The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-21

CHAPTER VII.


It was Christmas Eve, and true old
fashioned Christmas weather.
The country round Temple-Dene
was glittering with hoar-frost, every
tree shining and sparkling in the sun,
every pond and stream and pool fast
bound in ice.
The low, red sun of the afternoon
was shining full on the old house, sur
rounded by the frost-silvered pines,
and its many windows twinkled a
brilliant welcome to the expected heir
and his bride.
There had been a great stir, a SIM
mer Of wild excitement, under the old
roof during the weeks preceding
Christmas.
Lady Jane had done wonders in
freshening up the furnished and faded
glories of the home. She had a free
hand, to be sure, in her wholesale i'm
provements; for could not Gervis af-
ford to pay any amount Of bills that
might ensue?
eff 1 could only up poor dear
Francis, before they come home" the
busy lady said, energetically.
But the master of Temple-Dene was
the sole member Of the house indiffer-
ent to the advent of the heir and his
bride. Amid the turmoil of prepara-
ton he sat listless and silent in his
library, "the world forgetting, by the
world forgot"
If it had not been for Leila Des-
po0pI ~ would have 20 nod ;11 fou kL1
stricken nan The ge%ntle-natured
girl, with heart full of womanly in
stincts, felt irresistibly drawn to tho
lonely, silent man. He and she had "
grief in common, and it bound them
together. 1t was only at the sound Of
Leila's sweet voice, and the touch o.
Leila's tender hand, that Francis Ten
pleton ever stirred from his trance of
misery.
But even Leila could not make the
unhappy mar comprehend that Tenn
ple-Dene was saved, nor could he take
in the meaning Of the light-hearted
preparations going on around.
I'm glad, glad, that Uncle Francis
doesn't care, that he won't care!" said
little syb almost v~iciously to her elder
sister.
The misshapen girl looked on almost
as gloomily at the hurry and fuss as
did the master of the house. She
clenched her thin little fingers every
time the bland, ~self-satisf1ed tones. Sc
new in Lady James voice. fell on her
ear.
Little Syb"-Leila turned her wist.
full eyes on the girl-"it hurts me when
you speak SOL"
Hurts you? Oh, / could beat you
Leila, If I didn't love you 80 dreadful
ly that / should kill anyone who struck
you! Hurt you? Oh. why were you
made SO good and / made 80 bad? AL
the time I am wishing that some &C.
cident will happen to those two-s
shipwreck or q railway collision-and
that they will never, never reach Tenn.
ple-Dene!"
"Syb!" again cried Leila. And thi.
time she gathered the distorted littl.
figure on her lap. and laid her OWL
soft round cheeks against the passion
white lips. what has come to you
my dear one? Have you forgotten
that Love worketh no Ill to thii
neighbor, therefove love is the fulfill
ing Of the law? How can you 'pu
on the lord Jesus Christ who die
for you and me, and for those who ar,
coming home to us. il you let yourself
say Such things? I know 1t is onl!
sayins them-I cannot believe 20,
think them" Leiia's fresh mouth
kissed the angry eyes.
But l do think them! I feel what
SAY. Leila, what right has that Amer.
lean gin to take your Geryis from you:
Everybody knows 1t was you he want.
ed III Ihe time, not any other. And