The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-10
Not Proven.
CHAPTER |.


that disclosed in the old rectory garden
on that bright winter-morning. Tip
toe, her arms raised to a branch OF
growing holly, her glossy hair falling
from her fair face over her seal-skin
jacket, and her violet eyes sparkling
was May Westleigh, the RectOr'S
daughter, while within few feet OF
her, watching her efforts with much
amusement and vast amount of admi-
ration, stood Thomas Mildmay, hand.
some young muscular Christian, attired
In tweed suit and felt hat. Suddenly
the latter burst forth:
1t is the Rector's daughter,
And she has grown 70 dear so dear,
That | would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear
"Don't be so absurd, Tom," inter-
rupted the lady, "YOu are a gallant
tress and not aid her"
"Have / not offered six times at least,
May, and been refused?"
"And will be again, sir. This is the
most lovely piece of holly ! have seen
this season, and | am determined that
no other fingers than mine Shall touch
1t until give it to my dear Jack when
he comes home this evening. They
don't grow holly in India, do they,
Tom? ?"
"No, think not"
"Then 1t will be a welcome Offering
to an English heart, Oh! how glad,
how very glad, l shall be to see the
dear old fellow"
EGTf Won QnaO l. On onthuSto tinulltr Now
'pOn my word l shall be jealous" re-
marked the gentleman.
"JealOus-you! And JackF Non
sense. Why, Tom, love him like a
brother. We were brought up, you
know, as children together"
$50 he told me, May, when we met
in India, and he gave me the letter of
Introduction to the rector. Indeed, "
proceeded Thomas Mildmay, still in
specting the gathering of the holly,
which persistently clung to its parent
stem, "he spoke so inoessantly of you
that fancied-"
pray what, sirP"
"That there existed deeper affection
than brothers and sisters, May"
(Which shows how you were de-
ceived. Talk of women jumping at
hasty conclusions! Men are thousand
times worse. There, after all you must
lend me your knife, Tom; the branch
will not break, it is so tough"
Thomas Mildmay produced it, again
offering his services, which, notwith-
standing the obstinacy of the holly,
were again rejected.
N.,f nd ,ot Ipy nd ~
he cried, suddenly stepping forward /;
"the knife is sharp"
The warning came too late; the keen
blade had flashed through the tough
flbres, and penetrated Mays white,
slender finger.
1t was not very serious cut, but
sufficiently so to cause the blood to leap
forth. The cry she uttered was echoed
by her companion, whose arm quickly
encircled her dainty waist as he caught
her hand in his.
80 dearest !" he exclaimed in con-
Germ, "why did you not permit me ?"
because" answered May, little
pale. "I said no one should touch this
branch but myself, Tom, and no one
shall. But see ~ and she held the holly
tOWaIOS Ullll-- Jlltlt 10 ulOOu uJOh ~,
and it is bad omen"
He glanced at the bough, and truly,
fallen on it, as bright as the berries
themselves, were the crimson drops.
"Bad omen, May !" he laughed, wrap
ping her wounded finger in his hand
kerGhief. "What childishness Why,
you are absolutely pale. Pom my word,
your concern for Jack is already MAX
Ing me jealous"
"Don't let it do that, Tom, she said
bravely.
"Why not?" he smiled
"Because, Tom, you are, | believe,
the best-tempered man l ever knew,
but"
"But2" he questioned, fondly re-
garding her.
81 am sure you love me so truly that,
were you jealous Of any one, l imagine
that you would not be answerable for
your actions" u"
He caught her in his arms and pressed
kiss upon her smooth cheek.
"My darling, you are right" he re-
piled gravely, in his turn. "lfI thought
] should lose you, or another was seek
ing to win you from me, think should
either kill him or myself"
"Now you are talking pure nonsense,
Tom, dear. Let us goin," she laughed,
and, taking his arm, they moved over
the crisp, frosty lawn to the quaint old
rectory, a very Jack in the green OF ivy
which encircled its highest gables.
But, even during the embrace, May had
kept the holly branch from coming IN
contact with Thomas Mildmay, and did
40 still. Was this an omen tooS