Betty's Virginia Christmas

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BETTY'S VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS

by

MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL

Author of "The Sprightly Romance of Marsac," "Papa Bouchard," "The Jugglers," "Little Jarvis," etc.

With Illustrations in Color by Henry J. Soulen

And Decorations by Edward Stratton Holloway

Philadelphia & London J. B. Lippincott Company 1914

BETTY'S VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS

THIRD EDITION

[Illustration: NOW BETTY KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO DESCEND THE STAIRS INTO THE DANCING HALL Page 48]

COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER, 1914

PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.

TO BETTY RANDOL

A TALL SISTER OF THE LILIES THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. CAPTIVATING BETTY 9 II. A YOUNG SOLDIER 19 III. THROUGH A DORMER WINDOW 31 IV. KETTLE 38 V. CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR 46 VI. KETTLE AND OTHER THINGS 64 VII. FORTESCUE AND ROSES AND BIRDSEYE 71 VIII. THE SHADOW OF THE PAST 83 IX. LOVE AND THE CHASE 89 X. THE FLYING FEET OF THE DANCERS 96 XI. THE DREAM OF LOVE 105 XII. KETTLE ACTS HIS OWN ILIAD 110 XIII. IT WAS THE SPRINGTIME 119 XIV. PROBLEMS 130 XV. THE BROKEN DREAM 138 XVI. PRIDE PAYS THE PRICE 150 XVII. THE HAND OF DESTINY 166 XVIII. "DOAN' YOU CRY, MISS BETTY!" 173 XIX. CALM WEATHER 179 XX. TWILIGHT 185 XXI. RECOMPENCE 189 XXII. GLORIA 198 XXIII. SUNSHINE 206

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

NOW BETTY KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO DESCEND THE STAIRS INTO THE DANCING HALL Frontispiece

HER GRACEFUL FIGURE MAKING TO FORTESCUE THE PRETTIEST PICTURE HE HAD EVER SEEN 87

THE SCENT LAY ACROSS THE OPEN FIELDS AND STRAGGLING WOODLANDS 93

"BUT IF YOU LOVE ME----" 125

CHAPTER I

CAPTIVATING BETTY

It was as cold as Christmas, and Christmas Eve it was. A thin crust of snow lay over the level landscape of lower Virginia, and the declining sun cast a lovely rose-red light upon the silver world. Afar off lay the river that led to the great bay, both river and bay frozen hard and fast as steel. The crystal air was sharp and still, and in the opaline sky a little crescent moon smiled at the sparkling stars. Along the broad lane that led from the wooded heights to the spacious brick mansion of Rosehill, seated on the river bank, a great four-horse team trotted merrily, the stout farm-horses snorting with delight, and the negro driver and his helpers laughing, and singing Christmas catches, their voices echoing in the clear, cold air. The Rosehill mansion itself seemed to radiate Christmas cheer. From the warm, wide-throated chimneys curled delicate wreaths of blue smoke, and a venturesome peacock had climbed upon the flat roof and stood on one leg, warming himself comfortably against the hot chimney. The panes of the many windows glittered in the sinking sun, and on the frozen river a couple of skaters flew back and forth like birds upon the wing, their shrill little cries and laughter resounding gaily in the crisp cold.