The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-06-25
\ GILDED SIN
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRBAME.
CHAPTER V.

the OrllllaIC scene llldl ilISl Lt4 S't"N
on every side. The shining lights, the
wealth of eyergreens, holly with loVe![,
laughing crimson berries, the graceful
laurel with its shining leaves, the dark
stately fir and the mystical mlStlei0e-
it was all like dream to her. Her
heart warmed as she gazed. II TINS
was an English Christmas. then might
Heaven bless Christmas for evefmore.
Every one had something KIND 10 say:
there was a smile on every face. liShJ
in kindly ewes, maSic in the sound OF
kindly voices. She thought that Wh!!e
She lived she would never forget the
words, 81 wish you happy Christmas:
and the speakers. the kindly people SO
tender and true of heart, were the colo
reserved English who her aunt had toId
her were accursed! She looked at the
noble faces Of the men, faces that tOlo
of power and skill, Of courage and sell
command; she looked at the far
blonde faces Of the laughing girls ana
the graceful women: and She thought
that the English were a great people:
greater than the old stately NenetlanS.
There was not even tinge OF envy IN
her heart as she noted the lovely
Younger girls. She was quite uncon-
sciouS of her own picturesque beauty.
of the poetical lovelineSS OF her 1ace.
the grace of her figure clad in its trail
ing black robes. Amongst those talr
English girls she looked like gorgeous
passion fower the midst OF white lilies.
She never forgot the Christmas din
ner, her first in England-the grand
table with it's costly silver and delicate
glass, the profuSion Of flowers and
fruits, the sparkling wines, the laugh
ter. the general air Of happiness, While
outside the wind walled among the
leafess trees and the stars Shone in the
Christmas sky. She saw Katherine
with her bright laughing face and her
handsome young lover following her
like a shadow. Presently Sir Jasper
came up to her. -.
ssDo YOU like our English way OF
keeping Christmas, Feronica:" he
asked.
She looked at him.
at is more beautiful than anything
have ever Seen," she replied: and then
he turned abruptly away, TOR she mao
looked at him with dead GiuliaS,s eyes.
:tVeronica.." said low deep voice:
She turned quickly and saw, LORD
Wvnleigh standing by her side. Il
have come to ask you if you are pleased.
walk with me through the rooms.
You have not wished me a happy
Christmas yet"
''Then will do it now," she said:
and Lord Wynleigh raised her hano 10
his lips.
Katherine has been telling me how
dearly she loves you, and how good you
are to her"
II love her better than anything or
any one in the wide world" she replied.
He looked half sadly at her.
Il have to come" he said, Ito ask
you for little share Of that great at
lection which you give to my peerless
Kate. I will deserve 1t. Will give
YOU the true, honest, frank. kindly at
lection of brother to sister. VIII
you accept it?'
She looked up at him.
II am bewildered," she said. What
have done that Heaven should give
me so much-what have done? Only
a few months since no one loved me,
now
"You accept it then?" interrupted
Lord Wynleigh. IF you want a friend,
YOU will come to me; if ever you want
help of any kind you will remember
that on Christnas-day you promised d
stalWart brother to let him stand be-
tween you and the world"
81 shall never forget she said.
And Lord Wynleigh left her stand
ing by the door Of the conservatory
while be went in search Of Katherine.
Veronica was unutterably happy:
into her gray dull life such threads OF
gold were woven that she was dazzled
by them. She had hungered and
thirsted for love: now it was lavished
upon her. She stood on the same spot
still. unconscious OF her picturesque
loyeiiness, watching Katherine and
her loves. and as she watched them
strange sweet possibilities Of life came
floating to her. She had thought OF
herself so long and so often as one apart
from Others, as one for whom life Ield
no pleasures, no hopes, now was the
dawn of golden morning, now the
sweet vague delicious fancles tnaI
thrill the heart Of a young girl thrIl5eo
her. It might be that in the golden
far-off future such love as ATOMS IOr
Katherine would fall to her lot. FER
haps her life too would be crowned by
that most pure and perfect gltt-a no
bic love. If heaven had such happiness
in store for her
4 am AFRAID said deep musical
voice near her, THAT you Will take
cold-there is quite a rush OF colo ar
here"
Veronica looked up suddenly. \ tall
stately figure stood between her ana
the light: dark gray eyes were looking
into her own. She saw handsome,
noble face. a proud, princely head
covered with clusters Of fair hair. 1t
was a face that from that moment
stood out clear and distinct from all
other faces. The gentleman smiled at
the half -bewildered expression OF the
dark eyes.
Il must introduce myself again, he
said. "Sir Jasper introduced me 10
YOU lust before dinner, but was one
of so many, l cannot hope to have been
noticed. You do not remember me:
mo" she replied. 'Slr Jasper in
troduced so many people to me at once,
and English, names are hard TO remem,
ber. I should be glad if you would tell
me YOURS she added with some little
hesitation. you will say that 1t IS
strange one perhaps" he said. i am
Sir Marc Caryll."
"Sir Marc Caryll," she repeated,
'sI shall remember that in connection
with the patron saint Of Nenice-St.
Mark"
She could not tell why, but the name
seemed to sink into the depths OF her
heart like the echo Of a song. Ihen
she looked at him. and decided that,
although she had seen some noble men;
he was by far the handsomest and
noblest. There was an air Of command.
of power, Of authority about him which
pleased her. He looked like a man
whose will was strong and relentless,
whose purpose was fixed, whose Judg-
ment was clear and decided. Self-re-
lance, courage, brarery-au those
qualities were written on the laif
handsome face, that had IN II al tlInes
>.