The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-20


left the she'd Slowly had she To proceed
at first; for the men were before her. But
in q while they struck off, as she knew
they would, across the fields, which now
surtounded the moor; and she, keeping the
road, which she now recognized, regard
less Of the cold, sped on to the Chase.
ltvas fully mile distant, and before
she had traversed two-thirds tall, ghostly
figure doomed out Of the snow gloom, aud
came toward her.
FiFst Ruth's heart beat quickly, then it
gavoa'throb Of joy, for she perceived it
was the mounted patrol Running for
ward, she caught his bride, and eagerly
recited her story. Mr. Ayeline, Of the
Chase, was a man universally respected,
and the patrol at once tarned his horses
head.
The lodge gates were reached, and the
keeper aroused; soon Ruth and her com
panion were fastening up the avenue. A
light shoue through the fanlight at the cn
trance; the girl, springiug forward, knock
cd rOpen-open the door for ihe love
Of Heaven she cried. ..a -a5. e..
I In second the bolts were drawn, it
was thrown wide open, and young man
stood there.
arthur p she calculated, tottering for
ward. "Your brother has been thrown
from his chase, and hurt. Go to him.
He is in the shed on the moor n
/ She could say no more; she did not
hear his cry Of surprise, but sank, insensl-
bic, into his readily extended arms.
When she came to she was on a couch,
in bright, warm room, with Agatha Av-
cline bending over her.
"Mr. Bryan-the thieves ?" she gasped
lnterrogatively.
"My brother is saved, Ruth, and the
burglars secured. But"
"My mother?" interrupted tho girl.
"Tho crisis was passed this afternoon.
She is out of danger. She will recover.
"Thank Heavcnl' exclaimed Ruth,
feryently, as she sank back into an insen.
sibilty which ended in deep sleep.
Twelfth night-oId Christmas Day. Yes,
/ here it was.
The Avelino family had, as waa their
/ custom, proposed to spend ii with jolity
and fun. Even the elderly were once
more to be as children. Fortunately there
were no sad results from the events which
\ had taken place on old Christmas Eve to
prevent this,
Ruth's sweet oountenanoe was among
the merry faces, for Mrs. Fordsham was
so much better that she would not have
4 her refuse Mr. Avelines entreaty to be
present.
There was the sideboard groaning under
the ancient plate coveted by the burglars
aud there was Bryan, looking strangely
happy and grotesque as magician, for 4
was his office to convert the little card
numbers drawn from Mays bag into won
drous prizes from the Christmas Tree.
All that was a Christmas Tree ! How
the childrens eyes sparkled, how they
elappcd their hands aud laughed, for Bry
an had said there was lucky number
which was to get the best prize Of all.
But, Bryan" said May, as she helC
the bag to young gentleman with whom
at diuner, she had been flirting most des
perately, 'yOu have not told us what nun
Der it is 2"
"No, Mademoisellc Fanfaronda that i
my concern. Attend to your bag. Wal
up-walk up, ladies aud gentlemoni olc
and young, dip into this uuprecedente,
lucky bag which contains all prizes an,
no blanks"
There was such pushing, so mucl
laughter, and such delight over the won
deriul dolls and gems that all forgot th'
lucky number, or, perhaps, thought the,
possessed il; and none perceived wheI
Ruth, who was the last, whispered he
number, and Bryan merely gave her |
small, silveredged envelope, which had
cleaned like wedding.fayor on the yer,
apex of the tree Nobody saw the lool
that accompanied it, nor that Ruth retired
wisely, to the little ante-room to open It
What she found inside we're these words
"Dear Ruth, or rather Sister
4 II have learned all--your love for Ar
thur, his for you. have seen my father
4 and won bis consent to your union. Ac
cept il, on this day of Christmas, from m,
hands. BRYAN AyELINE.
As, blushing, happy, the girl read, sh'
found the brothers by her side.
"Ruth, said Bryan, do not think tha
| have ceased to love you; on the contrary
love you better than ever-so well tina
your happiness is dearer than my own
And your happiness, "he added, putin.
bis hand 10 his brothers, dis with him.
ooh, Bryan l-and YOU" cried Arthur
! "Haye, at this most fit Of all ft period
Of the year, learned lesson Of unselish
moss never shall forget. Don't look glum
am happier tonight than | have beer
for months
"Bryan--Ruth-Arty, why arc yot
here r cried May, peeping iO. "Sir RogeI
dc Coverley is waiting for you"
"All right We will attend the mos
worthy Of all knights" laughed her broth
or. snow, Arthur and Ruth, you shal
see how will prove my words.
A few minutes after, Ruth was curtsey
ing TO Bryan, or flying from her coruel
between two rows Of merry faces, with ex
tended hands to meet him to be whirled
/ round, then to fly back again, and as he
did sous she beheld his genuine mirth
faucied she was in dream-that be could
never be the same who had left her only
twenty-iour hours back to perish on the
moor. s8 M
But itwas no dream Dreams never
had iu them such fun and revelry as made
the walls Of the Chase echo that night
Then, standing in a mighty ring, one hand
clasped ia his or her neighbor's, all waited
for the stroke Of ftwelve. e
| As il rang forth, forty voices, old and
young, bade with parting health, fare,
well TO dear, genial old Christmas, prom
ising as hearty q welcome when he, the
kind old fitnd leehds & sain.nexf year.
TAfsD tits not Safe. a ea -
1 III man o,,xhk A haoa f,un1 ant b,,