The Marshall republican., 1913-01-03
A Legend OF THE
MlSTLsTOE BOUCH

mas chimes.
More than 100 years ago Roger Lyn.
dale had done that which perhaps vas
not an honorable thing. Roger had
wooed n 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 be seen. mute with
It's history.
Not q soul Of Druscilla Ives time
was alive In the old homestead
Strangers were under It's roof paying
tribute to Barham Hall, as Druscilla's
father had done.
But the descendants OF Roger Jyn.
dale were still nc the hall, with n 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 mistlctoe grows on tho old Vote
thorn
No child to a Lyndale will e'er be born.
So she had prophcsied. 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 tborni
Yet there were laughter and gnyety
In the hall. The great open fireplace
In the walnscot room was heapcd up
with glowing. cracking yulc logs, and
all was n bright sparkle Of merrimeni
and good cheer.
Yet there was some little awe after
all. although Il had been cast or like n
cloak thrown into a corner. for the
legend mt Its worst was not without
qualification. IL had a second couplet
which ran:
But he that would nobiy this curse undo
Must iowiy maid we'd and to hor DO true.
When that saving grace was attach.
ed TO the legend and when the weird
had been worn out by the passing Of o
century what was there to fearf
Good graciousl What In thatT' ex
claimed Lady Lyndale suddenly. Not
the choir again surelyi They've been
and gone"
A voice was singing;
when mististos crows on the old Sou
thorn
No child to a Lyndaie win Ger be born.
But he hat would nobly this curse undo
Must lowiy maid wed and to her be rue.''
Il was the weird. and II was being
sung by a woman's voice 10 the 70
frain OF The Mistletoe Bough."
What could II meant
at must be somebody" said Roland
Lyndsle when II became certain that
the voice had finished. 'Tli see who
II is
With the words he crossed the
drew aside the curtains OF Que OF IN,
windows and looked out upon the
snow.
cts strange fmurmured Roland
turning 10 his father. who Htiil sat he
side the hearth. There's no one here
air."
"No." replied Sir Godfrey; II dK
not expect there would be. It. wa,
some impertinent person from the VI
iage. that Is evident"
Teo and Dorothy shonla no aimos'
here now" said Lady Lvrdrm p-cs
emily, II wonder whether II IL the
snow that's made them late"
The butler appeared and handed I.vh
dale a telegram. .I, |
us II bad news. G%eonreyY" askell
Lady Lyndaic, fa
"Yes, MilIccnt." ne replied In n 1,rI
tone. leo has been taken ~ with
pneumonia, n fearful thing Mt nnvl
tme, ana he's not strong. yon c1rI
pse." he added. handing The mcssnro
10 his wife. Dorothy saws she'll wire
at once II Il becomes critical
The children stIll laughed md plnv
III. but the elders became grave. |
"Poor old Lionel. ! hn,'n n. wiz
srn through IT," I,yndaie mnrmurcd IN
q uneasy voice. 8ti tr.r
Not many I.yndnlcs were left rho
stricken Lionel was sir Grnrrcv's
inly brother. and Roland was his only
on.
Roland I,yndale had parted from hIs
airy spirits. Ever since the incidnui
4 the voice he had bcen' IN a changed, I
: nbdued mood. |
And when dinner was ovcr he found
n opportunity 10 steal ont into the
''nowy night.
There were footprints there. Only
The shrubs had prevented his seeing
she strange visitor when he opened
the window.
Which ~ay had the singer gomez
For some Moments Roland stood
giancIng from spot TO spot.
Over the face Of the moon the snow
clouds had now lifted. but ROLAND
could Q the old hawthornssfandins
alone on the while expanse or The Yota
sward.
Fancy I'D not deceived him. Some
body ne under the tree. and tn some
body WAs . womAnt tHf
A sogange trembling came 10 Roland
40 hs STOPPED ove the 1arf. dsooped
and almost sinking form leanins
swalAsk Az As.s.A