Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
4 LEGEND OF The
MISTLETOE BOUGH

once given a sign of coming into Iui-
eI,rnant so what need was there for
faar2 IT was true that mistletoe was
Mt last growing on the boughs OF the
old hawthorn in the Vote sward. bu.
It was Christmas eve. aud the bells OF
Barham church were ringing Christ
mas chimes.
More than 100 years ago Roger Lyn-|
dale had done that which perhaps was
not an honorable thing. Roger had
wooed a farmers daughter, but had
not married her. and she had died al
his gates. Across the grass levels.
now covered with snow, the old farm
house could still be seen. mute with
its history.
Not soul of Druscilla Ives time
was alive in the old homestead.
Strangers were under its roof paying
tribute to Barham Hall, as Drusciila's'
father had done.
But the descendants of Roger Lyn-
dale were still at the hall. with a link
between them and the story of the old
Vote farm.
For, strangely enough, Druscilla had
died on Christmas eve. and the legend
of Barham Hall had come from her
lips:
When mistletoe grows on the old Vote
thorn
No child to a Lyndale will e'er be born.
So she had prophesied. and the pre-
diction meant that when the white
berry could be plucked from the OLD
hawthorn standing alone on the green
sweep Of the Vote sward of Barham
park the race of Lyndale would be-
come extinct.
And now at last mistletoe was grow
ing on the old thorn.
Yet there were laughter and gayety
In the hall The great open fireplace
in the wainscot room was heaped up
with glowing. cracking Yule logs, and
all was bright sparkle of merriment
and good cheer.
Yet there was some little awe after
all, although it had been cast off like
cloak thrown into corner, for the
legend at its worst was not without
qualification. 1t had second couplet.
which ran:
But he that would nobly this curse undo
Must lowly maid wed and to her be true
When that saving grace was attach
ed to the legend and when the weird
had been worn out by the passing of a
century what was there to fear?
Good gracious! What is that?" ex-
claimed Lady Lyndale suddenly. Not
the choir again surely! They've been
and gone"
A voice was singing:
when mistletoe grows on the old Vote
thorn
No child to a Lyndale will e'er be born.
But he that would no5ly this curse undo
Must Iowly maid wed and to her be true"
1t was the weird. and it was being
sung by a woman's voice to the re-
frain of THE Mistletoe Bough."
What could it mean?
1T must be somebody" said Roland
| Lyndale when it became certain that
the voice had finished "Pll see who
1t is"
With the words he crossed the room
drew aside the curtains of one of the
windows and looked out upon the
snow
Its strange" murmured Roland
turning to his father. who still sat be-
side the hearth There's no one here
sir
NO replied Sir Godfrey; 81 did
not expect there would be- 1t was
some impertinent person from the vii
lage that is evident"
LEO and Dorothy should be almost
here now" said Lady Lyndale pres
emily. 81 wonder whether it is the
snow that's made them late"
The butler appeared and handed Lyn
| dale telegram.
rs it bad news Geoffrey?' asked
Lady Lyndale.
Eyes. Mllicent." he replied In a dry
tone. Leo has been taken i'll with
pneumonia, fearful thing at any
time. and he's not strong. You can
see" be added, handing the message
to his wife. Dorothy says she'll wire
at once if it becomes critical"
|
| ed, but the elders became grave
Poor old Lionel, hope he will
| pull through it" Lyndale murmured in
an uneasy voice.
Not many Lyndales were left The
stricken Lionel was Sir Godfrey s
only brother. and Roland was his only
son.
Roland Lyndale had parted from his
airy spirits. Ever since the incident
| of the voice he had been in changed.
subdued mood
And when dinner was over he found
an opportunity to steal out into the
snowy night.
There were footprints there. Only
the shrubs had prevented his seeing
| The strange visitor when he opened
| the window.
Which way had the singer gone?
For some moments Roland stood
| Elancing from spot to spot.
Over the face of the moon tho snow
clouds had now Fitted but Roland
| could see the old hawthorn standing
alone on the q bite expanse of the Vote
sward
Fancy had not deceived him Some
body was under the tree, and the some
| body was womanl
A strange trembling came 10 Roland
as he stopped over the dark, dropped
and almost sinking form leaning
against the trunk
| Was she dead7
Just then kindly break in the
clouds LEI through a CLEAN of moon