Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-26
N o 4 p R o " E N
CHAPER L.


that disclosed in the old TectoTy gar.
den on that bright winter morning
Tiptoe, her arms raised to branch OF
growing hclly, her glossy hair falling
from her fair face over her seaiskin
jacket, and her violet eyes sparkling.
was May Westleig b, the receor's daugh
ter, while within a few feet OF her,
watching her efforts with much
amusement and vast amount OF ad-
miratiOn, stood Thomas Mildnlay, a
handsome young muscular Christian,
attired in a tweed suit and felt hat.
Suddenly the latter hurst forth:
at is the rector's daughter,
And she has grown so dear, so dear,
That would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear"
Don't be absurd, Tom,' interrupted
the lady. you are a gallant gentle
man, truly, to see female in distress
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 il TO my dear Jack when
he comes this evening" They don {
grow holly in India, do they Tom"
I No, think not a t
Then it will be welcome offering to
an English heart. Oh! how glad, how
very glad, shall be to see the dear old
fellow D 81
II you speak 80 enthusiastically,
May, 'pon my word 1 shall be jealous,
remarked the gentleman.
sJealous-you. and Jack? Nonsense.
Why, Tenn, I love him like brother.
We were brought up, you know. as
children together .5sr-at .'If ri asae
so he told me, May, when we met
in India, and he gave me the letter oi
Introduction to the rector. Indeed,
proceeded Thomas Mildmay, etiil In
specting the gathering of the holly,
which persistently clung to Its parent
stem, he spoke so incessantly about
you that fancied-'
'Pray what, sir?' s r'l.'l I'D
THAT there existed deeper affection
than brothers. and sisters, May g,'
(which shows how You were deceiv-
ed. Talk of women jumping at con-
cIusions! Men are thousand times
worse. There, after all you must lend
me your knife, Tom; the branch will
not break, 1t is so tough ..s.sl.-. =
Thomas Mildmay produced 1t, again
Offering his services, which, nOtwith-
standing the Obstinacy of the holly,
were again rejected.
Gut upward, not downward, May,
he cried, suddenly stepping forward;
the knife is sharp
The warning came too late; the kee0
blade had flashed through the tough
fibers, and penetrated Mays slender
finger. t
1t was not very serious cut, but suf
ficiently SO to cause the blood to leaI
forth. The cry she uttered was echoed
by her companion, whose arm quickly
encircled her dainty waist as he caught
her hand in his.
% dearestv he exclaimed in concern
why did you not permit me-:
Because answered May; little
pale. Il said no one should touch thi:
| branch but myself, Tom, and no ont
shall. But seer and she held the holly
toward him-'there is blood upon II
and it is a bad Omen.'
He glanced at the bOugh, and truly
fallen on it, us bright as the berrie
themselves, weHe the crimson drops.
Bad omen, Mayp he laughed ,wraP
ping her wounded finger in his hand
kerchief. what chiIdishness! Why
you are absolutely pale. 'POn N.
word, your concern for Jack is alread.
making me jealous
Don't let it do that, Tom, she salt
bravely. 4 am sure you love me s
truly that, were you jealous of an,
one, / imagine that you would not b
ansWerable for YOUR actions ..
He caught her 10 his arms and pres:
ed kiss on her smooth cheek.
! MY darling, you are right he n
Piled grayely, in his turn. If tho
should lose you, or another was seei
ing to win you from me, 1 think
should either kill him or myself
II Now you are talking pure noDsens'
Pom, dear. Let US go in she laugl
!. ed, and, taking his arm, they move
over the crisp, frosty lawn to the quaiI
old rectory, u very Jack in the gree
of ivy which encircled its highest e
bles. But, even during the embrac
May had Kept the holly from comir
= in contact with Thomas Mildmay, ar
did SO still. Was this an omen too?
4 CHAPTER II.
The clear winters morning had 81
! en- place to a bleak, wintry night, al
8 the snow dashed sharp and cutting
e to faces ofthe rector and his old pup
IL John Westmacott, as they whirl
along the dreary Scottish road fr6
the railway station to the rectory.
. Now, Doctor, exclaimed Jack, m'
u rily, let me take the reins while y
ut tell me the news. Remember I
In road? Aye, every stone of 10, % n
had travelled 1t but yesterday. II