The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-24

enarby a slender figure at bay,
while Dlnnie barked excttedly
ABOUT her, She wore boys knit
tad car and sweater and her
cheeks, pink from the unwonted
exercise Of chopping down sym
metrIral young hemlock, were
growing pale as she heFVousS
watched the dog.
"Down, Dinnie," commanded
Denton. and when the dog mad
frisked away he looked down al
the girl, the tottering little tree
and the shining axe at her rect.
''Tregpassing?" he questioned
with smile, as he stood beiorI
her, bareheaded in the gloom.
'Does any one really care?" she
naked neryously. such q little
tree-it is a very tiny one"
"You needed just such a tree!
he asked gently.
sho nodded. ANY kind OF tree
would do-that is, a Christmas
tree-tha children believe In san
II Claus-and 1t is so hard TO
deny them-there is nothing to
PUT on it-but the tree VII! oe u
Joy to them-it Is such q pretty
little tree" Her lovely color was
returhing az she grew eager.
ssNothing to put on 1t--reA1ly!"
asked Denton, who had had every"
thinE he wanted all his life.
ideally" she said halt1ngiy'
~ am ashamed, but"
whats tough" worried the
owner Of teh big house. :,
1--WE have each other, though
! smiled the girl suddenly.
GWho are we?" Denton wanted
to know as he picked up the axe
and proceeded to chop down the
tree In one swift sure blow.
1Grandmother, the two chill
drAn and-I-I am their aunt
and l lost my position In the oncle
-
"What Officer"
Life and
FCatesby's?"
Glow did you know?"
eve only had glimpse OF your
face, but think I've seen you
there. Why did you leave?
i'There was not enough WORK
for SC many, and was the last
%F'irst to go, eh? I'll fix that
next week for you! Now, about
Getting the tree down-II take
fhst. Of course, and you want
some wood?" ;, :.
IsT'm SO ashamed, but" her
atan1msrlng words were lost IN the
T.inr 0f the axe as Denton felled a
JoISf5R oak tree and chopped In up
il tTe queer white light of the
annw an The meadow, which seem
ed to make the fringe OF tns
GOODS quite visible. The WOOD
was piled on the sled and the tree
atop Of that and Denton picked up
the rope and led the way across
tha meadow, for the girl had sald
she lived on Birch street.
"You are lucky" said the man
az .Sift,ucSylS asked the girl with q
dreSry little laugh. with three
deSr ones to feed and keep warm
59Cs, IN tuck to have the dear
ones-i've got everything in the
world, but not q near relative
NO Kin to, eat Christmas dinner
n am the most fortunate after
ALA said the girl quietly.
They stopped in front OF q low !"
cottage under great drooplnG
elms! "You live here" ne de.
monded. ''I'm just back from
oYerseas-haven't been here lot
ten years, anyway, but my old pa.
DicS RAYMOND, used to live here"
ttFIe went to France and never
came back" choked the girl. "Hts
mother lives here now-he mar.
rcd my sister-she died, too, and
q We are all that is left"
'EDick's mother-and family!
71uStf see them-why, my mother
loved, Mrs. Raymond-and she is
the one you call grandmother!
It,s queer. world" he unused
hut, say, Miss-er-"
BROOKS - am Dorothy
Brooks"
h ssNEfss Brooks-that little tree
isn't half big enough for DICKS
children-wait minute let me
soc Mrs. Raymond. and perhaps
she viii let me take all OF you up
TO my big lonesome house to make
a Christmas for mel"
BY following DOROTHY into the
plainly furnished little house and
md q touching half hour with
DIGk Raymond's mother, while the
little boy and girl sat on his knees;
little Jerry is named for you"
4aid aid Mrs, Raymond at last.
''I'm going to look out for his
Fnturo.n declared Jerry, and now.
Mra, Raymond, please come and
listen to my great secret"
The result OF the great secret
was that half an hour lator Doro-
Try locked the door Of the little
house and followed her delighted