The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25
CHRISTMAS GREENS
BY MARTHA MccULLC CCH-WILLIAMs.

Something of all this floated nebul-
ously through Leona's mind as she
watched Norrie at his joyous obedience.
The best branches are over on that
far side,' he said. f1inging off his coat,
and scuffiing out of his shoes: Wen
take just half a doZen-the tree won't
miss 'em. I'd hate to leave it ragged
somehow this clump seems to belong to
mel found 1t first when l was little
more than a boy"
Almost before she knew it, he stood
among the branches, breaking and cut
ting slender stems. Leona ran to pick
them up as they fell. Stand back"
he called to her, at the same time
reaching for an especially tempting
bough. The wood of it was fought
bent where he thought to break it, and
instead of swapping it crushed into
strlngy fibers. Norrie had the impulse
of mastery even over inanimate things.
Forgetful that he was twenty-five feet
in the air, he gave the bough a jerk so
energetic it made him lose his balance,
and come crashing earthward. But
there were bCughs lower down-and
somehow he clutched one with his right
arm, swung himself up to it, and
clambered back to the trunk. Coming
down this, Leona saw him hitch him
self along in a way wholly unlike his
ascent. She did not know the reason,
until he stood by the wagonette, say
ing almost apologetically: Il reckon
you'd better drive, on the way home
my left arm hit that big limb when 1
fell, and put itself out of business.
Longly farm at Christmas-tide made
the neighbors stare. Amy had insist
ed upon party-it would never, never
do to waste all Leona had brought to
pass simply upon the family. Greens
were everywhere-over doors and win
dows, in hooks and corners, and up and
down the broad stairway. The tree,
too, was a Vision-With tapers gleam-
ing through its coral wealth, and all
manner of tinsel ornaments sparkling
amid its green LEAKAGE. The tinsel had
come from the city. So had the other
fellow.
Leona had been panic sticken at the
outset-now sunny peace possessed
her spirit. Since she had seen Norrie
topping against the evening sky-fall-
ing it might be to his death, for his
lady's whim. she had begun to question
her own heart more closely than ever
before. What answer had rewarded
the questionings she did not tell. But
Ennis Loring had found her more soft
ly, more subtly fascinating than ever,
and was ready for her sake to keep
terms with all the rural world. 1t
amused him of course that the tree
bore such wondrous fruitage. Trees
were not Christmas commonplaces
round about Longly So all the people
round about had sent their gifts to be
piled at the trees foot, and thence dis
tributed. After they We're distributed,
there would be supper. then the dance.
Norrie would have TO be a looker-on.
His broken arm was not yet out of the
sling
Amos ought to have been Santa
Claus. but had fatty refused So Leona
herself made up into startling
Christmas fairy. with a black half
mask, and5a pair of realistic wings, ap-
portioned properly the Christmas trees
fruit. saying things that fitted most
cases beautifully, and so doubled the
value of the presents. Nobody had
been forgotten-Ennis Loring stood
hugging a huge tin horn-Norrie's
sound arm was fairly heaped with
bulging parcels, topped with a toy au-
tomobile. Then the fairy lifted from
the litter of moss and greenery at the
trees foot a huge pair of spectacles
and clapped them upon her own eyes.
Il am looking for-the person I belong
to- she said clearly. Everybody held
breath as she walked up TO her two low
ers who by some chance stood side by
side. For a breath she studied their
faces intently, beautiful flush showing
below her half-naesk, then with lit
tie laughing cry she laid her hand upon
Norrie's, saying very low: This is
what you get for finding me these
Christmas green's. ."-Copyrigh 1904, by
Martha McCulloch Williams