? The smile broad
ened on her lips, and she sank back
with a happy sigh. She had to ad-
init Cousin Paul looked very hand
some, yes, even handsomer than Cou-
sin John. What a fool she had been
not to have caught him sooner.
"The woman you put at the head OF
| !, q Qn6
happy, dear Paul." she murmured.
81 hope so," returned Pendlehaven,
and Doctor John pulled at the corners
Of his mouth to keep back malicious
grin.
I'm going to adopt Tony Devon"
Doctor Paul had only time enough to
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"
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 it and took out an exquisite
pearl necklace.
"I 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 my
dear wife. I 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 1 have
daughter" He turned smiling eyes
upon Tonnibel. 81 shall allow her to
wear them whenever she wishes, and
if-if her lost sister isn't found, then
they are hers-hers forever
A long kissing breath broke from
Sarah Curtis, and a gasp came from
Katherine.
"I 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
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