The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-22
THEIR WISH TREE.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

BE leant forward and caught her hand
crying passionately, "Rits! Rita! unsa'
thy harsh words; they are false, thou dos
not belieyeth them thyself"
"False! Gutleib, thou canst not prov
IT." and her beautiful eyes were lifted Gag
erly, fearfully to his face.
"Prove it-ah, Rita, once my word wsi
enough for thee; now, alas all ia changed
and since can not prove false the crue
SANDER Of an idle village crone, thou, for
aooth, art cruel as she. Oh, Rita, Rita
he paused, and dark cloud swept ovel
the handsome face, while look OF pride
deepened in the shining eyes, and hel
head lifted slightly as the cold answer
smote his ear:
"Aye, Gutleib, cruel and harsh and
proud, as thou sayest, 90 let 1t be-
good.by."
The latter words came suddenly, as with
an effort, and touched his heart like dag
ger point, but with flash oil scorn from
the steel gray eyes that lit his face as q
CLEAN OF lightning, he turnedabruptly and
strobe away. But only for a few steps;
with an uncomfortable impulse he was al
her side again, and liitirg the little hand
that hung suddenly nerveless, pressed one
long ks, upon the cold finger tips. Then he
was gone, and all the beautiful spot that
had for many months lent its grace and
charm to the meetings Of the yourg lovers,
grew dull and dark Tor her who remained,
He was gone-and though the words had
been hard and cruel, her heart would sup,
port the strain no longer, and covering @
cold, ashy face with hands tremulous and
as cold, she dropped upon tho old mess
grown rock where they had SO often SO,
together. Twilight lost itself into night
and still she sat with bowed head and
clasped hands. Suddenly q silyery, child.
ish voice rang through the silence:
"Rila! Rita come home to the mother
she calls for thee; the lamps are Lighted
and the brothers have come from the
school,"
AYE, / am coming" answered a hest
tating voice, and the two turned home
wards, the child chattering eagerly but ask
ing no questions.
They entered tho low, broad room, rud'
dy in the glowing freight that burned or
these chilly evenings, and the child rar
eagerly forward.
II see, mother, Nelehen seez, tnou'rt
writing in the Wish Book'-something fol
me, I guess; something for me-
The lids OF well-worn book fell togeth-
er under the mothers hand, gentle blue
ewes looked smilingly into the large
dreamy orbs lifted questioningly.
"For thee, was it Nelchon p we will sec
some day. Our wish tree would be heavy.
indeed, did / record aud grant all thy de
aires. Only wise wishes, good wishes, re-
member, baby mine"
The venerable book was carefully laid ir
a drawer near by, where for many years il
had kept the family chronicle. "Mother's
Wish Book, "they called Though here vert
all family matters recorded, datas, event.
and secrets; but, above all, in the estima
ton Of the children, was the value Of the
wish pages, where, during the year, wers
treasured up by the fond mother all theil
wishes and hopes. Whether made in jesi
or In earnest, here we're they kept, and
when the glad, Christmas.tide came, and
the swish Tres" suddenly sprang into be,
ing in the old wainscotted parlor, hung
upon It's spicy boughs were found the
wishes-that is the wise desires OF theil
hearts, when it was possible to grant them,
TWAS not avery luxurious home, and
Herr Stein hadn't left to his widow and
little ones very full Golfer, but the quick
ingenuity Of the mother, her forethoughi
and unselfshness, accomplished wonderful
things. So they, the great, sturdy boys
now growing up in the old home, were
wont TO call her iondly, FAIRY Mother
and aGenerous Fate" possibly not divin,
ing that all mothers are in some sort q
"Fate" to their children. Every evening
when the long shadows fell without, and
the long, slanting beams Of freight crepi
up the wall within, they saw her sit with
the unclosed book in her hand, but never
did curious eyes catch even glimpse be-
tween the pagee; they we're like Ill the iu
ture, sealed and hidden.
The days came and the days went fol
fair Rita-proud Rita, the villagers called
her: and not a whit the less naughty yas
her dainty step, net shade palet theiyory
tinted face, but often, when no eye reeteC
mon her, the smile died away from Liz
and eve, IS fades the sunlight when {
cloud drifts by. Then it was the though
OF Gutleib would not be put away wher
Inc hungry aching in her heart would moi
be stitled or satisfied with the stone O
pride which she offered 1t for bread.
One day village gossip CHANGED at the
home. and Rita heard-the only words
mat caught her ear in all tho talk: "Gut
leib Is of to the sea-"
"Yes?" asked the mother, quietly, "Gut
leib Oppenheimer? When I"
"To-morrow he leaves the village, anC
some cay Graetel goes too"
An. the pain Of the words, the torture o.
tbe thought! But Rita bent low over hel
work and msde no sign. Later, when bel
task was ended, and the day goneto its &C
count, she passed ont through the LITTLE
scented garden, on through the littl'
wieker.gats that led away from the villsge
until she reached tho spot, the old trystlnE
Mace, 10 which abe had not even once re
inrned since that iateiul evening. Upol
lthe me as, srogp seat she sank, great sol
rising in the proud heattthat had remainet
nntii now SO loyal to her Will. The red lip
nsrted with gasp, and the set teeth almos
brourht blood in their effort to force bacl
the cry that cameup rebellious and bitter
A spasm Of pain swept over the sligh
| figure, but still no moan smote the listen
inc air. She heard, as II from aiar, tn
i little bird above that called to its mate
she noted, as II In Q dream, tho bell tbs
ehimed In the old church tower, and 81
eazed, with blind eyes, away, away TO th
Blue heavens above, with only one col
sc;ousnets alive in her beirg-"I love hin
| I love him, traitor though he be. ! 10y
bim-shame upon me that It's true. ], Ri
Stein, dying for q heart that belongs
lanother. But, isit really true? What II
should go 70 him for one last word and az
| from his own lips sgain, is.it true7 II
Ihe shadows fell unheeded, and mantle
with their gloom tho motionless form ar
the tiny nook. Suddenly there was
sonnd: some one was coming; Q step,