Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-08
NOT PROVEN.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
There were few prettier pictures
than that disclosed in the old rectory
garden on that bright winter-morning.
Iiptoe, her arms raised to 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 a vast amount OF ad"
miration, stood Thomas Mildmay, a
handsome young muscular Christian,
attired in a tweed suit and felt hat.
Suddenly the latter burst forth:
1t is the Rector's daughter,
And she has grown 50 dear, so dear,
That would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear,
Don't be absurd, Tom," interrupt
ed the lady. "You are q gallant gen.
tleman, truly, to see a female in dis
tress and not aid her.
'sHave I 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 l am determined that
no other fingers than mine shall touch
it until I give it to my dear Jack
when he comes this evening. They
don't grow holly in India, do they,
Tom?'
"No, think not
:Then it Will be a welcome Offering
to an English heart. All! how glad,
how ve:y glad, shall be to see the
dear old fellow
IF you speak 50 enthusiastically,
May, pom my word shall be jealous"
remarked the gentleman.
"Jealous-you! And Jack! Nonsense.
Why, Tom, love him like brother.
We were brought up, you know, as
children together
80 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
speeding the gathering Of the holly,
which persistently chung to its parent
stem, she spoke 50 necessarily about
You that I fancied---'
spray what, sir!'
'sThat there existed deeper affec-
ton than brothers and sisters,
May"
(Which shows how You were de-
ceived. Talk Of women jumping at
hasty conclusions! Men are thous-
and times worse. There. after all you
must lend me your knife, Tom; the
branch will not break, it is 50 tough"
Thomas Mildmay produced it again,
Offering his services, which, notWith.
standing the obstinacy of the holly,
were again rejected.
''Cut upward, not downward, May
lie cried, suddenly stepping forward !;
1.-The knife is sharp
The warning came too late; the
keen blade had flashed through the
thin fibres.ard 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.
20 dearest!" he exclaimed in con.
Germ, ''why do you not permit me?'
because" answered May, little
pale, Il said no one should touch the
branch but myself, Tom, and no one
shall. But see!" and she held the
holly towards him-''there is blood
upon it, 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,
wrapping her wounded finger in his
handkerchief. "What childishness !!
Why, you are absolutely pale. Pom
my word, your concern for Jack is al
ready making 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"
"But!' he questioned, fondly re-
garding her.
Il am sure you love me so truly
that, were you jealous of any one, I
imagine that you would not be an
swerable for your actions
He caught her in his arms and
pressed kisson her smooth cheek.
"My darling, you are right" he re
piled gravely, in his turn. eff /
thought should lose you, or another
was seeking to win you from me,
think 1 shonld either kill him or my.
SELF
''Now you are talking pure nonsense,
Tom, dear. Let us go in" she laughed,
and, taking his arm, they moved over
the crisp, frosty lawn to the quaint
old rectory, 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 Mild.
may, and did so still. Was this an
omen too!