The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-12-26

Back with you." echoed Ruth.
Really II can't go. There is so
much to do. here, and"
..Bosh r laughed Dane. "Of course
you will go back with me. Fact is
you'll have to-" He wnved his hand
as Ruth started to speak. "No ex-
cuses now. for 1 won't listen to en-
You see,- Stanwood went on, ISIS and
her friend we're supposed to help get
things ready for the party tonight.
but she teiephoned just as was leav-
Ing the house that the train on which
her friend was to arrive is very late.
She may not get back until nine o'clock.
and the party begins at eight. told
Sis I could never get things ready In
time, for the decorating isn't half done.
Then she happened to think of you,
and I said right on that you would be
! Just the one to help us out. You're not
going to disappoint us, are your" very
anxiously.
well. perhaps can go for little
whiIe,- said Ruth. "Td dearly love to
trim that Christmas tree"
"of course, won; stay to the
party she thought as she scurried
upstairs after wrap, $50 I won't see
Danes sweetheart, for of course she Is
| the one Helen is to meet at the train.
And really ought to help Dane and
his sister out, for they have been such
good customers"
Dane ushered Ruth into the big
double parlors of his new home, where
the Christmas tree had been placed.
do you suppose" he asked. point
ing to a great pile Of evergreen at one
end of the room. 1--WE will be able to
hang all these wreaths and then deco
rate the tree before eight o'clockT'
The evergreen girl gave merry lit
tie laugh.
Il am sure we can II we work fast"
she answered II am used to this
work. you know. and with your help
II won't take long"
~How long have you been the ever
green giri?- Dane asked, as he and
Ruth were trimming chandelier.
This is my third season." Ruth re-
piled. .I found that there was a big
demand for wreaths and laurel trim
ming during the Christmas holidays.
so three years ago I opened an ever
green shop. love to do this kind Of
work, and although the season is a
short one, my little shop pays we'll"
The evergreen girl might have added
that, more than this the rush of work
lust at Christmas time helped her to
/ forget the dull ache In her heart which
was always so hard to bear during the
holidays. She said nothing OF this,
though, but asked, instead:
Tell me. Dane. how you have spent
! Christmas while you have been away.
/ Have you been where there was much
merry-making7'
"For the past three years" said
| Stanwood, "I've celebrated Christmas
by working from dawn till dark. This
is the first enjoyable Christmas eve
have known since left Briefly"
'1t has been a very pleasant eve
ming for me, too" said Ruth, "and I
have enjoyed It ever so much. Now
I we'll trim the Christmas tree, and then
you can take me home and get back
/ In time for the party"
At half-past seven Dane surveyed
! the big double parlors with satisfaction.
With the help Of the evergreen girl he
/ had finished the decorations and every
/ thing was in readiness for the guests.
Z foDiuS IUoh JuSi no Dtcy ot0
four years ago at Dolly Biair's Christ
mas tree-even the mistletoe bough.~
said Dane. Don't you remember how
that one hung right ever our heads. ~
! this one does nowf
The evergreen girl was silent.
Had you forgotten, Ruth r. he per-
sisted
NO softly, Il had not forgotten"
You never thought had forgotten,
did you, dearT
| .But you never wrote, Dane"
Because for a long time I WIS miles
from a railroad or post Office and could
not send any msfL Bus I've thought
of that night, though, and all these
years I've been planning to have .
Christmas party Ms much like that one
as / could, only this one tonight will
be for yon.-
But isn't the friend who is coming
with Helen your aanceer" faltered
Ruth.
Not exactly" laughed Dane. That
friend is Harry North, Helen's fiaDce.
The girl i expect to marry is here.
now. and, by Jovei I've caught her
again standing under the mistietoe
bough."