Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-25

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Sis I could never get things ready III
time, for the decorating isn't half done.
Then she happened to think OF you,
and / said right OF that You would be
just the one to help Us out. Y0ufe not
: going to disappoint u, are your very
anxiously. - 8 s z.:
WELL perhaps can go for q little
WHILE" said Ruth. I'D dearly love to
trim that Christmas tree." z
"Of course, I won: stay 10 the
party" she thought ~ she scurried
upstairs after a wrap, $50 I won't See
Danes sweetheart, for Of course she Ii
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 great pile Of evergreen at one.
end Of the room, I'VE will be able to
hang all these wreaths and then deco
rate the tree before eight o'eloekT
i The evergreen girl gayera merry lit.
tie laugh. =
II am sure we can If we work fast
she answered. II am used to this
work, you know, and with your help
It won't take long,. "
~How long have you been the ever.
green giHT Dane asked, AZ he and
Ruth were trimming a chandelier.
'"This is my third season." Ruth re-
piled. II found that there was q big
demand for wreaths and laurel trim
ming during the Christmas holidays,
so three years ago opened an ever
green shop. I love to do this kind Of
work, and although the season Is 4
short one. my little shop pays well"
The evergreen girl might have added
that, more than this, the rush Of work
just 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, 1--WE celebrated Christmas
by working from dawn till dark. This
is the first enjoyable Christmas eve I
have known since left Brierly."
1T has been a very pleasant eve
ming for me, too" said Ruth. "and I
have enjoyed 1t ever so much. Now
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.
''The rooms look just as they did
four years ago at Dolly Blair's Christ
mas tree-even the mistletee bough,n
said Dane. Don't you remember how
that one hung right over our heads, as.
this one does now?'' 4
The evergreen girl was silent.
Had you forgotten. Ruth2' he per.
sisted.
NO." softly, II had not forsotten.~
"You never thought had forgotten,
did you, dear?''
But you never wrote, Dane"
Because for long time I was niles
from railroad or post Office and could
not send any mail. But I've thought
OF that night, though, and all these
years I've been planning to have q
Christmas party as much like that one
as I could. only this one tonight will
be for YOU"
"Rut isn't the friend who Is coming
With Helen your flancee7" faltered
Ruth
mot exactly" laughed Dane. '.That
friend Is Harry North, Helen's 6ance.
The girl I expect to marry is here,
now. and, by Jovel I've caught her
again standing under the mistletoe
bough."