Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-25

an indignation meeting it was su
:perb success Everybody made g
speech and some of them were deliv
cred in unison
We'll, anyhow, We can ask some
body else to invite us around to thei1
party" said Billy.
The tree was such an established
tradition in the Brooke household that
lit was impossible to contemplate
Christmas without one. But Constance
always unconsciously assuming com
mand, shook her head.
mo family has right to invade
some other family's Christmas she
said. II wouldn't dream of such a
thing. It would be like begging for
presents. too; and we haven't quite
reached that
Pretty nearly remarked Alice
dolefully. "Ill cry my head off if I
don't see a tree on Christmas
None of us will be exactly cheer
full her sister said. None of us but
And I suppose he will rub his hands
and congratulate himself"
So came Christmas Eve to the three
paupers of the big Fifth Avenue man.
sion. Dinner was eaten in almost COM
plete silence Only H. Hedge attempt
ed to talk, and he abandoned the effort
after a brief trial. There was nobody
to talk with: the Brookes were at
table, but they would not answer him
It was past nine O'Clock when a
solemn procession of three, headed by
Billy walked out into the night. The
efficiency man, who, as usual, was
working did not become aware of the
exodus until the big front door closed.
For an instant he contemplated pur-
suit; then abandoned the idea and
turned again to his examination of the
days accounts.
The three .Brpokes walked for sew
eral hours and several miles. There
was nothing else to do. Billy strobe
along in the center, sister clinging to
either arm. They saw shops and shop
pers, bundles, delivery wagons, wreaths
- everything that concerned a Christ
mas of which they we're not part.
1t was not pleasant night to walk,
unless you had your pockets filled with
There was a raw wind and
leaden sky. 1t was no night whatever
for an indefinite goal.
At that, however, it was better than
a great house on Fifth avenue-witn
no Christmas. The Brooke children
were unanimous on that point, even
though they were not enamored OF the
It was Alice who made the big dis
tree!
Haunting it's colored lights against
the black sky, it sprang into vision as
the wanderers rounded wind-swept
corner and paused momentarily for
breath. 1t was very large Christmast
tree; the largest Alice had ever seen.
it seemed to reach into the
scudding clouds. But for all its size,
it was truly Christmas tree. The tin
sci was there, and the garish orna-
ments. while the electric candles ap-
peared to be numbered by the thous-
and
Alice uttered an exclamation and
pointed. For a full minute the Brooke
children stood and stared at the appar-
ition. The waving branches beckoned
to them.
:'The charity tree!" whispered Con.
stance
Then without further word, the
trio drove forward against the wind.
crossed the street, and entered Madi-
son Square.
A winding walk among the benches
carried them to the outer rim Of a
crowd that stood oblivous to the night.
conscious only of the big tree that
shed prismatic radiance in the center
of the little park. 1t was not crowd
1f
crowd in overcoats. But of all that, it
was Christmas crowd, and because
of this the Brookes again felt them
selves strangely aloof from it.
Only with the tree did they seem
10 be on terms of intimacy and under
standing. The tree was friendly: it be-
onged as much to the three Brookes
as to any of the hundreds who gazed
lp at its lights. So they stood and star
I'd, unmindful of numbed feet and
,ingling ears. And while they stood the
snow came: intermittent furries at
irst-the outriders Of the storm. And
hen, in steadily increasing numbers,
he soft fakes, flying lightly in the
gusts, swept down from the dark SKY
md began their patient work Of Gov
ering the earth.
There was an uncertain stir in the
,rowd. Little groups began to detach
and wander off into the
hight A man standing close to Con.
stance turned up fimsy coat collar,
,lew upon his fingers. and hurried
way. Two women with baskets sighed
COX their last look at the bravely blaz.
ng tree. and Joined the scattering re-
reat. But still the Brooke children
fingered
(To be continued.)