South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-20
The Evergreen Girl
By Marston Mercer

drawing back in confusion. How
YOU startled me. I thought it was
your sister, and"
Helen has gone TO Balford 70
meet a friend who is TO spend the
holidays with US" sale the young
man, so she sent me after the
wreaths." He smiled down at the
girl. This is the evergreen shop.
isn't it?" he added
Yes" said Ruth. forcing a smile
in return.
And you are the evergreen 9irl -
Il believe they call me that" she
answered.
Well" said Stanwood, isis told
me TO be sure and fetch you back
with me when I returned"
Back with you"' echoed Ruth.
Really II can't go. There is so
much 20 do here, and"
"Boshw laughed Dane. "Of
course you will go back with me.
Fact is you'll have to-" He waived
his hand as Ruth started to speak.
NO excuses now, for l won't listen
10 'em. You see." Stanwood went
ISIS and her friend were sup posed
TO help get things ready for the
party tonight, but she telephoned
just as I was leaving the house that
the train on which her friend was to
arrive is very late. She may not get
back until o'clock. and the party
begins at 8. I told Sis I could never
get things ready in time, for the
decorating ISN'T half done. .: IN
she happened to think OF you. and
I said right off that you wolld be
just the one TO help US o1t. You're
not going 20 disappoint US. are
you? ," very anxiously.
Well, perhaps ! can go for a
little while" said Ruth. I'd dear
ly love to trim that Christmas
tree"
"Of course. I won't stay TO the
party" she thought as she scurried
upstairs after a wrap, $50 1 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 custom
ers"
Dane ushered Ruth into the big
double parlors Of his new home.
where the Christmas tree had been
placed.
do you suppose" he asked.
pointing to a great pile Of evergreen
at one end OF the room, 1--WE Will be
able TO hang all these wreaths and
then decorate the tree before s
o'clock"
The evergreen girl gave merry
little laugh.
"I am sure we can if we work
fast" sh" answered 4 am used to
this work, you know. and with your
help it won't take long"
How long have you been the ev-
ergreen girl?" Dane asked. as he
and Ruth were trimming a chande-
lier.
This is my third season." Ruth
replied. Il found that there was a
big demand TO- wreaths AID laurel
trimming during the Christmas hol-
idays. so three years ago I opened
an evergreen shop. ! love TO 60 this
kind of work, and although the sea-
son is a 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
which was always so hard to bear
during the holidays. She said moth
ing Of this. though, but asked in
stead
Tell me. Dane. how have you
spent Christmas while you have
been away Have you been where
there was much merry making?"
For the past three years" said
Stanwood i've celebrated Christ
mas by working from dawn till
dark. This is the first enjoyable
Christmas Eve 7 have known since
I left Briefly"
1T has been a very pleasant even
ing for me, too" said Ruth. and ]
have enjoyed it ever so much. Now
Wen 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 satisfac-
ton with the help of the ever
green girl he had finished the decor
ations and everything was in readi-
ness for the guests"
THE rooms look Just as they did
four years ago at Dolly Blair's