The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-01
CHAPTER MI.

30 Sne wore ncr nearI ana Ier IllC
away. longing only for death, that, dy-
ing, she might see him again.
CHAPTER MI.
"Peace on earth" rang .he Christmas
bells-"Peace on earth, good WI. toward
men" The music came pealing over the
snow, stirring mems hearts with the
warmth of love. 1t was such a Christ
mas as had not been seen for years, SO
bright, so clear, so frosty. The country
people said strange things must happen,
for the holy was so full of berries.
Queens Chace was unusually CAV.
Outside in the deep woods the snow lay
thick and white, the evergrcens stood
ont Ike huge seI;.ne.s Tie dainty laurel
caves held little nests of snow, the fir
raised its head with stately air, for
King Christmas never came in without
it The world was so fair and 50 bright;
great :cicles hung like huge diamonds
from the trees and the hedges.
Lord Alton had arrived, and was so
cngrossed with his fair young love that
Lady Bran on had ceased to expect any
thing from him. He had been, like
every one else, alarmed when he saw
Veronica. Her pale, shadowly lowell
ness had startled him, and many OF the
whispered words between Katherine
and himself were about her. On that
Christmas night she looked more beauti-
ful than ever. by Lady Brandon's de-
sire she wore dress OF costly black vel
vet, with n suite of suberb rubies; but
the white rounded arms had grown thin,
and there was a shadow over her beauty.
She was sitting watching Katheriue's
bright face, Eus9.ed into greater bright
ness by her lovers words when one os
the footmcn coming to her said, in {
mysterious undertone-
"lou are wanted, Miss di Cynthia"
"Wanted?' she repeated. where
Who wants me -
81 cannot say, miss some one who has
message for yos; some one who Is wait
ing Tor you in the library"
Veronica had some poor pensioners TO
whom on this Christmas Day she had
been most liberal; it was one OF those
come to thank her, no doubt. 1t was
not nice time TO choose and she
wondered just little why the servants
should show such one i3:o the library.
She rose AMI quilted the room; rs she
passed through the broad corr. lor she
stopped for 4 nom ent and looked through
the windows at the lovely Christmas
nigh;-at the moon shining on the White
snow, and the shadows Of the great
sway.ng boughs. In the faint far distance
she heard is.c bells OF Hurstwood church.
Peace on EARTH" they were Ginning
"cood-w:I toward men" Then she re-
memtered the poor pensioner waiting,
AMI went on TO the library.
She WAS surprised to find the room
badly lighted. There was a ruddy ow
OF r:elight, and one lamp was burning
dimly; but it was a large. long room, and
the other half of il WIS full Of soft, dark
shadows She entered and stood for
| some minutes in Silent expectation 4;
there was no sound, no movement, and
she never glanced TO where ne soft dark
shadows lay. The red freight fell full
upon her fragile beauty, on the SENDER
figure and the wt-te, wasted arms on
| the beautiful, passionate, restless face,
I and the rubies tnat CLEANED on her
white throat. Presently from where the
dark, soft shadows lay came sigh. She
looked up.
"Who is that >" she demanded. 'Is
anyone hcre-anyone VINO wants TO sec
L.
III, sba -.or,al oIrur.Iv opJ ct1oI
rooted to the ground, a low cry on her
/ lips and 4 pain as bitter rs death in her
| heart surely 4 figure she knew was
! coming to her from out of the soft, dark
( shadows! shc held up her hands us
/ though 10 ward of an evil prcscnce, and
then they fell by her side as she uttered
! 4 low, passionate cry.
1t was hc-shc had made no mistake
it was Mare Caryll, the man sine loved
] better than her life, the man whose stern
/ decision was killing her. They stood in
the rcd gov OF the freight looking Al
each other, but she saw there WAS nc
sternncss in his face now-Eo,h:ES but
passionate love, passionate pity, and
bl:n Eng tears. 21
ANY darling, my beautiful! sweetheart
have been the cause OF this.?'' he said
touching the wasted arms. "Have
! been the cause of this, Veronica ?"
81 thought l was never TO see yoI
again" she "a. family. Are you sorry
that you we:c quite so hard? Have yo,
come to tel me so ?''
Her words seemed to recall him Il
himself.
q have to tell you that was mad
mana blind maimanr' he cried. :"
hate mysc.i so utterly for my folly
Veronica. My darling my noble, gen
erous darling, L know why you burne
the will"
She clasped her hands with a mur
INJURED word he did not hear.
~ know why it was, and blame my
self for my great folly" he continued
al ought TO have understood ought {
have known that you were incapable {
anything wicked. l deserve to lose yo
for not having understood you better"
She raised her face to his.
"You cannot know why 1 dcstroye
it." she said. Even the wicked woma
who saw me burn it did not know th
reason"
''She did not, but / do. Are you su
prised? Veronica, see what this hs
told me-"
He came near her, and. taking a pap,
from his pocket, uniolded it; and the
she saw the charred fragments of til
will.
T.ook on this side first" he sal,
"Here are the words-'l.ast will an
testament of Sir Jasper Brandon II
/ u-ap,o, raaI .bncn -