The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-12-22
UGT A1I.F EF22


seech likewise, the boon shall be to
them ALSO With that IS. Peter and
Paul departed, and Sir Amyas gat him
to his own country, where he raised a
fair chapel. So this gentle knight and
those of his loins who came after, even
to this very day, have gifts from SIS.
Peter and Paul, so be it, as they crave
the same upon the Holy Eve of Christ
mas our Lord, to Whom be all praise
and glory"
"Therc, father" cried Herry, closing
the book, ''if you 50 to Tawleigh
Chapel tonight and pray to the good
saints they may give you back the
Court
~ am afraid not, child,' replied her
father, with sigh; "our Christmas
Luck is thing of the past"
'Did you ever try, father?'
"No, child, there would be no sense
in trying"
This Herry did not believe, and
wondered why her father had not i'm.
plicit trust in the two chief Saints of
the Holy Church. To call upon them
for aid, to remind them of their prom
ise to Sir Amyas, and to ask for the
desired boon at the foot of Tawleigh
chapel altar-these things, in Uerry's
opinion, were necessary to avert the
threatened calamity. In her little bed
that night the child wept at the thought
of leaving the fair green country for
smoky London, and prayed to IS.
Peter and Paul that they would per-
form the miracle of the Christmas Luck
But at the present moment there
seemed to be no hope that her prayers
would be granted. Nevertheless Herry
continued to offer supplications for the
occurrence of the impossible.
Unexpectedly most astonishing
idea entered her mind, and she sat up
in bed with throbbing heart and quick
ened pulse Toni ght was Christmas
Eve. when, according to tradition, the
boon should be asked. Tawleig h
Chapel was no great distance away;
and, as Ierry knew, there was mid
night celebration of the Mass. Why
should she not slip out of the house
unknown to her parents, and when the
service was ended remain behind to
ask that the Christmas Luck should
be given to the Tawleighs in their
present straits? Then-IIerry had
small doubt-the good saints would so
influence the heart of John Kilvert
that he would give back the Court to
her father. There would be no need
then for the migration to London, and
the cares and troubles of the family
would be at an end. So Herry consid-
cred in her childish faith, and, with a
heroism worthy of an older person, she
proceeded to put her plan into execu-
tion. She looked upon this midnight
petition as cure for all evils.
In silence, and without waking her
brother and sister, the little heroine
dressed herself with trembling fingers
and putting on cloak and hat, went
downstairs. The clock in tie hal.
chimed 1 as she passed by the door of
her parents bedroom, and paused for
a moment to listen to their tranquil
breathing. In her stockinged feet
Herry stole through the dark passage,
feeling her way to the kitchen. Here
she unbolted the back door with noise
less haste, and soon found herself
trembling on the snowy road and fully
committed to the adventure. The dis
tant bell Of Tawleigh chapel seemed to
invite her to the quest, and Herry,
with beating heart, rar down the road
in the direction of the Great Park.
"For fathers sake!" said she as she
sped along; "for fathers sake!' The
snow lay white upon the ground, but
overhead there was no cloud in the sky,
and like diamonds the stars scintillatcd
in the frosty night. No one was
abroad, and 1Ierry, dark little figure,
tripped lightly along the snowy high
way. A chill and wintry moon scared
over the hills and flooded the Artic
landscape with pale radiance. The
park gates, by reason of the midnight
Mass, were open; and through them
ran Herry, turning to the right, where
Tawleigh Chapel loomed amid the leaf
less trees. 1t was an architectural
gem, built by Sir Amyas in honor Of
his vision; and at the altar thereof was
the request of his small descendant to
be made. Surely never had so tiny a
petitioner gone on so strange an errand,
and with such profound faith
AS many of the Tawleigh tenants
were Of the true faith, there was quite
a congregation in the little church.
Herry slipped into an empty scat near
the door and saw the glories of the high
altar, at which Father Vaux officiated
in splendid robes. The tall tapers
burnt steadily in the still air; an odor
of incense was waited down the aisle,
and the golden crucifix upon the altar
glittered gloriously in the blaze of
splendor. At intervals the organ
| breathcd melodious music, and the
voices of an unseen choir responded to
the intoning Of the priest. At length
the silver ha11 fin 1a1 thin1x- tho ria;blo