The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-12-20
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very brown hair.
Bcrnicc obcdicntly drank the steam.
'hs mixture and snugglcd down in the
blankets and went to sleep.
Il wonder who she is, Jim" snid the
last conner.
"Shc came to us out of the storm
! Il little snowbird," murmured jim But.
Ter.
! Billy Smith smiled shrewdly.
Little Snowbird will be missed on
: Christmas eve" he said. "Somc one
Is probably looking for her now, so
dont set your heart on her, jim"
| jim laughed softly.
"oh, get out, you old idiot /" he
Sr'nnrd. Cant chap sentimental.
l%r bit on Christmas eve without
your getting silly? 1 was thinking It
Will be sorry Christmas for this little
Slrl, ana this blizzard looks good for
all day tomorrow!'
sure thing so I'm going out to cut
Christmas tree for her." said Billy
struggling into his heavy coat.
You're an angel" laughed jim, get
| ting out an AK
lie hnd never seen Bcrnice Avery
before the moment when he had Stun
Dled over her Snow-cOvered form. He
lau carried her to the cabin three
lhileS up the mountain and given Billy
Smith the surprise OF his adventurous
life.
James Butler was timber expert in
the employ of the government and
Billy was his right-hand man.
SnHGon1,y no
staggered In, powdered with white
ness, carrying small, symmetrical
hcmlock tree.
Our Christmas tree for the kid"
he said solemnly.
Good" chuckled Jim, and they set
to work.
1t was Christmas morning when
Bernice awoke again. Dlmly She re-
'nemDered the events Of the night and
when full realization came upon her
she sat up In bed and looked around.
Dear me, how horrid l fcel!" she
yawned sleeplly, and at that instant
she saw the Christmas tree and her
eyes popped wide open.
The little tree stood on a table near
the fire, propped with heavy stones.
Strings Of popcorn fcstooned it and
there were puZzling tinsced orna-
mcnts-nuts covered with tinfoil. There
were Mexican quirt, pair of gayly
headed Indian moccasins, roll of
Navajo blankets and some apples and
oranges.
II wonder whose Christmas tree this
is" marvclcd Bernice.
The sun was streaming through the
windows when Jim and Billy knocked
ut the door and entered in rcsDonsc to
hc" call
their best garments and they glanced
"Xpectnntly from the girls shyly sml-
ing face to the gay little tree
Merry Christmas !" all three said
In unison, and then laughed in ray
fricndlncSS.
ut looks so Christmasy in here"
said Bcrnicc: "I'm afraid I've Stun
blcd upon somebody's Christmas tree"
Jim laughed. "Oh, that's your tree"
"Minc? she stammercd.
"ics-it was Billy's idca-your be-
Ing away from home and everything.
These are Just trilcs we had around
the house. Please don't cry!" he pro-
tested as tears filled the lovely eyes OF
his guest.
but you don't know how beautiful
1t is she sobbed. II was hating
Christmas this year--I was so lone
somc-and everything"
She told them how she had dislikcd
the West, not dreaming 1t could hold
such kindness, and in return both men
became very gruff indeed and Billy
stcrnly insisted upon her coming out
ana eating her breakfast OF cornbread,
bacon and coffee. Jim said nothing,
put his eyes were eloquent.
1t was late afternoon when the
storm ceased so that they could put on
snowshoes and set out down the trail
toward the Gulch, Bernice hugging her
precious gifts close to her heart.
Its the happiest Christmas ever
had" she told jim, with eyes all
ashine.
"And you don't hate the West and
Its people?" he smiled.
"No, indeed!"
'"Then-perhaps--y will like II
well enough to stay here always I" he
blurted, and then In a panic of bash.
fulness he dashed away from the
fuckers front gate, leaving Billy sole
witness to Bernice's bushes and tell
tale eyes.
"We'll have another Christmas tree
next year--we three--and 1t won't he
any accident either" predicted the
guide shrewdly.
Billy's prophecy was fulfilled, and
Bernlce's happy Christmas was follow
ed by many more in the country which