OCR Text |
Show LONG HIDDEN LOVE i By MARY GRACE BENNETT. "Don't bo raBh, Rivers think it over. Surely, I havo troated you fairly?" "Moro than fairly, Mr. Esmond l" declared de-clared Paul Rivers, gratefully and oarncstly. "If it is a matter of increased compensation, com-pensation, I will gladly treat with you." "Oh, no, sir It isn't that." "You havo a bettor prospect, por-haps?" por-haps?" suggested Mr. Esmond, anxious anx-ious to securo tho confidence of an omployeo ho valued and respected. "I havo nothing In vlow, sir," explained ex-plained Paul, "but I that is, I fool tho need of a change. My mothor, who lives In another state, Is old and falling fall-ing rapidly. I feel It a duty to bo near her." Thus, In a halting way, wretched at heart, hiding a deep secret, Paul Rivers Riv-ers bade farowcll to tho two brightest years of his young llfo. Ho had como to Taunton a stranger and had secured work In tho largo mercantile establishment of Robort Esmond. From the start tho wealthy business man had admired his energy and efficiency. At tho end of a year ho had advanced his favored employee to a managerial position. Then ho had mado a vast mistake, so far as Rivers waB concerned. Ho had invited Paul to his homo and had Introduced him to his daughter, EIoIbo. Sho was a queonly, undemonstrative glr'. and although to Paul she seemed far, far abovo him, ho becamo a frequent fre-quent visitor at the palatial homo and a secret worshiper at the shrlno of her fascinating Influence Miss Esmond stood high socially. Tho family friends wero of tho elite. Sho was courted by men who had thousands whero Paul had hundreds. Tho self-deprecating Paul finally arrived ar-rived nt a conclusion. To confess his I l I iflf "I Want You to Join Me." lovo to her was suro to meet with a haughty rejection. Mistrusting his own sterling valuo, misjudging a woman's wom-an's heart, Paul Rivers resolved to go away and forget Elolso Esmond. "Blind doubly blind!" commented a closo lady friend of Miss Esmond to herself, for sho had discerned what lay hidden under tho mask of calmness worn by Elolso. At nil ovonts, Paul wont to his mother's moth-er's homo to begin a new life. Ho found thero a patient, unpretentious young girl who had tenderly nursed his aged relative for threo long years. Tho girl had no othor home, no friends. When Mrs. Rivers died, her forlorn position touched tho generous heart of Paul. ( "Sho Is nol pretVy. nor educated," reflected Paul, "bi(t sho is true as steel. Sho may causo mo to forget Elolso." v He proposed to Harriet Green, and sho was proud and happy. A llttlo child, Adellno, was born to them. Then Harriet faded slowly away, blessing heaven to tho last for tho husband hus-band whose gentleness and caro sho had mistaken for lovo. Paul placed tho llttlo child in chargo of a distant spinster relative. Ho planned to go West and seek in new work forgetfulness of his past gloomy experiences. Then tho wholo current of his career was changed by a somo-what somo-what remarkablo occurrcnco. A young merchant in the town camo to him ono day. He was only a casual acquaintance, but he had been nlways pleasant and frlondly with Paul. "Soo hero, Rivers," ho said, in a frco open mannor, "1'vo got n proposition proposi-tion to makfl to you. It's along tho lino of business." "I had about made up my mind to try a nov field," responded Paul. "Yes, I heard of that thinking of going out West, woren't you? Well, I'm going to try to head you off. Here's tho proposition; I'vo been doing do-ing some business In the mercantile lino hero In a small wny. A party has como forward who offers to furnish lnrgo capital to expand tho business. I've known for a long tlmo of your former for-mer buUncss experience and ability. Now then, why don't yo'u capitalize It? You'vo been grubbing along on that little place of yours, earning a mcro living. 1 want you to Join mo." "Aa an employco?" "No, as a partner." Paul was astonished. As his visitor went on In detail aa to bis prospects and planB, there cams to tho lonely widower something of his old tlmo ambition. am-bition. Tho proposition was plain and practicable. It Involved largo quarters, extensive advertising, efficient management. man-agement. Many a time, during a period of re- ,i markablo business success, Paul Rlv- " era thought with regret of that poverty-harassed period of his llfo whon ho had craved comforts for tho dying woman by his sldejlio could not afford to purchaso. Money flowed In to tho M, now firm. At tho end of tho fourth j year Paul was practically independent. ' 4' Tho business bo expanded that ho ' -jr was obliged to go abroad onco a yenr 1 to buy goods. It was on his return ' j from such a trip that his partner, uttt or tho usual warm frlondly greotlrifebj. Bald somewhat seriously: ? "I havo some bad nowB for you, Rivers. Your rolatlvo who had chargo of your llttlo daughter died during your absence." "And Adellno?" inquired Paul anxiously. anx-iously. "I hardly know what to do about her," explained his partner. "Howovor, thero appeared upon tho sccno a i widow, a Mrs. Lyttloton, who resides nt Taunton. Sho offered to tako chargo of tho child until your return. I found that she was an estlmablo lady of wealth and Boclal standing, nnd r havo received letters from Mrs. Lyttloton Lyttlo-ton weekly, reporting hor llttlo chargo contented nnd hnppy." Taunton 1 A slight senso of sadness ; momentarily clouded tho mind of Paul. The namo of that town whero ho had first met Elolso Esmond, naturally awakened poignant memories. Tho next day ho went to see his llttlo daughter. As ho ncared tho rcsldenco of Mrs. Lyttleton ho discovered It to bo ono of tho finest In tho placo. In tho garden under a leafy shelter wero threo persons two ladles and llttlo Adeline. Tho latter was seated In tho lap of ono of tho ladles, her head reclining trustingly upon hor shoulder as a fairy talo wns being told ;' to her. " "Elolse Miss Esmond I" breathed Paul with a thrill. "What can Bho bo , doing here?" and then his entranco through tho gateway was discovered - ', by llttlo Adeline, who bounded Joyous- ' ly forward to moot him. 1 "Oh, papa! I havo been bo happy hero," Bho prattled "so very happy with dear, dear Aunty Elolse, who Is , with us all of tho tlmo." Stately, reserved, but hor deep dark eyes magnetic and beautiful as of yore, Miss Esmond greeted her old tlmo friend graciously. Hers was a superb calm, as Bho told frankly that all through tho years sho had been Interested Inter-ested In keoplng track of nn old and valued friend. "I felt I had tho right," sho said, J. and ns to this llttlo darling," and sho $ wound her arms fondly about Adeline, jjl "oh, surely you are not going to tako her away from us?" "M A sudden light Illuminated Paul's B mind. Only that morning his business M partner had told him that all tho ca'pl- tal originally invested in their enter. prlso had been repaid to tho Investor 1 U a lady. 'B Was that lady Elolso Esmond) Ho put a blunt question. 9 "Miss Esmond," ho Enid steadily, "I boliovo your kindly Interest was tho M means of starting mo In business. Is Tt it not true?" JI For onco tho proud oyes drooped, J tho calm faco flushed deeply, but thoro jf camo no reply. jf "Why why havo you dono all this V for mo?" fluttered Paul. i. Still Bllenco, the graceful form all 1 tremulous now, and then tho heart ol i Paul Rivers hoped, and later ho know A that ho had been loved silently, so- irj crctly, strongly, sinco tho day ho had if met this stanch, loyal woman. U (Copyright. 131C. by W. P. Chapman.) V |