Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-02-24
"Yes," she brea,hea Eyes. what is

iHyOHe cOuiu nave WOrmeu her way
into my heart as you have" he told
her "IIow 'nuld--how would you
like me fol Your father!"
Tony tried to speak hut, seeing he
had something else to add, waited ex-
pcctantly.
"Once, rs you know" went on tie
doctor. II had a little girl of my own,
but the years have been so long and
so many since she was taken away,
l feel l shan't have her again in this
world"
Tony's dark head dropped against
his knee in silent sympathy.
Gould YOU think Of me rs your ia.
ther, dcar?" he said after an emotion.
al silence.
I'm not fit for that" sighed Tony.
NO 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 l haven't al
ways told YOU the truth"
$50 my brother told me-" remarked
Doctor Paul. Long ago he took me
Into his confidence aboe he poison in
my medicine. I've watched you for
two years, Tony, and 1t seems to me
mat | 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 sries to take you
from me, he's going to have some fight
on his hands. From now on, I'm not
Cousin Paul. am-what?"
"My father" gulped Tony. ut
seems as if couldn't stand so much
happiness. And if you're my father,
that makes Cousin John"
"Your uncle" laughed a voice from
the door. $50 Paul has told you. has
he, little girl? Well. Tony. you
wouldn't have slept q wink one night
If you'd heard our argument about
you. We spent several hours wran-
Cling which of us should adopt you. l
said l should because l saw you first,
and Paul"
HAS the prior right because you
saved me, Tony" interrupted Paul.
snow l think the family had better
know Of our changed arrangements"
Paul Pendlehaven acted as spol:es-
man when Mrs. Curtis and her daugh-
ter, Katherine, had been summoned to
the library. He told them very grave
~ that as his will now stood, his
brother, John. and his cousin. Sarah.
were the beneficiaries of It. Mrs. Cur
tbs smiled at him and arranged the
lace ruffles 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 lady's remark. "our
households going to have mistress"
Katherine lifted her chin from the
palm Of her hand. and Mrs. Curtis
Strengthened up. Were her ambitions
going to be realized after all? Was
It Paul who was going to put her in
her rightful place? The smile broad.
ened on her lips, and she senk back
with happy sigh. She had to ad.
NIT Cousin Paul looked very hand
some, yes, even hands0mer 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 ard
happy, dear Paul." she murmured.
II hope So" returned Pendlehaven,
and Doctor John pulled at the corners
Of his mouth to keep back malicious
grin.
"l'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 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 my
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 I 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 a gasp came from
katherine
II couldn't wear Them" Tony got
ont at length, II simply couldn't"
"Not to please me, your father,
Tonnibel?" demanded Paul, almost
brusquely. ~. - -.
"And me. your new iii ,iiScle?" laughed
Doctor John s!thy; 1honyy, little girl"