Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-26
Grandfather Denslow was gone. With.
CHAPTER ".

".
Like a weird romano untangled, the
broken threads in the experience Of Claire
Denslow that mystic Christmas eve were
all supplied ere another day had dawned.
She understood all, as with little Elinor
and her mother, at Christmas noon they
fastened down the clif-side ladden with
holly and evergreen and mistletoe bough.
Joy had taken all the palor from that
lovely face, the haunted eyes were radiant,
and her happy heart was singing.
1t was Leslie Fenton she had rescued
from the ravine. her mourned lover, re-
turned from shipwreck and a terrible cast
away experience, poor as when he had left
her, but true, manly, with stanch heart
and stout hands ready to battle the world
once more.
The voices Claire had heard outside the
hut belonged to the villagers, and they
told her as they removed Leslie to The
CedarS that Grandfather DenSlow had sent
them and was himself safely housed at the
town.
And now at noon Leslie, weak and pale
from his terrible experience in the ravine,
but restored to consciousness. sat In the
little parlor of the manse awaiting the
return of the trio he had insisted on
sending forth for Christmas trimmings,
as he placed the gold coins in little Elm
or's palm.
What does this mean?"
A gruf voice spoke the demand and
Gurdon Alymer appeared at the door of
the room u~nannounced, and scowled
darkly at the array of wreaths and holly
sprays.
1T means that l have returned-too
poor to redeem the domain your treacher-
Gus arts have stolen, but fully able to pro-
tect and support the woman | wed to-
night and her devoted friends"
Heavens! You alive?"
White to the lips the money-lender re-
coiled as he recognized the man he had
thought to send to his death the night
previous.
Eyes; no thanks to your murderous kind
ness. Go, miscreant and assassin. The
law allows Mrs. Denslow a months possess
sion of her home, whatever your claim. By
that time we all will have removed to a
humber but quite as happy a home. Go;
this is yet her house"
The discounted Alymer bit his lips.
Very well, my money or my property"
he ground out. Il will show no mercy
Your money! Mr.. Alymer, what is your
claim? %
The m~oney-Iender started. A new voice
had spoken. Turning he recognized a vii
lag0 lawyer and by his side quivering with
ome extraordinary excitement, stood
Grandfather Denslow.
What is that to you?" he demanded
surlily.
Nothing; but my client, Mr.. Denslow,
wishes to redeem The Cedars."
"Eh! he redeem it, sneered Alymer.
Yes, responded the lawyer. Justice
has favored his u at last. He last
night received a letter settling the long and
costly litigation he has been engaged in,
for the sum of ten thousand dollars. He
will pay you your mortgage, dollar for dol
lar, whenever it is presented to him."
Like the craven he was, the baffied Ayl-
mer skunk from the house.
Then it was given over to JOY. festivity,
and love, and at eventide the village bells
chimed out a happy wedding peal.
The old halls rang again with merry
jollity, the windows glowed with many
lights, and all the dark shadows and sor-
rows of the past were lost and buried IN
der the gratitude, the happiness of that
blissful Christmas dayi