tree near the church. I want it most particular
badly; you won't let anyone pick it--will you, Barnes?"

"No, that I won't," said Barnes, good-naturedly; and Judy, quite
satisfied and happy in her mind, ran away.

On the wedding morning, just when the day broke, she got softly, very
softly out of bed. Babs was having happy dreams at the moment, for
smiles were flitting across her face and her lips were moving. Judy,
heavy-eyed and pale, rose from her broken slumbers and proceeded to
dress herself. She must go out now to fetch her holly bough. She could
dress herself nicely; and putting on a warm jacket she ran downstairs
and let herself out into the foggy, frosty air. She was warmly clad as
to her head and throat, but she had not considered it necessary to put
on her out-door boots. The boots took a long time to lace, and as she
did not expect to be absent from the house more than ten or twelve
minutes, she did not think it worth while to go to this trouble.

She ran swiftly now, her heart beating with a certain pleasurable
excitement. It was so nice to be able to make a beautiful, quaint
wedding present out of the red berries and the glistening leaves and the
little note full of love hiding away in their depths. How delighted
Hilda would be by and by to open that note and to read some of Judy's
innermost thoughts.

"Even though she has Jasper, she loves me," thought the child. "She will
know _something_ of what I think of her, the darling, when she has read
my note."

The little letter, written on a tiny pink sheet of paper, was put away
all ready in Judy's drawer; she had but to cut the bough of holly and
her unique wedding present would be almost ready. She reached the tree,
having to go to it through long grass heavy with hoar frost. Her
stockings and feet were already very wet, but she thought nothing of
this fact in her excitement. She had a small knife in her pocket which
she proceeded to take out in order to cut the bough away--it grew low
down and she had to pull the grass aside to look for it.

Alack, and alas! where was it, who had taken it? Had wicked, wicked
Barnes been faithless? There was a torn gash on the trunk of the tree,
and no long bough red with berries was anywhere to be seen.

Poor little Judy could not help uttering a cry of anguish. Hot anger
against Barnes swelled up in her heart. Miss Mills was in reality the
culprit. Knowing nothing of Judy's desire, she had cut the bough late
the n