Country homes -- Fiction; Love stories; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
Helen rises, and makes her way to the door, closely followed by Guy.
"I am going to say good-night to Aunt Helen," she whispers, her eyes
drooping shyly under the steadfast gaze he bends upon her.
"I will wait for you here, dear," he says, and takes her hand in his,
but she blushes so painfully he lets it drop again.
"Foolish little woman," he sighs to himself. "Shall I ever really
possess her heart?"
In a few moments she rejoins him, and Guy puts his arm about her, and
leads her into the music room. No lamps are lighted, but the
window-shades are up, and the moon's soft rays shine through the
panes, illumining mysteriously the great empty room. Far away, across
the snowclad landscape, the slender spire of St. Andrew's points
heavenward, and through the windows of the church shines the red glow
of a light within. The scene is one of infinite peace and beauty, and
the magic of the hour casts its spell over Helen and her lover, as
speechless, motionless, they stand within the recess of the window,
gazing out at the marvelous beauty of the night.
By and by, Helen moves a little closer to her companion.
"I have something to tell you, Guy," she murmurs, "and I haven't the
courage to say it."
The old doubt, not yet dispelled, pales Guy's face.
"Don't tell me you are going to send me from you again, Helen."
The girl's heart throbs at the pain in his voice:
"No, no, dear. I want to tell you something so different. I love you,
Guy," her voice dropping to a whisper. "Please never leave me again."
He holds her to his heart with a love the deeper for all the pain and
waiting, finding a heaven in the sweet lips which meet his so frankly.
And even as they stand there the bell of St. Andrew's, solemnly
tolling the midnight hour, ushers in the glad Christmas tide.
"Helen," says Eleanor's voice from the doorway, "may we all come in?
We think it would be so sweet if you would play our Christmas hymn on
the organ and let us sing it together."
Helen pushes back the curtain, and steps forward, an expression of
perfect rest on her gentle face.
"Yes, indeed, I think it is a lovely idea."
Guy opens the organ. Helen steps into her place, and Cliff brings a
lamp from the hall, and places it nearby.
"Val," Jean whispers to her lover, "there is just one sad thought in
my heart to-night. I suppose it is the memory of Christ's message of
peace and love, which makes me so sorrowful when I think of the bitter
feeling between your mother and yourself. Do you think it will ever be
in my power to help to overcome it?"
"We will try together, sweetheart, and the great blessing of your love
will make all life easier, and better for me."
Then Helen's hands strike the opening chords of the hymn and a hush
falls upon the little group, and with one accord they move nearer the
organ, and as the last bell of St. Andrew's dies slowly away, their
voices take up the glad refrain:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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