Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-12-13

not mine own to offerY Does ne know
the truth now, / wonder2 and has he
forgiven me9n
Another and another Christmas came
and went Three years had passed since
Nellie Green had learned her hearts
secret, when one morning by her plate
at breakfast she found note addressed
in Cousin Ada's well known hand:
eve are going into the country again for
Christmas-not gay party, as we were be
fore, but just one or two grave people like
ourselves. If but for auld lang syne's sake,
dear child, will you not join usF Remember,
Iaccept no refusal.
Should she go? Nellie asked herself.
Why notl What comparison could be
drawn between the gay, happy girl Of
three years before, and this sad-eyed
woman still wearing her widows weedsG
Beside, Jack Vernon was a soldier still,
and his regiment was far away.
So Cousin Ada had her way; but some
times Nellie was sorry that she had
yielded. Old memories were awakened
that had been sleeping; old longings she
had thought long buried in their graves.
More than ever they pressed upon her as
she watched the Christmas dawn break.
AS once before, she stole down the
stairs, the first astir except the servants,
and stood upon the threshold of the
library. She might enter now unchal-
lenged.
With sad, sweet smile she threw
open the door, and stepped within the
room, only to stagger back, faint
scream upon her lips.
Had she conjured up some wrath of
the past? For there with his hand
some brown eyes straight staring into
hers, a ahaughty, cruel smile upon his lips,
stood Jack Vernon.
$50 this is the trick Mrs. Edwards
has played me, he said, when she sum
moned me here for the Christmas
season2 You see old memories were too
strong for me. Ionly arrived last night
after the household had retired. Yet
this morning came into this room.
heard the names of all the guests. Yours
was not mentioned
''You did not know, perhaps, my mar
ried name?" she murmured.. GAS you
say, it was a cruel trick; but believe
me. have been no party to it. Had I
dreampt of meeting you, should never
have come. y
He laughed sardc nically.
'fYou think it necessary to impress
that fact upon me?n he asked. "Why
not tell me at once you would avoid me
as you would shun the plague9 Have
you not already despised and trodden
on my hearta see2 you are standing
under the mistletoel Are you not afraid
may claim the forfeit2
1t is you who are cruel now" she
answered. ''You asked me once for
Christmas gift. Let me claim one from
you. I meant TO do you no wrong.
Grant me your forgiveness"
IF l told you forgaye you, should
lie" he said. II loved you, but l was
poor, and the man you married had
money. He was old, they tell me, and
you could not have cared for him. You
sold yourself, then, for his gold?n
sIdid not love him, no, she whispered,
inreply THAT I did not, will be my life
long remore, for he was good and tender
and true to me; but it was not quite my
fault. 1t is not for you to reproach me
with it-you, who
She stopped, her voice shaken by sobs.
q, who once before was your dupe,
do you wish to make me so second
timer Well, take your triumph. Stand
ing there, and knowing you false as you
are fair, my arms ache TO enfold you,
my lips burn to call you by every fond,
endearing name, my soul cries out in its
hungry greed for your possession For
the second time l throw you my heart,
to trample under your feet as once
crushed under mine the mistletoe.n
A strange light came into her eyes.
she slipped her hand within the breast
of her dress, and drew out a little bag
from which she took tiny sprig of
withered green.
" seeln she said, holding it before him,
and laying one little hand upon his sleeve;
you crushed it, but | loved it better
crushed than living. 1t has lain, night
and day, ON my heart, Jack Oh, will
you not forgive me now2"
VIII the nlistletoe tel what followed?
I think not, though the bright green
boughs laughed in triumph and even the
poor little withered sprig smiled that its
mission at last was ended
But, after all, il was 60 Cousin Ada
that the real victory belonged
Such an opportunity to turn match
she whispered to her confden.
tial friends-''I really couldn't resist the
temptation.'
For all of which, two hearts at least
are most devoutly thankful.
The Quaker Bonnet