The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16


 picous of to force himself her. He was that she of social distinction far abova her cstensibe position and while secretly pleased a the thought found 1t presented difficulties to the conoolastic forces of professed. socialism
 So chrsgtmas approached and with it the ar rival Arthur CnerIyon He great favorate Of the young baronets and puzzled ct his self invitation spend Christmas in these bleak and lonely solttudsa. It had been different when the castle filled with Ruesta Yue log bazed in the great hall and minstres played in the gallery and dancnG feastng, and merriment signazed the license o1 the season. This year there would be guests, no meFr unent and quiet feasting. in the servans hall There this special night they were permitted eo gather friends and indulge ip the quaint cu@om and ceremonies of Yuletide at their pleasure By t9 desire of Lady Bryderyn all the female domesties the discarded their black dresses and wore s let gowns and lace and aprons. picturesque charming group they made as, after dinner tnek young sauntered into the brilliantly lighted anf orated ballroom where e huge Chrfstmas tree z awaiting the masters dispensing of Christmas
 Sir CaradoTs eyes turned from the group o4 servitors to the more attractive one of the scaf brigade. To it also had turned the appTaisinF Arthur Caerayon He gave a start Sir CarW a nuttsred By Jove!" and suspicious eyea f his cousins exclamation answered that suSf ts
 So they knew each other. these two. Hf ~ signihed nothing in that moment of fierce aT girls face calm and white and gat welcome, but when did jealousy ever read Ia. face aught but reason for its suspicionsf
 Sir CaraAor endured miseries while unloading the tree of it's gifts.
 Speaking testing smiling as blush and smile swered friendly words, all the time he keenly con of his cousins marked attention to one figure standing aloof from the merry crowd When it came to her advance and receive her gifts he had no light jest at her service He only handed the little containing plain gold watch and chain in silence She received it with quick gaucei a vivid blush, half gesture of refusal Then. the usual demure curtsey. As their hands touched the old tyranny of emotion swept his soul to pain and pleasure both Involunarly he stopped to tho crimson ear beneath it's shining gold of heavy hair " You VIII give me the dance following the first quadriner he said hoarsely.
 She looked up hssitassa "If you wish. sir
 All unrnowing why, the weight of pain and doubt in Inc Even when he forth porty Mrs. Hughes te the cheery strains auadrille and found Esher and his vis-as he less conscious of annoyanca than assured of dstaste-On her part
 When the dance ended he noted she at once re- the visible admiration of his cousin. The moment for which he longed at last They stood side by side The waltz strain gave itself to the waiting couples. His was round her waist They moved in rhythm to the sad sweetness of Va1se Enchante and all world and all of life seemed conoenraed in those brief moments when crown of golden hair ahone before his eyes and wave upon wave feeling rose and sweled with the of melody that set two hearts atune with music more divine
 How did you come to know my cousinT
 He used call at the house where was gov- erness as told you. Mrs Polwyns."
 Silence. again that floating tour of the eoom Scarlet flashes of holly white geams of mistleeOa Tne droop of shy the quick beats of heass too near his own for peace or memory ,o S or Dr0asn'~
 "Love him! hate him. His prosecutions drove me toto this"
 Strange that joy and ssrv1tude should bs near alin To this" He aside out of the josEitng crowd TO my home. my heart o. EsSheE you aOn't regret that2'
 should think so i'll of as to follow your oousn's example"
 Follow itl Has he asked you to be his wkesTa
 His wife-o, no"
 But that Is what desire beseech above all tansa in life That Is what I ask-for myself Esther."
 O. no! no. It's impossible"
 Why? You gifted and beautiful You aRO in all ways my equal, and love better than all tho world holds. Don't you, can't you love me, Egthsr Wynne?"
 70, it's not that O. indeed Sir CaradOEs you should have said this Think of your rank your position, your mother"
 You will give them all the thing they need." he said As for my mother, will go to her n0ws this moment you shall if she has the heart to refuse me the Christmas gift for which have asked"
 Watched by Arthur CaerlyOns eyes. she went with the great hall where Lady Bryderyn sat alone. Her startled glance the confused abashed young faces took something of the situation All sorts of strange feelings meet It, stirred her motherly palm shook from it's loossned strings sweeter tunefulness of sympathy. Had not Mrs. Hughes planed the "lady housemaids" advent7 Had not that adored administered homeopathic doses of s0cal- every possible opportunity? Above all was not her whole soul bound up in him, and how 1t poa- sible to refuse-as he had aaid-the first Chriatmas gift which asked? gtrt too, in waich she shared; for daughter loving wife had never fallen Bryder4n's lot than this fair Welsh maiden proved-viDdcatng for herself and chosen knight all the sOphistrtes and enchanz0a& Op that brief episode of socialism