Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-03-01
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CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
A few hours later Temple ene was
ablaze with lights that flashed down
on brilliant scene. Dinner was just
over, and the gentlemen as we'll as the
ladies had deserted the dining room;
for outside. under the solemn Christ
mas stars, and drawn up in a semi
circle on the ssnow-covered terrace,
were the mummers shouting in coarse
unison an old world catch:
God rest you, mercy gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay!"
In tho large hall, where the vivid
holly berries blazed red on the steel
armor Of the knightly figures, and in
festoons on the tapestried walls. a good
ly company was assembled-the house
party Of guests, with background Of
the domestic of the establishment.
"And this is England, and an Eng
fish Christmas eve!" A pair Of small,
thin hands were childishly clapped.
"Oh, never dreamed it would be so
lovely, so delightful"
A broad smile went round. for the
excited speaker was the bride.
Wonders will never cease" silently
thought Gervis, as he stood amazed.
GLADLY had since the afternoon thrown
off the stupor of melancholy that so
often oppressed her now and puzzled
her husband. She had been at dinner
the gayest OF the party, all smiles and
merry quips. &
II wish Ansdell could just see her
now" said Gervis to himself. "The old
chap would stare. He'd have to swal-
low his dismal croakings about decline
and wasting away. She's as merry as
a cricket"
But Ansdell could not see the trans
formation, for he had shut himself up
Immediately on arriving with a tre-
mendous headache; and it seemed as II
GLADLY in his absence had lifted her.
self as plant raises its head after the
storm has passed.
Even wilful, the bride had escaped
from the elders of the party-Lady
Jane and the stately dowagers. She
would have none Of their wearisome
congratulatory speeches. There was
but one person in all Temple-Dene
GLADLY wanted, and that was Leila
Desm ond, to whom the bride had taken
wild fancy. She would have none
by her side but Leila; and Syb watched
the pair with glowering eyes that
smouldered wrathfully.
They stood, these two, in the fore
ground of the warm, dazzlingly bright
interior, conspicuous figures. for both
wore white.
At the brides throat and in her
curly hair diamonds sparkled; while
Leila, in her deadwhite Grape, simply
made frocls, had not single ornament
save her own sweet smile and bunch
Of deWy, heavy-headed Christmas roses
fastened in the folds Of her bodice. $,
Il love your dear old-fashioned
Christmas customs" went on GLADLY.
But this time it was for Leila's ear
only she spoke, and she squeezed her
new friends hand under cover Of her
satins and laces as the two girls stood
close side by side.
I've read heaps about the way you
keep Christmas in the old country, and
know that old legend in verse, The
Mistletoe Bough."
"Oh, do you?" Leila turned her
soft eyes on the bride. Then, you
know, Gcrvis would tell you that many
people think the tragedy actually hap
pened here at Temple-Dene?"
"N-no!" GLADLY gasped. Then she
added: "Gervis did not tell me. I
wonder lie did not"
Gervis, it seemed, had told his new
wife next to nothing about the old
home of his ancestors.
ooh, we'll, we are not exactly sure,
you know said Leila, hesitatingly;
"but there is a tradition that bride
of tho family was lost, and found dead
in an old blackjack chest which stands
in the gallery up yonder."
She pointed to the gallery running
round the large hall.
And many people firmly believe she
was the Ginevra Of the poem. But of
course it is only hearsay, we are not
positive"
Il must see it! Oh, must! Please
take me at once!" And GLADLY caught
up her satin skirts to rush off,
"Wait, Mrs Templeton-please wait
a few moments!" urged Leila, laying
her hand gently on the American girls
round white arm. THE mummers are
all village folk who have known us
and Geryis ali their lives. They would
be terribly hurt if you ran away be-
fore the carols are finished"
1t was Leila all over to be ever
thoughtful Of the feelings of others.
"But 1 always do just what I've a
mind to do" said GLADLY, half fret
fully.
"You shall see the old oak chest to-
morrow, Mrs. Templeton, promise
you that" said Leila, much as she
would have sought to pacify frac-
tious child. And GLADLY, docile enough
where she loved-and already she
loved Leila--turned with smiling eyes
to the ha1f-circle of. upturned rustic