The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-02-02

city ever saw"
She was doing It, Scoffers at her in
experience, her country ways. were dis
covering a very shrewd and level head
upon her shoulders. The most part of
her coworkers had fallen readily in
with her enthusiasm. Lets feel real
Christmasy ourselves; then everything
will come easy" she had said to them
In the beginning. going on to tell art
less tales. gathered by the way, of the
people the tree was meant for. Before
she was done the listeners were at one
with her-even the scoffers. silent and
ashamed Of their scofnng. As result
upon the 23d Of December the big trees
groaned under bizarre fruitage, and all
the ropes stretched above them were
SO laden they were a Joy to the kindly
heart, whatever they might have been
to an artistic eye. Nothing remained
but to fash up the lights. the myriad
tiny electric bulbs strung along the
green. Lettice turned away with q
long. long sigh. too tired to be any
thing but very happy at this good end
to labor.
For three days she had hardly
thought Of anything but the tree Ten
thousand gifts, good gifts. for mothers
and babies otherwise giftiess. 10000
toys for little hands otherwise toyless,
had seemed to her enough to crowd her
own concerns aside. Back in her coy
room she ran through a sheaf OF let
tiers. her face as she read rejecting her
mood as water reflects the sky. Home
news made her smile softly. hut wipe
her eyes at the end. Three notes from
aspiring strangers puckered her fore
head In reflective frown. Other notes,
| q handful. sent to Santa Claus and by
some magic turned over ia her. brought
Jumps Of varying hardness into her
throat, Jumps that swelled vtsibly over
line from Arran. besesching Mne.
Lefty. II not for Christmas. can't you
come the day afterT'
She dropped 1t and took up the very
last Of the sheaf, her eyes too blurred
to note the imprint in the corner. but
after the Arst line she sat up. breath
ing hard. a bright red spot in either
check. and ut the end sprung up. wav-
ed the letter over her head and said in
| audibly. since It was I o'clock: "Hur-
rah. Lettice! Hurrah! Hurrah!
A knock. hesitating. apologetic. made
her turn about to see her door open be-
fore shs could speak. revealing Faith
Faruham. who came In, closing It pre-
tipitately behind hex. and said In her
airiest way:
"Oh. Miss Santa C.auA I've come to
you IKE tAe vest Of the poor things!
Lend me $50. please. I've spent every
thing on feoeks and fEills for th1s visit
and those wsetchAd magazines are
holding up all ny ehecks"-
How funny! got mins-my nfst,"
Lstticc said, holding out 4 note and
nuttering a blue slip 20 Faith could
not choose but SEQ. AS I am 500 Bet
ter OF than thought to be. you shall
have the money" she Ean on. Faith
covered her face, sobbing Historically.
but held out her hand for the bills Let
tice thrust In It. and, cistching them
tight ran away without a word Of
thanks. Lettice looked after her, won.
| dering at herself. This vengeance
| ought to be sweet, yet here she was
finding 1t bitter. She was ashamed for
womanhood, for humanity. BY this
clumsy lying. She flung open her win
dow and leaned out Of It, as though to
let the night bree7e sweep away some
thing unsavory, unwholcsome. She
never understood the impulse that sent
her seurrying to Faiths door, there to
whisper through the barest open crack
Of It:
Don't worry. Faith. won't tell
anybody. And l hope you'rl have a
real merry Christmas"
The next twenty-four hours went by
in whirl. IIettico slept normally, ate
hurr!edly and worked like a machine
Nothing else kept the Christmas tree
enterprise from getting away from ev-
erybody, 1t was 80 unwieldy, 80 turbu-
| lent, SO sloppily full Of enthusiasm.
The paper had called for volunteer
helpers. They came in droves and
nearly swamped the Distracted regu-
lars. But somehow, some way, the
be<llam at last arranged itself In order
II scmichaos. The ruler OF the chaos,
without whom It would at once have
become uproarious. was smallish and
rosy. with the blacklist eyes in the
world; not at all the figure Of a saint,
yet canonized In the heart and on the
lips Of one decent woman. who stood
hugging warm plaid and looking
tearfully at her dock Of i've, brave in
new shoes and each with a toy and q
fat bag Of sweets. What she said to
the volunteer who had brought the
gifts is not necessary to be written
down. He listened intently and after.
ward went with happy, shining eyes
straight up to Lettiee, who started VIC.
lenty at sight Of him.
you've overlooked one case Of des.
titution." he said. plucking her sleeve
Il hope you will do something about It
Lady Bountiful."
III only can. But we have only
gewgaws isft-nothing the least use.
full" Lettuce began anxiously. Arrau
drew closer and said, with his lips al.
most on her ear: ITS my mother,
sweetheart. She's fearfully in need OF
q daughter-just such AZ you. VIII
you conner
| Lattice rovs IN <hfs dov <hnro wo.