Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-25
CHAPTER LII.

Ioa-1 ny, oHuS WltnouG WOFu, NOISE
iessly departed.
CHAPTER III.
~, nc mistletoe hung in the castle hall,
nv holly branch shone on the old oak wall;
Ana the baron's retainers were blthe and
gay,
And keeping their Christmas holiday.
On the mlstletoe bough; oh, the mistletoe
bOughw
sang Edith Barwick, as she fastened a
branch OF mistletoe. with its waXen ber-
res, beneath the chandelier Christmas
eve. Holding the bough carefully she
knotted the corn-colored ribbon on one
slOe, and then, as il struck by a sudden
thought, cried out:
Look. mother, the pope's golden rose
toe bough."
The plain little parlor was transformed
INTO bower of beauty by screens of deli
cate vines, gemmed with holly. From the
celllng waved masses OF gray Southern
moss. Between the two windows hung
the picture of handsome. black-eyed
man, IN full uniform. A silken flag was
draped above him; among its folds
cleaned a silver anchor. The staff Of this
banner was drawn sword.
A ship under fun sail, floating the stars
and stripes, completed the short history
OF a brave life and a heroic death. Di-
rectly opposite hung a portrait dim with
age. The face was noble. Every feature
pore the impress of the lofty spirit within.
Rather and son seemed gazing into each
others faces this Christmas eve.
a Whlte-halred woman, whose face bore
traces OF great beauty, entered the room.
she started with surprise and pleasure at
the beautiful vision. For 1t all seemed
Ike vision to her weary eyes. She
gazed at her son, the flag, the ship, then
turning to view her husband she seemed
amazed and asked Edith:
why did you not adorn your fathers
pictureT7
Il will, mother dear; see my treasure"
and she opened a large box and raised to
view magnificent wreath of white roses.
"Oh, how beautifulP' she exclaimed,
as Edith held the flowers in one corner of
the frame. Her mother drew nearer, and
In voice tremulOus with emotion said:
Give me one Of the roses, think | will
20 to my rOom.' The girl understood
her mothers thoughts. Gently she
drew an exquisite rose from the cluster,
held it for moment to her fathers lips,
and silently placed the token in her
mothers hand.
Neither spoke word.
The door opened and closed; the girl
was left alone. Slowly she walked to the
centre of the room. Her eyes carefully
noted every object. The delicate beauty
of the room filled her with delight. The
light, mellOwed by the gray moss fell
upon her hair, furnishing it's soft waves.
Her dark eyes glowed like stars, the proud
face grew tender, and her lips tremulous
with emotion as her eyes rested at last
upon the white roses in her hand. How
we'll she remembered that perfect day in
luna ruhnr1 vyffh HARDWOOD Nv har.
side, the low carriage had carried them
past waving fields of grain and through
the green gloom of the forest. Suddenly
emerging by the wavside stood deserted
house. The yard was choBd with weeds,
but in the midst of the desolation stood a
rose bush loaded with bloom. She re-
membered how lightly Allan HARDWOOD
sprang over the broken fence, gathered
multitude of the flowers, and laid them in
her lap, murmuring: "Give to me one
sweet rose and you may take the rest"
''Oh, my darling, where are you to-
nightW
As if in answer to her question, an ca
ger voice cried: "Edithw
Allan Harwood stood before her. "Here
am, my darling"
''Thsnk GodW There was such thrill
in her voice that the very stars must have
heard and sung for joy.
Allan folded her in his arms. His head
touched something above. s'LoOk, my
darling, it is the mistletce bough."
At last, seated side by side, talking
quietly, Edith said: ''Ah, Allan, some
one who was friend Of my father sent
me a Christmas present of 81, 900. A gen.
tleman brought the money in an ebony
box. and then the-well, / must show it
to you perhaps you can solve the mys-
terry"
"Not tonight. my darling" he an
swered, 81 want nothing but you to-
night"
sSThe money saved my lie, for despair
had seized me. Tonight | am the hap
piest girl in the world. How strange it's
that Allan Bird should have thought Of
me-"
"whoever it was" he replied, land
whatever his reason, we will never forget
that his friendship for your father has
made us both supremely happy"
"My dear, have carried this for ten
pears. In foreign lands it has been my
talisman."
Detaching from his watch chain half of
crystal heart, he placed 1t in her hand,
"Will YOU take this, and give me your
own sweet self forever and for aye"
For answer, Edith drew from its rest
ingplace the other half of the trinket.
Uniting the two, she laid her hand in his
own.
'My love shall be like this crystal, pure
and undivided.
why did Allan Harwood's face flush
and palel
"My darling" he said, burriedly, held
ing closely her hand and the trinket, "my
darling, have a confession TO make. DO
not be angry with me-" he pleaded, "but
your crystal heart must not be clouded by
me. am Allan Bird. / wrote that will.
/ sent you that money. l am your fathers
friend"
Edith rose to her feet; her face was
"Yo1 are Allan Bird! You deceived
mew
edith, listen. My mothers maiden
name was Bird. Ny name is Allan Bird
Harwood. / could not see you struggling
so desperately without coming TO y ar re-
lief, and well knew you would accept IL
in no other way. II was only Christ
mas present. Forgive me, darling, II !
have wounded you. Bolieve me, / love
YOU with my whole heart"
The girl hesitated n moment. Her eyes
were full OF tears. Fer face was suddenly
Hooded with the light OF a perfect trust.
II tOrgive,v she whispered.
Listen, my darling, 70 the Christmas
chimes. To-day we will he united, and
on this very spot where l first saw you
standing, under the mistletoe bough."
Bls Real Name.
Two little maids from school, who had evil
DENLY not drank very deeply from the Pierian