Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-12-20
THE NATIVITY

with you out of my life, George-I might be lonely" she said little wist- fully She locked hastily away that he might not see the effort with which she kept the sparkling tear-drop from tumbling down her cheek "And-if find that I can come back and-and live with my ear on the trolley track Ill-Tll come and let you know. Mean time, you shall not know where I am," she said, an almost imperceptible break in her voice. She had tried to be gay, but she had failed dismally- and she knew he knew it.
 "All right, girl" the man said, hold ing her hand closely in his own "Since you're afraid of adding to the long list of mis-mateS among our friends--Ill remain as 1 am. I'll have you or no one, mate or mis-mate. Good-by."
 He strode off with never look be- hind and she knew he was gone out of her life until-"Oh, forever!" she said, as she dashed away the foolish tears that pushed each other from her eyes,
 
 journeyed here and there and enjoyed things as only woman of her caliber can enjoy the beautiful, rare old things she had read of and heard of all her life
 When she returned to her own coun- try 1t was to take up her profession of tutoring-but in the country this time. hn i,,< <ho <~f old church. The minister was family friend, and she went into the family to tutor his two children with the priv ilege of having a few others during odd hours in the week
 She spent many happy days with tho children; she taught them everything she knew how to teach them. from reading and spelling to French and German. but. most of all. she taught them the love of Mother Nature.
 The holidays were drawing near and Eleanore had little time for introspec- tion. She was busy helping the chil- dren keep their Christmas secrets, planning for the Christmas tree in the church, making odds and ends to give to friends. For the time, she was al- most forgotten
 But when Christmas eve had come and gone and she sat in the small con- servatory of the rectory on Christmas afternoon when the children, tired from play, had gone to take an after noon nap and the good rector with his wife had gone and done likewise, Eleanore began to have that lonely feeling deep within her. She looked out of doors where tiny snowflakes were just beginning to blow here and there as forerunners of glorious Yuletide snowstorm.
 Suddenly, as if to ward off the blues, she sought her cloak and gloves. She would go out in 1t If only because she could!
 Outside, she struck out briskly to- ward the churchyard where the fir the yard that was made up of beauti- full parkways with wonderful blue spruce trees mingled with the old fashioned green Christmas tree.
 It was toward these trees that she walked and with every breath of the soft, moist air, she felt invigorated. The caress of each tiny snowflake as 1t touched her cheek was sweet to the girl who loved nature.
 Presently. ahead of her, she saw . group of boys. They seemed to be look ing up at great green fir tree and listening to a man who stood in their midst
 Eleanore drew near None of the lit- tie group had seen her as she walked softly on the snow covered grass. The man-her heart beat wildly-was George Davidson.
 Suddenly, as if he felt her presence, he turned. You" he cried, "Eleanore." Then, as If remembering the boys, he said. Boys. want to introduce you all to Miss Maryelle. Perhaps she can tell you more than can about-Christ- mas trees."
 Eleanore acknowledged the introduce tion to each bareheaded lad even while her hand was still in the big warm one of George Davidson
 Its like this, Eleanore," he was ex-