The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-12-17

"Boshw laughed Dane. "Of course
you will 60 back with me. Fact Is
you'll have to-" He waved his hand
as Ruth started to speak. mo ex-
cuses now, for I won't listen to 'em.
You see," Stanwood went on, isis and
her friend were supposed to help get
things ready for the party tonight,
but she telephoned just as l 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 said right off that you would be
lust the one to help US out. You're not
going to disappoint US, are you?" very
anxiously.
"We-ll, perhaps can 60 for little
WHILE" said Ruth. "Td dearly love to
trim that Christmas tree"
"Of course, I won' stay to the
party" she thought as she seurried
upstairs after a 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.
sDo you suppose" he asked, point
ing to q 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'clock"
The evergreen girl gave merry lit
tie laugh. =.
II am sure we can if we work fast"
she answered. 81 am used to this
work, you know, and with your help
It won't take long"
"How long have you been the ever
green girl?" Dane asked, as he and
Ruth were trimming chandelier.
'This is my third season." Ruth re-
piled. "I found. that there was 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
thst, 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-making?"
"For the past three years." said
Stanwood, "Tve celebrated Christmas
by working from dawn till dark. This
| is the first enjoyable Christmas eve
have known since left Briefly" \
| ut has been a very pleasant eve
ming for me, too" said Ruth, "and !
have enjoyed it ever SO much. Now
well 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
soThe rooms look just as they did
four years ago at Dolly Blair's Christ
mas tree-even the mistletoe bough,'
said Dane. "Don't you remember how
that one hung right over our heads, as
this one does now?"
The evergreen girl was silent.
"Had you forgotten, Rutha" he per
! sisted.
! mo-" softly, "I had not forgotten"
/ "You never thought had forgotten,
did you, dear?"
! "But you never wrote, Dane"
j! Because for long time I was miles
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 a
! Christmas party as much like that one
as I could, only this one tonight will
be for you"
"But isn't the friend who is coming
with Helen your fiancee?" faltered
Ruth.
"Not exactly" laughed Dane. tThat
friend is Harry North, Helen's fiance'
The girl I expect to marry is here,
now, and, by Jovel I've caught her
again standing under the mistletoe
;bough." .sys,