Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-02
NOT PROVEN.

on that bright winter morning. Tiptoe,
her arms raised to a branch of a growing
holly, her glossy hair falling from her
fair face over her seal.skin jacket, and
her violet eyes sparkling, was May West
leigh, the rector's daughter, while with
in a few feet of her, watching her efforts
with much amusement and vast amount
of admiration, stood Thomas Mildmay, a
handsome young muscular Christian, at
tired in tweed suit and felt hat. Sud-
denly the latter burst forth:
at is the rectors daughter,
And she has grown so dear, so dear,
That would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear"
"DOn't he absurd, Tom" interrupted
the lady. You are gallant gentle
man, truly, to sec 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 it
until give it to my dear Jack when ne
comes this evening. They don't grow
holly in India, do they, Tom?"
"No, think not"
"Then it will be welcome offering
to an English heart. Oh, how glad, how
very glad, shall be to see the dear old
fcllow!"
"If you speak so enthusiastically,
May, pom my word, shall be jealous"
remarked the gentleman.
"Jealous And Jack! Non
sense. Why, Tom, love him like
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 in
PRODUCTION to the rector. Indeed" pro-
ceeded Thomas Mildmay, still inspect
ing the gathering of the holly, which
perslstently clung to its parent stem,
"he spoke so necessarily about you that
fancied-"
"Pray what, sirH"
"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.
"Cut upward, not downward, Mayw
he cried, suddenly stepping forward;
the knife is sharp"
The warning came too late; the keen
blade had flashed through the tough
fibers and penetrated Mays white,
slender finger.
II was not very serious cut, but suf-
ficiently 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.
90 dearestT" he exclaimed in concern,
why did you not permit me?"
Because" answered May, little
pale, 81 said no one should touch this
branch but myself, Tom, and no one
shall. But see" and she held the holly
toward him" there is blood upon it,
and it is bad d'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 handker.
chief. "What childishness! Why, you
are absolutely pale. Pon my word, your
concern for Jack is already 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 ever knew,
but"
"ButH" he questioned, fondly regard
ing her.
I" am sure you love me so truly that,
were you jealous of anyone, imagine
that you would not be answerable for
your actions"
He caught her in his arms and pressed
a kiss on her smooth cheek.
My darling, you are right" he re-
piled graVely, in his turn. If 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 go in" she laughed,
and, taking his arm, they moved over the
crisp, frosty lawn to the quaint old rec
tory, 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 80 still.