The Holly chieftain., 1901-02-22
{ CHAPI&R I. i

good to be trse! BY this tine th1ys
must BE- mazried. and Templs:Dsne y
sayed!" Lady Jane Tsmpl4lun sat
tapping her fest: restiessly ON the door.
her dark-blue ayes .aAshing and spar
king ~ again aad again sheread over
. closely written letter spread out
upon her lap.
Good news-ths best OF all news-;
had come that day to the old home Of
the Templetona., The long, weary
years Of grinding poverty were 1t an
end. More. the utter ruin that threat
ened Temple Dsne was averted once
and for all. Little wonder. then. that
Lady James eyes danced. and her
mouth tvitched with unaecustomed
4 musts tell somebody" she went
on agitatedly. And she stretched out
her hand to the bell handle.
: Send Miss Leila to me, Somers."
she looked round to say to the footman
who answered the summons.
While Lady Jane waited slightly
anxions pucker came into her brow.
There's bound to be shadow behind
each human Joy, however bright. and
1t would be dinlcult task for her to
tell the good news to the somebody"
whom she had summoned.
It was cheerless. cold December
day-the nrst of the month. From the
distant belt of the Temple-Dene woods
faint mist was rising.
Could the blue skies and the warm
sun ever have laughed down ON a
world so dun and sodden? Would
they ever again break through the
gray pail Of sadness? x
A slim figure OF 4 girl. with hurt,
: bowAdered eyes and dropping mouth
was moving listlessly along the corri-
message. and In Leila Desmond's eyes
the gray day seemed to At In with
her own "sorrow-shot" heart. She
almost hoped 1t would be always like
this now-dull and dun, lifeless and
loveless.
You sent for me, aunty?"
She parted the heavy. faded blue
plush portiere between the south and
the east drawing rooms, aud looked
straight at Lady Jane.
"oh. Leila, yes!" Her ladyship
started and she spoke nervously.
Quick! How slowly you move, child!
Come and sit here by me-" She patted
the blue-satin couch ON which she
sank. &
) Everything about and around the
mistress Of Temple-Dene was blue
pale blue-for Lady Jane had been
blonde beauty of the fairest order in
her palmy youth.
Time had faded the hangings and
satin coverings. the frilled cushions
and the hue Of her own once rich
robe. for Lady Jane Templeton was
miserably poor woman. Evil days
had come upon her and her belongings,
but they had not queacled the proud
woman's spirit IS they had that Of
her husband. Francis Templeton, the
dreary, broken man, who sat all his
days in the library. q victim to form
Of melancholy.
The masterful spirit Of the woman
had never rested. seeking way out OF
the dark cloud that shrouded Temple
Dens. All her hopes Of ,deliverancs
from sheer ruin were placed in Ger
vis. the heir and only child she and
Francis Templeton ever had.
By day and night she had spent her
energies in rousing Gervis to the res
I cue Of his family.
\ 30 the words that had trembled on
the lips Of Gervis Templeton day after
day were unspoken after all. From
boyhood his heart had been alled with
ono imase se-that Of the girl. Leila Dss-
mond. his mothers eldest niece. They
wsre orphans-Leila and sybil-
daughters Of Lady James paaslonatsly
lovsd youngse brother. Whsn hs died
his Sister gathered the dssolats chill
ldrsn. mothefiess - well a. fatheriess,
into her home. bringing them up and
educating them.
But the instant the mother recox-
nissA that tAs sifi. Lsiia. had grown to
'be the ono woman Il the world for her
son the SPRINGS Of love for her broth
er's orphan fross mp. She almost hated
'Lsila, even after abe had gained her
point and separated the two lovers.
But Il was Lady James hour Of tri-
unph. and she could today a& least
afford to b. gracious.
Come. my dear Leila. she rspest-
-, = have nsws-great news from
ny boz
Aft