Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-12-18
DECEMBER 49, 1903

impulse to do a daring thing. you shall
come in with me" she averred.
Master Richard laughed. aud risk
meeting some one who VIII recognize me
on the spot?'
1.-The danger is but little, and after all,
it is danger that you court. Come, you
shall spend your Christmas like "A Chris
tian."
As they talked they were walking
toward the house. and before Master
Richard could think, Yea" or NAY"
the door swung open to them, ana the
roar of laughter, the smell of baked
meats ana the cheer of the warm house
rushed to greet their senses. Master
Richard Bullock lifted his nostrils as he
smclt supper, and he had no more thought
of going back His horse went to "a ser
want; "a minute more and he was shaking
/ hands with a bluff. round man who was
| the Lord of the Manor, and Lady Mary
| was explaining that the chaise had been
/ set upon by highwavmen, but that this
| gentleman had rescued her and brought
/ her home. This of course made much
/ talk for the company, who looked upon
/ Master Richard as a hero; but to him it
was all one If they said one thing or
| another For the first time ne saw Lady
/ Mary fully, and from the instant he clap
ped his eyes ON her lie never took them
off. She stood there, a slight little figure,
/ The front of her Jacket thrown back. he"
| dark gray eyes flashing black i'm the fire.
| light, her fluffy, SNUFF -co!ored hair wet
| with frost and tossed about her face in
fine disorder. As he looked his heart
| gave a great bound, "A flush rose to his
eyes and he thanked heaven that it had
! sent him into the presence of this lady.
! And. though he held his head high and
carried himself with a suggestion of bra
rado, a shame for his trade had taken
| hold of him.
\ servant led him to a room. where he
made what nJgtV toilet he could. a
| the while it was vision of Lady Mary
| that he saw In the mirror, and it was the
! tinltle of her voice that seemed every
| where about him as he made his way to
/ supper.
The house was as full of guests as a
great house is in the Christmas season,
and Master Richard looked sharply about
him for a familiar face. But he saw
none. so he made his mind easy accepted
very graciouslY the compliments Of the
| ladies' and by the side of Lady Mary made
"a most valiant meal. for he had eaten
nothing since morning. lie even re-
sponded in some sort to a toast and when
the company finally adjourned to the hall
lac would have called himself happy but
for horrible doubt which had crept into
his mind that he was not "A tit person TO
touch the hand Of Lady Mary.
The hail was long room with a great
fireplace at one end. I'm which the Nulc-
log glowcd and spat Around upon the
walls were portraits or the great men and
the beautiful women of the house; below
these were trophies of the chase--b oars'
heads. and the autlcrs of stays. which
served as racks FOR guns and fishing rods.
| Here was gathered "a gay company. Be
| sides the family. the servants had all
come IN. and an old fiddler. seated on a
| little raised platform which was spread
| with holly and oycrgr"rus was making
music FOR the dance.
Lady Mary led off with the keeper s.
SON. ana Master Richard danced with a
SIur-faccd lady who was aunt To the fam
lily. But if his hand touched hers now
and again i'm the reel his eyes were All
for the niece; and at the end Of the
dance hc left the aunt with some abrupt
ness and got to the Lady Marys side.
Il hopc YOU enjoy your evening" said
the lady. as she smiled into Master Rich
ard $ face.
'rwcre enough to make one an honest
man" he answered as he drew her lit
tie to the side to where the window bayed
! and put back the curtain and looked out
into the night; and then, though his heart
WAS fun OF speech, he could not bring one
word To his tongue. At last. Il did not
deserve such good treatment" said he
why ala you ask me to come"
In the Christmas time all the worlC
: are friends"
Il would I might have you for my
friend always he answered.
Even as he spoke there was a murmel
Of the guests near the door and the wore
passed from mouth to mouth that tn,
- post-boy had arrived with the sheriff an,
the bailos
our friend who ran away has return
/, | ed" said Lady Mary. But he will no
u recognize you
But the sheriff knows my face as h'
VI knows his brothers. for once l gave hin
cause. II he laws hands on me In Londol
, 20. and that is the end"
Lady Mary went white and her voic
. trcmhlod. lie viii not touch you. Yo
u are Christmas guest"
"That he will not. but il will he he
Il cause I will not give him the chance.
, said Master Richard quietly; and hi
u voice did not tremble for he put his han,
: down and touched hers.
> You can go by this door and the kit
d chen"
a And how will YOU explain"
II shall tell the truth. nut 10y then yo
, must have ridden out of danger"
- They slipped out a rear door and int
" the big kitchen. II was deserted, 70
. the servants were in the great hall; Their
= were no candles. but the log made dir
of the servants feast: on the table wer
=, mugs with the dregs of home hrewed
:, - on the mantel was jar Of spiced wine.
q Master Richard poured out two cups
'lne nealtn or Lady Mary 'nQdlelEn.
-, said he and may the Christmas spirI
- always be alight in her heart"
- Il give you success. in an honest call
- ing she answered.
a rs it bold to ask one thing more? Le
Ia me keep this glove" and he touched on
~ which she held.
=, The man who carries it must serv
= his King and country and not his ow
, pleasure"
~ And it," said Master Richard, boldly
a III do this and one day come back, ma
+ l ask for the hand that this has covered ?
- Good bye" said Lady Mary, with eye
lowered. But on n sudden as he ksse
her fingers, she gave him a rare smile
"a Then he went out into tn night.
Now for those readers who hold tina
-, a story is worth little without a conclus
- ion, ] set down three documents, whic
a bear dates in the fortics. The third
10. grant of knighthood conferred by II
- Most Gracious Majesty King George II, O
>, one Richard Bullock, Esq, for galar
conduct on the field of Dettigen on tina
day when the little English king S
=. severely defeated the French army: I'll
Ia second is n deed of a house and lands
Warwickshire from one Ashley Clinic
J., to Sir Richard Bullock, dated in JanuaI
= of the year 17i4. and the third is a
entry, under June II of the same yea
in the parish register of Hampton in Al
III den, of the marriage of Lady Mary Chu6
- leigh to Sir Richard Bullock. All
II which plainly shows that good often grow