The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1912-12-19


WS@<T7R any further. And some
XWNM day Il is the intention
of the Greater Wide
Plain association to have real trees
growing in their thriving little city.
But just at present they are so busy
getting the town established that the
trees must wait.
George Freeman was one OF the
most energetic young men in Wide
Plain. He was one OF the pioneers.
lie was almost the Oldest lnhabitant.
although he was but twenty-five years
of age. You see, George located in
Wide Plain when II was practically
nothing but width and plain. He fore
saw future for the town, and be
came its leading dealer in agricultural
implements and groceries and hard
ware and so on. He became the lead
ing dealer, because he was the only
one.
In a few months Wide Plain had a
population OF 2 900. And so social life
became a feature OF existence there.
Social life requires two factors. One
OF them Is women. The other is men.
You may have thought that one fea-
ture would be sociabiity and the other
would be life. but that would be draw
ing II a bit fine.
Lucy Cleveland was the belle OF
Wide Plain. She WAS not the belle be
cause she was the only young woman
there. for there were others. Others
young and beautiful, but while some
OF the others we're as young none OF
them were as beautiful as Lucy.
Consequently Lucy had sultors q
plenty In fact. she had eight suitors.
that being the available unmarried
portion OF the population that she
would consider And she managed TO
give the eight the impression that she
was not considering them very much.
George Freeman endeavored TO in
duce her 10 consider him. Georges
policy i'm life was to get what he
wanted by one OF two methods. One
was 20 20 where II was and take pos
session. the other was 10 ask for IT,
site nor a quarter section, he could not
claim her by right of discovery. So
he had asked her And she had as
sured him that while she esteemed
him highly she did not see her way TO
be- his. George had not asked her II
there was some one else 10 whom she
had pledged her affection or pllghted
her troth. He did not care. He went
on selling agricultural implements
and striped overalls and brooms and
nails and putty and canned goods and
other groceries, whlstling little melo-
dies 10 himself and wondering how
Lucy would want their house painted
when they got married.
Every now and then he would pro-
pose again to Lucy. By every now
and then | mean that he would pro-
pose. say. once a week. Some weeks
he proposed twice. He saw that II
pleased Lucy to be proposed to and
George was a gentleman who believed
in making himself agreeable to a
young lady when he was fond OF her.
So II came along toward Christmas.
I'VE must have Christmas tree for
the children" Lucy said
Lucy was teacher in the Wide
Plain Sunday School Her pupils
idolized her George and the other
seven suitors had tried to join her
class. but she had insisted that they
must attend the Bible class for older
students. which was presided over by
Mrs. Henry Gillup. most capable
married lady, who had brought one
husband and six children to help up
build Wide Plain.
The fact that Lucy had demanded n
Christmas tree occasioned many
smiles. especially from Georges rivals.
"A Christmas tree!" laughed Will
lam Skidmore. There isn't tree for
hundred miles In any direction"
Let's get one shipped In by freight.
then" suggested Luke Morton.
mo time now" Wesley Perkins
pointed out. ITS only two days to
Christmas"
Tho seven rivals were not 10 par
ticular about tho tree. Each OF them
knew that Lucy would be disappointed
bit. but each Of them felt that the
Gift he had selected for her would help
10 overcome her disappointment fur.
IN any event. there was 20 be Christ.
mas Eve party AZ the church.
On the evening Of December ~
0oorHa called On Lucy. Sho Mas sllII