The Holly chieftain., 1901-03-29
CHAPTER VIII.

ablaZe with n&nt6 tnat flashed down
on brilliant scene. Dinner was Just
over. and the gentlemen ~ well as the
ladies' had deserted the dining room:
for outside, under the solemn Christ
mas stars. and drawn up in semi
circle on the snow-covered terrace,
were the mummers shouting In coarse
unison an old world catch:
God rest you, mercy gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay!"
In the 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
kly company was assembled-the house
Fparty Of guests, with q background OF
the domestic Of the establishment.
Ard this is England. and an Eng
lish 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 thewn
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.
Il 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. Shes 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 az q 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
;yGladdy wanted, and that was Leila
Desmond. to whom the bride had taken
wild fancy. She would have none
by her side but Leila; and syb watched
the ralr with glowering eyes that
smouldered wrathfully.
They stood, these two. in the fore
/ ground Of the warm, dazzlingly bright
1nterior, conspicuous figures, for both
wore white. ,-,s
At the brides throat and In her
curly hair diamonds sparkled; while
Leila. In her dead-white Grape, simply
made frock, had not q 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.
Blu. 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
Mlstletoe Bough.'"
oh. do you?" Leila turned her
soft eyes on the bride. Then you
know. Gervis would tell you that many
people think the tragedy actually hap
pened here at Temple Dene?" &
"N-no!" GLADLY gasped. Then she
aided: :Gervis did not tell me.
knder he did not
Gervis. 1T seemed, had told his new
wife next to nothing about the old
home OF his ancestors.
soh, we'll. We are not exactly sure,
you know said Leila. hesitatingiy;
but there is tradition that a bride
NJ the family was lost, and found dead
N 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 Ginevfat of the poem. But of
course It is only .hsarsay, we are not
positive 7s,l s.s !.
II must see It! Oh, I must! Please
take me at once!" And GLADLY caught
up her satin skirts to rush on. p
Wait. Mrs, Templeton-plesse wait
I few inomentsl" urged Lsila, laying
her hand gently ON the American girls
round. white arm. The mummers are
all Village folk who have krown us
md Gervis all thsir lives. They would
Be terribly hurt II you ran sway bs-'