The Holly chieftain., 1901-02-22

risd, fot tkesiWeAdiag was Axsd for
the last day In November. This Il
the arst of the month. 20, n ali il well,
they are married. Can you believe It,
Leila? And. child. Temple-Dens u
saved. Her money will redeem the
dear old home. Oh. how good God
is!"
Lady James voice ended in . chok-
ing sound. She was honestly, from
her very heart, sending up = thanks
giving for what she thought crown
ing mercy.
Tho words rang through the brain
of the listener.
God was possibly good to some folk
to Aunty Jane. for instance. and to
the happy Eirl-heiress whose gold had
bought up Leila's own heritage; but
God seemed terribly cruel to her. He
had stripped and robbed her OF all
that made life sweet and fair. SO
Leila sat dumb. twisting her slim,
small fingers together on her lap; and
Lady Janesn jubilant voice went ON In
her ears. .iNr.t
"Such ..etter, my dear; brimful Of
all particulars and details. Every
thing wanted to know Is set down
clearly. Dear boy, what head he
has for business! The settlements are,
most gener,us-quite extraordinary. II
she dies without heirs. everything alb
solutely gots to Gervis; II he dies nrst,
Temple-Dene is hers, supposing there
is no heir. So In any case Temple
tm
granted" ..o
ut seems to BE- good bargain for
both" t5a5as
Leila spoke at last. and her voice
sounded harsh and bitter, though the
elder lady did not notice 1t. ~
"A splendid bargain" she was re-
peating, in all innocence. And. you
see, Gervis was able to arrange the.
settlements himself without delaying,
for I suppose you know, Leila that,
Temple-Dene Is already. the dear boys
own by mortgage. All his uncle's
money left to Gervis was swallowed
up in 1t when he came of age; but
that was, after all, drop In the ocean
Of debts and dificulties.
However, all that misery is now at
an end. This dear girls wealth will
set the old place on its fest. Ny poor
husbands life is frail thread now,
nigh spun out: but Gervis will see 70
It that my future Is an assured one.
And. Of course, that in its turn touches
yourself and little Syb. My home
shall be yours always. So. Leila, the
good news travels in a widening cir
Gle, and reaches one and all of u.s."
Lady Jane laid her hand on the
girls shoulder, but Leila shrank away
quickly.
Il shall be able now to take you
out. my dear. You shall see the world
and marry well. shall manage that,
never doubt it. Oh. how life has
changed all in an hour! can scarce
" realize 1t that all the money wor-
ries are to be smoothed out. But my
poor Francis! II he could only have
held out as I have done. Indeed, he
| Will not even comprehend the glad
news when l carry 1t to him. Leila,
they say there's black shadow TO
evsry joy. What if-what II my poor
husbands mind goes altogether? It
would be better far II God took him!"
Lady Jane stood up, shuddering
with horror.
Il must 30 to him-Francis must be
told" With rustic Of her faded silk
skirts she left the room; but Leila sat
on, clasDing and unclasping her an-
gers ceaselessly.
Gervis married! For this Girl the
end OF the world has come, then. To
another belonged the right Of loving
her lover. Yes, he had been hers. OF
that, at least. she could never be rob-
bed. Leila, hurt and ''sorrow-shot"
TO the soul, felt bitter and sore.
For the last couple Of years-sve,
since the girl awoke TO the knowledge
that Gervis loved her-life had been
dream Of happiness. into which no
ray Of doubt had crept. Then came
tho crash Of all fair hopes in the
knowledge that the love-dream must
end. And now Gervis was married.
With moan Leila would have risen
from the couch. but pair Of soft
arms held her down.
Darling sis." breathless, quick
voice said. Il know! have heard
the news. Aunty has just told me. i
could kill him. could! 1 hope all
the sorrows and srisfs In the world
will come upon him and her, too.
h<us.n thAv vvlyy ~ ,,ut, vnn,, .~,.- .Ax~ .,