A DAY OF RECKONING OR BETTER THAN GOLD.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 542, 17 October 1908, Page 2

A DAY OF RECKONING OR BETTER THAN GOLD.

(Copyright.)

nous, ana tic also warneil lior, with tlu> ivsiilt that she told nn , I l *' , " -Uury," said Miss Oowf lu-r. who thru ivlatfil what, she had pivvioiisI\ told Paula. "The voyage had taken m-arly all her nioiH'V, and when she landed in Ijiverjux)! she was taken ill. and had !.o remain in lodgings a week : then at the m<l of that tiiae, when *h< , was able to travel, she found that she had not siillii-ieiit money to pay (yr f;ifv (o Ohvrstorie, so slio took :; tk-k-'t to Harfield. a town about len mill's from thi-tv. It was late in th , afternoon v,hen she arrived ill.'ic. and she hadn't even money I o ;.iiv ;i pii'-e of luvad for liei'self of a ; r ,,p of milk foi- ih. , child. hu\ sin , ...! i-ti --<■ l--il tm. Shi , told :ne that a !:!;in 'jav ,, h< , ! , a rid ■in his carl for iii,,i,ii live mil's, then lie showed her •.vi,i'li i - oa<i to take. Weary and r,.ii.i. s!:' , si riiL'L'liNl on, resolved to :■ ,!■;. ■:,> till sli. , yot to Olverstone .■.lid h■•:• husband's jieople, hut, ill the (i;!i:.M'-s and she lost her way, :.iid f.'l! exliaiisii'd in front of the icti. * ISμt now all will he right, if

i (iim't get better. .Jack's mother ■..ill .-re to my child," sho said. Sir. I thought it better not, to :cil her that her husband's father and mother uvre both di-ud within .1 Wivl; (>]' her husband of small-pox —and when things came to Id' looked iiitii ii was found that by selling the goodwill of the little, shop—they were drapers in a small way —and i'ii.' fiin.ili.Tf Iliere was ju.st enough i.) inivt the cri>ilitors' demands. 1 knew it would make it harder for her to die if she knew this, so L ; ;,iil tliat Mr. and Mrs. Holden \wcc away on an outing, and she l.elievrd liW. •'■|"he next day thero was a sudden change, and, feeling that she was going to die, she told me that in the. littlr bag sin , wore round her neck I should find papers that would prove the baby was Jack Holden , s daughter. She had left her box at Harlk'ld station. That night she died, and knowing the child was i'i iendl.■:;.-•. I made up my mind to adopl h.T. The poor mother was buried wilh her husband's people in Olvei stone, and after the funernl I sent for the box at. HarOeld, and I have kept the contents. "Paula, as her mother told me she had been christened, was then four months old, and from that time linlil she was about, eight years old I kept her at the inn: then 1 sent her to a convent in lielgium. I thought it was the safest place- in wliicii a lone girl could be brought up, and f knew she would get a good education. Kvery summer she had two months" holiday, which she spent a! the inn. Now 1 think I've told you all. and f may as wull give vou the papers. "You'll find among them the marriage certificate of poor Annette Holden"s father and mother and (lie certificate of her birth. I suppose they were among her parents' papers. 1 found those in the box she'd left, at Barneld." Mr. Beetham examined the. papers critically, then he went to a desk and took out a paper, which he read. Finally he raised his head and looked at Paula with a smile. •' I think I may safely congratulate you, Mi.-s Paula Holden, on being your uncle's —or, rather, I should say your great-uncle's heiress." Paula looked at him gravely.

"Do you mind t'lling me now much I'm heiress l<> 7" she said. •About fifty thousand pounds. it won't be less, and if may be more, in fac" "Hip. lii I*, hurrah !" Paula shouted in her pretty, clear voice, clapping her hands delightedly. "My dear young lady !"■ said tinlawyer, who looked disconcerted. "Paula !" exclaimed Miss Crowther. She laughed merrily. "Oh, \on can i <-11 your clerks 1 was so happy 1 couldn't help s'niiitn\is 'Hurrah !' And you. auntie, shall have just half tlv- money," she said, dancing acr<>.-■;.• Up- o-lic■• and h11!..!.;■ ing Mi.ss Cnnvther i, eiiemeni h . Mr. l'.eetliain watched h'T with an amused smile, and as', Miss Crowt her pu 1 h'r bonnet straight, he said : ' F think, madam, the young lady's '. i\;!('i!y proves I hat she has French bln.wl in her veins. Hut .1 should li'e to explain matters if you feel ■ .i:-p. -si'd to listen." he said, turning to Paula, who had resumed her seat, uif h a smile. CIIAPTKU XIX. PAILA MAKKS A (H)OH IMPRESSION. "Ah your mother is dead." began Mr. l!(!:'lhain, "you are the sole I n• i!■<.■."■ k of your great-uncle, James Wilton. Your mother's father was his only brother, and at her father's death she went *** live with her uncle. Ifo had then four litle chil-

dren, and. according to what I am told, lie made a complete drudge of her. Moreover, he admitted on his deathbed that he had wronged her financially, as her fat her did not die in diUiculties. as he had told her, but had appropriated what his brother had left. Thero were two reasons for this. One was greed, the, other that he hated his niece, because her mother- had refused to marry him, choosing his brother in preference. He had never forgiven her. and though she was in her grave he made up his mind to make her child sutler. "When you a month or two old your mother was left a widow. In accordance with her husband's wishes she returned to England, and her uncle lost .sight of her ; in fact, he never troubled himself to make inquiries. Years passed, he prospered greatly, but his two eldest children died of fever. It was a great blow to him, but. there was a boy and a girl left, and he went on amassing wealth. Then his (laughter, whom 'lie had sent away to be educated, died, and only the son, a fine young fellow, was left. Hut one day he was bathing in the river, and he was drowned. Then he gave himself up to money-mak-ing ; but illness overtook him, and two months ago he died, but not before he had made a will leaving all he had to your mother, or, if she was dead, to you. If she had married again, you were to take half of what he left, and the rest, if she had other children, was to be divided among them. A solicitor in Montreal drew up the will, and agreed to act as executor. He is a, cousin of mine, and he placed the

finding of the heiress in my hands, and I have been advertising for quite a week." "It was quite l*y chance Paula saw the advertisement," said Miss Crowther. Then she added : "I suppose there won't be much delay in her coming into hor fortune?" "No. But my cousin said in case the mother was dead the child or children would be under age, and a guardian would have to be appointed by him. He suggested that I should act in that capacity. Of course, you see, a young lady with fifty thousand pounds can scarcely" Then he paused, slightly embarrassed. "You mean to say she cannot go on living at an inn," said Miss Crowther.

"Woll, you see, madam, the heivess of fifty thousand pounds should go into society, and" Miss Crowther smiled. "I've got a bit of common sense, and 1 know that a country inn— though, mind you, it's a respectable out; —isn"t the place for a girl with

a fortune." "Just so. There's her future tc consider. Now, 1 haven't any lam ily, and my wife would be delighted to have Miss Moldcn to live will us, and Mrs. Bertham is related i< Lady Dunatable, she could get hot into good society—if not the best. still, good society." Here Paula interposed. "Where do you live, Mr. I'ietham*}" she asked. "In Russell-square—thoviyh, an yoi don't know London, I don't supposr that will enlighten you much,' lit answered, pleasantly. "In London ! Then I won! liv< with you, thank you," she said, <k--cidodly. lie smiled, thinking it was he: rli.slil«> of a town li.'e that, her speak thus. "1 can assure you, .Miss I!n!.!eu that London in a very [> 1 ■.s;:;,t place to live in We hn\e '" :i1 beautiful parks, «mJ Li:<' t.!;.-;;: :-e:would be a treat ,' ,v«u." "Oh, yes. 1 enjoyed m;. .s-if t.n-

tnendously last night. A'n.tin '■■<''■ me to one. We were in tin- pi;. ' always call her uuuiie." In- .s;:i:!, mistaking his look of <■.<*' .<-'. i rn:iti> i!i. "You went into the pi' '■" l' ! ' «' ■ claimed, in a tone that ii;ul s.d: .• thing oi disgust in it. "Yes, and I wish 1 could go n;;-;w to-night ; but all the sam , , I \\<>:- ' live in London." "Why not, may T ask ■?"' he sai<l looking at her, and coming to (.:.■ conclusion ;ha(. this vi\ anions J •!»!i----bciiuly had a will of her own. "You know, Paula, it woVl! l> better for you to live with '''..'•■ gi'dt li-man. would !.•■<■'■' i.' , neorile,' , said Miss Oowtl'cr. 'I (lod'i i , are a. for t!.;i'. N'ov. . umiie. niKli.-rst arnl 1 wont :-f'tl-i;> li\i' iinwvhciv until he knows ;i 11> > '•' f his nioney." 'I , lie lawyer's face cloudfil. "So :ln- girl lias u lover," lie thought ; but Miss Crowthcr's next words <■)••;■• triii,-il him : "Vim mi , an JjOi - rl Olvri-st our ?" .- ■lisa id. "Yes. it may influenn- liis moth"r when she knows 1 am rich,' .said Paula, in a low tone. "As I iiii vi' promi:,e.| mv cousin to "•I as \ our guardian ui.'il ;. on are :>f ;igi- or marry, I should !)i- glad if you woukl cx|il,ii!i the meaning tjl what \ou havt! said." (To be Con: i(;;:c'l;.