Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-06
MRS. DUNCAN'S WILL.

church at all, nor curious, nor famous !;
but love it dearly, as ought to love it,
having lived allmy life in its very shadow,
and listened within its old gray walls
while my fathers lips taught me the one
great lesson which has sanctif1ed It.
We decorated it three times IN every
year at Christmas, at Easter, and for the
Harvest Thanksgiving service. But the
Christmas decorations were what l took
most pride in, and being the wears eldest
daughter, of course the chief of the work
and of the pleasure, fell upon me. The
children q mean my brothers and sisters)
helped me always, and we had one Of our
own servants when she could be spared,
besides countless village volunteers but
I always felt we should have been very
much more incapable and unsuccessful if
it had not been that old Mrs. Grotto made
q point OF having her grandson down at
Crossmyroof for Christmas. He was SO
ready with his help. so quick to see what
would look well, so tall and strong, that
nothing we wished to attempt was impos
slble when he was there, and nothing in
the work was trouble to me.
Sometimes Eleanor M'Laird came up
from the hall to help us, and when she
did she generally laughed-a little, low,
aristocratic laugh-over my garlands and
texts, and pretended to think the children
had done them all. l was often glad that
we were in the church when she said so,
because not words rose from my heart,
and would have left my lips perhaps if
we had not been there She was an only
child, aud very rich, and | was the eldest
of eight, and had never known what it
was to have siEpence, the spending Of
which had not been anticipated. Her
father vas lord of the manor, with
$4,000 year mine was vicar of the par
ish, with $500.
Christmas day fell on a Sunday that
year, and it was getting quite dusk on the
Friday afternoon before we had finished.
Eleanorhad brought magnificent bouquet
of dollhouse flowers for the chancei table,
and | stood watching her while she ar
ranged them.
They will not be moved, [ hope" she
said, stepping down into the aisle again
and addressing me, "nor the cross l have
placed above. James, just see that the
cross is safe"
James was the footman who had been
sent to walk home with her: and while
ne did as she had hidden him, she re-
peated her question to me.
'No; no one will move them, Miss
M'Laird, d" answered.
'Low Church people have such cramped
ideas sometimes" she said, passing on;
and sat down again to the wreath that
| was making.
How different the vicarage flowers were
from those which she had brought from
The Conservatives at the hall. | thought
his, working on with my shy, looking lit
lie roses, while the whispering shadows
5lided in under the heavy porch, and
;rept along the narrow windows. I had
heard voices in the church yard after
Eleanor had left the church, and [ knew
that Marc. GOtto (his name was really
Marquis, but we always called him Marco
had met her just outside the porch, and
had stopped to chat. She was generally
very gracious to him; perhaps because he
did not live in Crossmyroof; perhaps be-
cause he had that charm about him which
compelled people to like him; perhaps be-
cause ne was so grand and handsome that
she could forget, while she was talking
30 him, that he was only poor young
lawyer struggling hard to win his own
way in q world over whose wide extent,
he used to say, there was no one else to
win it for him.
"Is it tinlshed?' asked Marc, standing
beside me in the twilight, with that little
smile upon his lips with which he so often
spoke to me. eff so, let me hang it be-
fore we are shrouded in utter darkness"
tried to hasten, but the string got en-
tangled every second.
nina, your hands are cold and tired,
dear Give me the wreath
gave it him at once, helping him to
hold il while his strong fingers dextrously
tied in the last ivy md laurel leaves.
"Now hand me t. , nails, and see how
artisticaliy will put it up"
stood at the foot of the little ladder,
while the children. who had finished their
task, gathered round When the wreath
was hung he stepped down among US, ard
quite unconsciously, l think-laid his
hand on mine as he looked up at it.
The flowers look very commonplace
besides Miss M'Lalrd's," l said, with a
little sigh
He laughed-the laugh deepening in
his eyes as he turned and looked into my
race
4 think Miss M'Laird's garlands are
IS like herself as Miss Callaway's garlands
are like herself My fingers could not
weave wreath of hers"
THAT looks pretty now" said, still
looking up.
cit is our wreath, remember. How long
will it live"
"Only over Christmas" put in Tom,
practically.
Indeed Sirl' laughed Marc; "and
may inquire what Christmas you alude
to? Now, Nina, is there any thing else
for me to do in this way?"
II think not"
But though the children went home
then, we two still fingered there, while
the brilliant Nativity scene upon the east
ern window grew more and more real as
the light faded without.
Il have one thing more to do, you
know, MarG," I said, as the choir came
IN. I'VE have to sing the anthem over to
papa"
That's right. I will stand here and
isten."
The singers lighted the candles on the
organ, and bent over them to bring their
light upon the music; but I knew the
grand old anthem well, and stood back
in the shadow, where I could see Marc
leaning at the end Of our seat. Often in
the time that followed did l SADLY re-
member how heedlessly had sung the
comforting words that night, while l
watched his listening figure.
Papa was detained in the village, and
so Marc and l walked slowly on together
down the quiet lane. the darkness of the