Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-01-18
CHAPTER VI

1t 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. 10 be sure, In her wholesale i'm
provements; for could not Gervis az
ford to pay any amount of bills that
might ensue?
II could only rouse 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 prepare
ton he sat listless and silent in his
library. the world forgetting, by the
world forgot
If 1t had not been for Leila Des-
mOnd, it would have Jared i'll for the
stricken man. The gentle-natured
girl, with heart full Of womanly in
stincts. felt irresistibly drawn to the
lonely, silent man. He and she had q
grief in common, and it bound them
together. 1t was only at the sound of
Leila's sweet voice, and the touch OF
Leila's tender hand, that Francis Tenn
pleton ever stirred from his trance of
misery.
But even Leila could not make the
unhappy man 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 viciously 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-satisfied tones. so
new in Lady James voice, fell on her
ear
Little Syb''-Leila turned her visit
ful eyes on the girl-''it hurts me when
you speak sol"
Hurts you? Oh, ! could beat you,
Leila, If I didn't love you SO Dreadful
ly that I should kill anyone who struck
you, Hurt you? Oh, why were you
made so good and / made so bad? All
the time 1 am wishing that some &C
cident will happen to those two-a
shipwreck or railway collision-and
that they will never, never reach Tenn
ple-Dene!"
"Syb." again cried Leila. And this
time she gathered the distorted little
figure on her lap, and laid her own
soft round cheeks against the passion
white lips. w nat mas come 10 you,
my dear one? Have you forgotten
that Love worketh no Ill to this
neighbor. therefore love is the fulfill
Ing OF the law? How can you put
on the Lord Jesus Christ who died
for you and me, and for those who are
coming home to us. II you let yourself
say such things? 1 know 1t Is only
saying them-I cannot believe you
think them" Leila's fresh mouth
kissed the angry eyes.
But l do think them! feel what
I say. Leila, what right has that Amer
lean girl to take your Gervis from you
Everybody knows 1t was you he want
ed all the time, not any other. And