The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-12-19


out after dark, and he surely would new
er he able to secure permission to go for
tree.
"Hulda." said he sadly. 81 would never
be allowed ta CO." Hulda did not seem
as much disappointed as he had expected
she would. She kept right on smiling
and urged him no more. That evening
was miserable one, for Azure could new
er endure to sit in the parlor, and, though
Hulda had left the kitchen warm and
bright for him, with pan of corn to pop
and the pepper handy. yet he bad heart
for nothing and went to bed early, to
dream of Hulda, with her blue eyes.
walking down miles upon miles of light
ed Christmas trees, with the great star
shining at the end of the avenue. for
Azure knew what ought to be. He had
not looked at other peoples Christmas
trees through the windows for nothing.
Besides, he had done some reading. 9th
ers might not think it of him, but it was
the truth.
Three days and three nights passed.
and Hulda was not as sociable as for
merly. She went around smiling and
saying next to nothing. and she had no
condolences TO make to Azure about what
she had done. Moreover. she kept the
was too proud and too well informed as
to property rights to think of trying the
doorknoh. hut he was quite sure the room
was locked against all intrusion.
Christmas was a stately day. In the
morning his father read aloud to his
mother on subjects which Azure could
make nothing of. and there were n num-
bcr of gentlemen at dinner-professors
from the college, men who had small
hope of Aure's scholastic achievements
and afterward there was discussion
Azure slipped into corner to look at the
Illustrated natural history which his ia
thor had given him and to whr about the
globe which his sister had presented to
him. most enlightPning globe. which
endoavored to make stupid little Azure
acquainted with all of the movements OF
the earth and winds and tides 1t was
certainly kind of his people to give him
these things. Azure thought. He wonder
ell why he was not happier. Perhaps il
was because he was a naughty child
Strange words 1oated to his ears from
that part of the room where the discus
sion was going on-''The Myth of Dion
ysius," ''The Nativity" "Staurolatry." !"
"Justinius Martyr" and n hundred more
peculiar names and phrases which meant
nothing at all to Azure, but which seemed
| for some mysterious reason to affect him
| disagreeably. especially as the men were
cross with each other. He thought he
heard young Professor BaDCock mention
ing his (Aure's) name a couple OF times.
but that could hardly have been possible.
The little children over the way in the
| fat building were having a Christmas
| tree. and soon as ever the dusk began to
come Azure could see the mother lighting
the tapers. From the way she shook
| her head every now and then and seemed
to be calling out to some one he could not
see it was evident that her children were
| impatient to get in. Azure crept up into
the window seat and darkened the pane
with the curtain so that he could see bet
ter. He hardly breathed while he waited
for the mother to finish her work and
open the door. That would be the glori.
Gus moment when the door was opened
and the children came rushing in. But
just as it was about to happen some one
touched him on the arm. He tnrned ap
prehensively. Probably his father had
come to forbid him even to look at 6
Christmas tree.
But it proved not to be his father. Il
was Hulda, and her eyes were shining
and she had holly in her white cap anC
holly in the bib of her big ruffled apron
With her black frock and golden braid
and bright blue eyes she made the sweet
est. kindest human picture Azure had eve
seen, and somehow all the ache of hi
throat went away as if by magic. H
took her hand and slipped from the room
with her. She tiptoed along the passag
as if she were approaching some mys
terry, and Azure did the same. They tip
toed through the dining room and throug
the kitchen and past the waiter who ha
come in to help for the day and VIII
| looked at them curiously and on to HUI
da's room.
The door stood open, and as they wen
along the little hallway that led to it
beautiful glow came out of it, and a me
ment more the two stood before a sler
der Christmas tree with a star highes
among the branches and tapers burnin
everywhere in memory Of the Light Q
the World and gay little festoons G
glittering stuff making the branches my.
terious to the child's eyes. Hulda and th