Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-06-28
NO. 152
Gales and Sketehss.
NOT PROVEN.
CHAPTER I.

| wv hNi oSo-Shtu ldtket, anu Der Violet
eyes sparkling, was May Westleigh. the
rector's daughter. while within a few feet
OF her, watching her efforts with much
amusement and admiration, stood Thomas
| Mildmay, a handsome Young muscular
Christian. atlired In tweed suit and felt
nat. Suddenly the latter burst forth:
at is the rector's daughter,
| And she has grown so dear, 80 dear
That would be the jewel
That irembles 10 her ear"
Don't be absurd, Tom," interrupted
the lady. You are gallant gentleman,
truly. to see lady 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
the most lovely piece of holly have seen
this season, and am determined that no
other fingers than mine shall touch it, un-
| I'll give it to my dear Jack, when he
| comes this evening. They don't grow
holly in India, do they, Tom P''
mo, 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
| fellow"
''lf you speak so enthusiastically, Nav,
pom my word l shall be Jealous" re-
marked the gentleman.
''Jeaous-you and Jack ? Nonsense.
Why. Tom, love him like brother. We
were brought up. you know, as children
together"
so he told me, May, whsn we met in
| India, and he gave me the letter of intro
duction to the rector" "Indeed." pro-
ceeded Thomas Mildmay, still inspecting
the gathering of the holly, which persist
emily clung to its parent stem. .'he spoke
so necessarily about you that fancied-n
Pray, what, sir p''
THAT there existed deeper affection
than brothers and sisters, May"
NV hich shows how YOU were deceived.
Talk OF women's jumping at hasty conclu-
sions Men are a thousand times worse.
There, alter all, you must lend me your
knife. Tom; the branch will not break, it
| is so tough"
Thomas Mildmay produced it, again Of
fering his services, which, notwithstand-
ing the obstinacy of the holly. were again
| rejected.
Cut upward, not downward, May" he
cried. suddenly, stepping forward; "the
knife is sharp"
The warning came too late: the keen
hade had flashed through the tough
| fibres, and penetrated Mays white, slender
| finger.
1t was not very serious cut, but suffi-
ciently 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
30, dearest y he exclaimed, in concern
| 'why did you not permit me-"
because" answered May, a little pale,
III said no one should touch this branch
hut myself, Tom. and no one shall.
But see ! and she held the holly towards
him-"there is blood upon it. and it is a
bad omen"
He glanced at the bough. and truly,
fallen on it, as bright as the berries them
selves. were the crimson drops.
bad open, 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 asked.
because, Tom, you are, believe, the
| best-tempered man | ever knew, but"
| 'ButP' he questioned, fondly regard
ing her.
81 am sure you love me so truly that,
were you jealous of any one, imagine
that you would not be answerable for
your actions"
He caught her in his arms, and pressed
| kiss on her smooth cheek.
my darling you are right" he replied,
axynIu in lie ~
should lose you, or another was seeking
to win you from me, think l should
either kill Kim or myself"
Now you are talking pure nonsense.
Tom. Let us 60 in," 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 en-
| circled its highest gables. But, even dur
ing the embrace, May had kept the holly
branch from coming in contact with
Thomas Mildmay, and did so still. Was
this an omen, toor'
| CHAPTER
| The clear winters morning had given
place to bleak, wintry night, and the
snow dashed sharp and cutting into the
iace of the rector and his old pupil John
Westmacott, as they whirled along the
| dreary Scottish road from the railway STA
| ton to the rectory.
"Now, Doctor" exclaimed Jack, mer-
| rily. "let me take the reins while YOU tell
| the news. Remember the road ? Ave,
every stone OF it. as il l had travelled it
but yesterday. How kind it was of you
on such night to come and meet me.
How jolly feel to see old Caithness again.
What song is that May used to sing about
there being no place like home. Neither
is there. And how is May ?-bless her
heart Older, OF course; and pretty,
| will swear"
well, all the change you will find in
her, Jack. is for the better and have
one piece of news that will surprise you.
perhaps, but l think l will leave il for
May herself to tell. or your own eyes to
read.