The Upas Tree by Florence L. Barclay

Page 1 of 81

[Illustration: "That figure was not his own."

From a drawing by F.H. Townsend. (_page 202_)]

The Upas Tree

_A Christmas Story for all the Year_

Florence L. Barclay

_Author of "The Rosary," etc_

G.P. Putnam's Sons

New York and London

The Knickerbocker Press

1912

FLORENCE L. BARCLAY

The Knickerbocker Press, New York

V.C.B.

53-22146 CONTENTS

PART I

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--WHICH SHALL SPEAK FIRST? 13

II.--THE SOB OF THE WOMAN 29

III.--HELEN TAKES THE INITIATIVE 40

IV.--FIRELIGHT IN THE STUDIO 44

PART II

V.--THE INFANT OF PRAGUE 67

VI.--AUBREY PUTS DOWN HIS FOOT 97

VII.--A FRIEND IN NEED 113

VIII.--PARADISE LOST 129

IX.--THE PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE 137

PART III

X.--RONNIE ARRIVES IN A FOG 149

XI.--THE MIRAGE 160

XII.--A FRIEND IN DEED 174

XIII.--RONNIE FACES THE UPAS 192

XIV.--AS IN A MIRROR 200

PART IV

XV.--"THE FOG LIFTS" 209

XVI.--"HE _MUST_ REMEMBER" 223

XVII.--"HE NEVER KNEW!" 246

XVIII.--THE FACE IN THE MIRROR 258

XIX.--UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN 271

XX.--GOOD-NIGHT TO THE INFANT OF PRAGUE 283

Part I CHAPTER I

WHICH SHALL SPEAK FIRST?

Ronald West stood at the window of his wife's sitting-room, looking across the bright garden-borders to the wide park beyond, and wondering how on earth he should open the subject of which his mind had been full during their morning ride.

He had swung off his own horse a few moments before; thrown the bridle to a waiting groom, and made his way round to her stirrup. Then he had laid his hand upon Silverheels' mane, and looking up into his wife's glowing, handsome face, he had said: "May I come to your room for a talk, Helen? I have something very important to tell you."

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