Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-01-18
Christ m a S
Greene
Il G brfstmas Story
BY Martha M'CuIlocb-luiIIiams
CoD,,v;rh, Ioos bv M,,,b, Nc C,Ilorh- V'IE,r,,
Copyright. 1904. by Marth, MeCuIoch- William,

sort IN tnls Dig farming WOflu, Leond
said almost tragically.
Her cousin and host. Amos Baker.
shook his head.
None nearer than Sinking Fork" he
said. That's twelve miles off and the
chances against finding anything even
there-the hills are so low and the
valley hardly worth the name"
You must take me to the head wa
tiers. l know 1 shall find what want
there" Leona said imperiousiy. Get
out the wagonette at once. No matter
if Christmas is ten days of, l know
way to keep greens fresh"
Wont you say please?" Amos asked
banteringly as he went toward the
door Leona ran after him with the
prettiest face of contrition.
"Of course I will and 'thanky, SIR
and anything else in the world you
ask" she said, laying her hand on his
arm.
He smiled at her. Suppose ! should
ask you to say Yes to Norrie Gordon.
I've great mind to do it. If Norrie is
my brother-in-law, he's worth q dozen
of that other fellow"
Him. You are sure there Is another
fellow" Leona querled saucily, but
with a pretty flush.
Amos looked supernaturally wise.
''There must be" he said. Candy
three times Il week and flowers and
gimcracks till the carrier wishes rural
free delivery had never been thought
of-those are signs I've never yet
known to fail"
"You should not peek It's ungentle-
manly, even In your private mail box"
Leona said severely, pursiEg her lips.
Amos shook his head at her "You
shouldn't fiirt," he said, "but today I'm
bound to give you a chance. Norrie
will go with you on this fern chase,
because I'm bound TO go somewhere
else"
'How nice. Norrie Is never saucy,"
Leona said, with dimpling smile. 1t
made her so enchanting that Norrie,
Just then coming through the door, lost
his heart over again for at least the
twentieth time. I'VE losing gave. him
a fearful joy. He too. had read and in
terpreted the signs of the post, but as
he climbed into the wagonette and sent
the horses away at a slapping pace he
put all thought Of this unknown rival
from him, resolved to enjoy at least one
blissful day basklng In the sunshine of
Leonas smiles.
Presently the way bent at almost a
right angle Norrie reined in there
and said, letting his free hand rest over
Leonas clasped ones; "The fork is just
ahead, but you'll find nothing there.
know. / hunt around 1t every fall
wonder If you dare go down in the hills
with me? There you can get loads OF
thlngs-green cedar. cross vine, ferns
and big green briers with leaves like
wax. / know of holly bush, too, and
clump Of pines
"Why aren't you taking me to them"
Leona interrupted, her eyes dancing.
Norrie smiled back at her, but there
was an anxious undernote In his voice
as he answered, Because they're a
but so far we'd be in the night getting
home"
"As if that mattered," Leola said
scornfully, when you know my heart
Is set on giving those dear babies such
q Christmas as they never saw. Your
sister Amy says | may do just what l
please. | please to have n Christmas
tree, with the whole house trimmed TO
match. Drive on--llle the wind. San
cho and Sally will have a long rest
while you are helping me hack and
hew."
''Just as you Say, ma'am," Norrie
answered suspiclously meek. but If
/ haul the tree home, to say nothing OF
cutting it down, I'm to have my choice
of whatever is on it or under II. Is
that bargaini"
"It has 10 be, but | never thought
you'd DO such an extorti0ner," Leona
said loftily, although her eyes twin
kled. Then she fell silent, drinking in
the JOY of the sunshine, of the rapid
whirl through the soft December day.
The landscape grew more barren,
more broken; the fields were smaller,
tho farmhouses meaner and less
thrifty. By and by the road ran down
a steep ridge, only to climb an oppo-
site one sleeper still. The sun had
begun 20 sink. Norrle looked up at II
apprehensiVely, then sent the blacks
Easter. a mile farther on he stopped
and sprang out, saying as he lifted
Leona to her feet, You'll want your
supper before you get IT, | reckon, but
here we are"
I.eona cried out In rapturcs. Before
Der stood clump of pines. On beyond
down the rocky slope lay matted arm
fuls OF long, lacy fronds. The green
briers also were In evidence. She
caught UP Amos pruning shears and
began to cut things right and left. She
was so iatept that she did not SEQ Nor
gie slip away, hut very shortly she
looked up 10 see him dragging in a
fine yaung holly full OF scarlet berries.
"ihe kids never saw anything like It,
he said MS he hoisted II into the wagon.
cite and made 1t fas. .Aeee, Then he
fell 10 WoIs. wrenching up ferns In
armituls and tearing down mats Of
brler. Lcona looked at him with some
thing OF awe. He was SO slight and
light on his feet, she had never credit
ed him with the tbews and sinews OF
manhood, iasensibly she contrasted
Abn with the other fellow, the city fcl.
low. VIII could and would give het
milions-milllons which had almost
she knew she did not love him truly
II she had asked him to set his hand 10
hard things for her pleasure she could
fancy his look Of amazed disgust
Still she could not whistle him down
the wind She was proud, ambitious
luxury loving. not the least bit suited
to be farmers wife And NaIrle Cor.
don loved his land aud his vocation toe
well ever to be anything but farmer
With a sigh, she told herself she should
no doubt end by taking Ennis Loring,
Suppose he should accept her casual in'
vltation and come down 10 Longly. the
Baker place. for the holldaysi How
bare and cTampcd the life would cp-
pear 10 hm-a life wherein the circus
made the event Of the year and going
10 church of Sundays was as much di-
version as duty.
Something Of all this floutcd nebW-
lousy through Leona's mind 49, she
watched Norrls at his Joyous obcdl-
ence.