The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-12-20
A LEGEND OF THE
MlSTLETOE BOUGH
II r:swas an old akgend now. a hun

fear: 1t was true that miStetOe was
at last growing on the boughs of the
: old shawthornyif,-t 1.-The {Y9ote siyard.: But
it was Christmas eve aud the bells of
Barham church were ringing Christ
mas chimes
More than luO years ago Roger Lyn
dale had done that which perhaps was
not al, honorable thing. Roger had
wooed IL farmers daughter. but had
not married her. and she had died at
his gates Across the grass levels.
now covered with snow the old farm
house could still he seen mute with
it's history
Not II soul of DruScilla Ives time
was alive in the old homestead.
3trangers were under it's roof paying
tribute to Rarham Hail. as Druscilla'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 Rarham Hall had come from her
lips
When nistlrtne grows on the old Vote
thorI,
NO child to "A Lyndale will eer be born
SO she had prophpsied. and the pre-
d.rtinn meant that when the white
berry tonlil be- pluckrd from the old
hawthorn standing alone on the green
SWEEP, of lie Vote sward of Barham
park the race of ,.vndale would be
come extinct.
And now ~ last mistletoe was grow
ing on tile n,ll thorn
Yet there, were lnughter and Gayety
in the hall The great open fireplace
in The w:lnsrot room was heaped up
with glowing. cracking iule logs. and
all was bright sparkle. of merriment
aud good cheer
Yet there was some little awe after
ALL although it had hern cast off like
cloak thrown into a corner. for the
legend ut it's worst was not without
qualification 1t had a second couplet.
which ran;
But hit, 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
century what was there to fear?
Good gracious. What is that?' ex-
claimed Lady Lyndale suddenly, mot
the choir again surely. They've been
and gone
voice was singing:
when mistletoe grows on the old Vote
No child to l.yndae will eer be born.
But he that would nobly this curse undo
Must lowly maid wed and to her be true
1t was the weird. and it was being
sung by woman's voice to the re-
frain of THE Mistletoe Bough."
What could it mean?
1T must he somebody" said Roland
Lyndale when it became certain that
the voice had finished ''Tll see who
it 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 Geoffrey: ~ 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 Il wonder whether it is the
snow THAT'S made them late'
The butler appeared and handed Lyn
dale telegram
us it had news. Geoffrey?" asked
Lady Lyndale
Eyes. Millicpnt." he replied in dry
tone LEO has been taken i'll with
pneumonia Il fearful thing at any
time. and hes not strong. Yon can
see." he added handing the message
to his wife Dorothy SAYS she'll wire
at once if il becomes critical"
The children still laughed ana plav
ed. hut the elders became grave
Poor old Lionel | hope be will
pull through it." Lvndae murmured in
an uneasy voice
Not MANY Lvndales were left The
stricken Lionel was Sir Geoffrey's
only brother and Roland was his only
son
Roland LyndaIe had parted from his
airy spirits Ever since the incident
Of the voice he had been in a changed
subdued mood
And when dinner was over he found
an opportunity TO steal out into the
snowy night
There were footprints there Oniv
the shrubs had prevented his seeing
the strange visitor when he opened
the window
Which way mad the singer gomez
For some moments Roland stood
glancing from spot to spot.
Over the face nf the moon the snow
clouds had new fitted hut Roland