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

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she turned aside into the library.
She had imagined herself tie first
conner; but here somebody was before her
somebody who sprang up from table,
where he was half-hidden behind news
paper, and coming eagerly forward, caught
her by both hands
Fairly wonl" cried the gay voice she
knew so well. 'fFirst under the mistle-
toe, Miss Nellie. l claim my reward"
And he stopped as if about to press a
kiss upon her lips. She drew back,
flushing crimson.
Don't, Mr.. Vermont she said. sT-
did not remember
He laughed, then. It was long ere any
one heard such merry boyish laugh
issue again from Jack Vernon's lips.
did you think l would steal what
you would not give me willingly, Neliie?n
he asked, and his voice now was grave
and tender, as he went on. Gift up
your face, then, little girl, and let me
taste the sweetness of your lips. 1t is
Christmas day. Have you no gift TO
offer me, my darling! There is only one
I crave. Give it to me with your kiss.
Fulfill the promise of the mistletoe. It
is yourself-child! What have said9
what has happeneda"
For Nellie, pale and gasping, stretched
out one trembling hand to the table for
support, and held ont the other as
though in warding him off she kept
something terrible and terrifying at
bay.
is my love so repulsive to you2" he
asked, reproachfully. Have indeed
so cruelty deceived myself9"
''It is my fault all my fault" the girl
found voice to whisper then, I-I
should have told you. Ialready am en-
gagged am to be married in the spring" :"
'sYou engaged You TO be married in
the spring. And you have let your
great brown eyes lock into mine 40
though I might read down, down into
your SOUL Tell me you are jesting,
Nelliel For Gods sake, end this cruel
farcem
81 cannot-I dare not It is too
true. Oh, spare me your reproachesl
did not dream OF this.
He laughed then, but, oh, how differ
emily it sounded! 1t was cruel,
mocking laugh, all uniting the Christ
mas sunshine.
''Flirt coquetr' he muttered. "And l
thought you such child-such sweet,
innocent, soulful child-that marveled
how l dared attempt to whiten my own
life that might unite it with yoursl''
Then ere she had OWNED his intention
he had sprung upon chair, snatched
down the mistletoe from where it had
hung over the door, and stamped and
crushed it beneath his feet.
SIZE covered her white face with her
two little trembling hands.
When she took them down he had
gone, and only the bruised and broken
leaves told her of the scene through
which she had passed.
STOPPING, she picked up tiny sprig,
and covering it with kisses flew with It,
sobbing, to her room.
A few hours later she opened her door
to admit her hostess and cousin.
'-What is all this, Nellie2" asked Mrs.
Edwards ".Jack Vernon comes to bid
me goodbye in a great hurry; and when
question the cause of his abrupt de-
parture he tells me to come to you And
here I have fancied you two were in love
with each other, and so admirably suited
in every way. 1t is too bad What does
it all meanr'
1T means something. ! see now |
ought TO have told you before, Cousin
Ada. 1t means that / am en- yaged to be
married to another man-and, oh, help
and pity me | am 50 unhappy.
''lt means that you didn't know your
own heart, or its existence, until Jack
Vernon taught you the lesson. Acknowl-
edge that, Nellie. Break off this foolish
engagement-such bonds are far better
broken than kept-and let me send for
Jack to come back
II can't! I can'tlr sobbed the girl.
II am to marry Harold Green, Cousin
Ada, and he holds the mortgage on all
rapa's property. have given my word;
must keep it. / did not know how
hard It would be: but that is no excuse.
Only let me go away, Cousin Ada. It's
the kindest thing you can dc now, I
ought never to have como. -
So the Christinss party lost two Of their
number; but if any suspected, only Cousin
Adm knew the truth, and bluster and
scold Nellie as she might, she kept
the poor child's secret, but sighed
heavily as, one one W lek afterward, she
read that Jack Vernon had rejoined his
regiment in the far West; and little
later the same paper held the printed
announcement of that which engraved
cards lying in her basket already had
predicted the marriage of Nellie
Arden to Harold Green.
He was grave, stern man, this Harold
Green. but he fondly loved his young
wife, and though he sometimes won
dered why she 50 rarely smiled, he could
find no fault with the gentle Tenderness
she alwas showed him.
''You have made me very happy, dar
ling" he whispered to her, one little
vaar later when thew bore him IN his