The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-16
d All Y
.sHg..R /. STORY .
Green Boughs.
- nEnnv nAkER.

, an atnosphere OF cneer. A week
Ia.er It maybe discarded IN an AZ
s ley like the skeleton OF some
persisted youthful fancy: but on
the oath and 26th Of December IL
Is the scepter OF an unseen King,
with domain nearly as great as
Christendom. Therh is nothing
quite like an evergreen tree at
Christmas time, for those who arc
In the least sentimental.
Christmas meant much to Larry
Wilmer, and a Yuletlde without
evergreen was like n feast without
food. When in school he always
went home for the holidays. ana
always a. green tree stood in tho
same spot IN the room that was
called a parlor. But now all was
changed: his parents were dead.
the old home sold. He was tramp
ing about the country without a
fixed abode.
Still. this Christmas Larry was
going homo. IIiiltown was the
nearest thing to home for him. be-
cause Matilda Clark lived there.
4nd she was the girl he hoped TO
marry. He had never asked her
outright. bnt on this Christmas eve
= he intended doing 40. He had
\ saved one thousand dollars and this
would give them n start
A thousand dollars would. Of
5ourse, mean little to Matilda. He's
father was president Of railroad,
and It was said he had to use almost
seven figures In taking account OF
his wealth. He was eccentric, as
is shown by his choosing to live In
small mlddlewestern town: but
ne dIsliked the cities and his FAM
Nv was agreeable to the change.
Then. IL had bean remarked by par
ssRons supposed to know that Mr..
SIark moved from Chicago to get
Sykny from his sister.in.law, q spin
Ger of fifty, who insisted on run
ming things. This aunt, for whom
Matilda was named. could not be
/. pried loose from the city except for
brief visits, and Mr.. Clark did not
+ attempt to pry her. She loved Chi
caRo, 30 when the Clarks moved she
rented an apartment. Just how the
head OF the family benefited, how
aver. is a mystery. because he spent
most Of hts time in the west. run
ainF back0au forth along his rail.
road.
Larry met Matilda one sprins
when he was in Hilltown on a sur.
yeyinE oh. He aspired to win her
ETom the first, but entertained lit
tie real hope because OF ner "S sa.
tlS family. He heard tnat neS
mother had ambitious plans ioF 1ae
girl in a matrimonial way neo IN
fact sought 10 influence the daugn,
ter In AaYor Of certain rich aotnN'
ers; bit Larry came to know thas
Matilda was a democratic miss ana
that money counted for little WIN
Il her. Before long the two came 70
~ IND erstanding and Larry
XII out 10 accumulate little cash
Tor he Fass determined not to i've
on the old f4foIks' even II ne hau
the Opportunity.
s. And now. We find him on a train,
are iaY before Christmas bound
for Hilitown. The train was crowd
Z: al and Larry shared his seat with
,nnidle.aged man evidently from
Sthe city Tho man was Inclined TO
SorpriIancy. and had chGrub-Iike,
srather fiorid countenance. In his
tie was a diamond pin, and other
spfecioItB stones glistened FROM fin
ger rings 6nth his pudgy hands.
I The Brakeman projected a cold.
pinohed face into the car and an-
n0uuced:
''H1lltown next stop! Htlltown
next stop!"
Larry smiled expectantly, and so
did the man beside him.
tsMy destination" said the man
from the city. He leaned close TO
Larry, fairly radiating happiness.
4'r1l tell you q secret-l,m going
ito be married there Christmas
morning"
Larry congratulated him and
said Htlltown was his destination,
too.
"Kn6w the clarRs there9" asked
This seatmate.
Il should say dol" cried Larry.
HThat's where I'm to be mar.
l-ried," the other beamed.
\ Then you must know Matilda"
the young man ventured.
* The others smile expanded until
&c lighted up the whole car.
"Do I? Do I know Matilda!
Well, say, that's almost Joke. I
am going to marry Matilda"
The world came to an eDd-for
Larry. Sick at heart, he slumped
Iowa in the seat. Well 1t was the
inevitable. Metilda's parents want
ed her to marry 70 rmoney instead
of love, and she had surrendered
while he was away. Now he real
sized why her last letters had
seemed queer II only he had let
her know he was going to Hilltown
for Christmas! Then she would
tytaye explained, and the blow might
A}not have seemed quite so severe.
He had not told her he was COM
ing, intending 10 surprise her. It
was he who was surprised, and
with vengeance.
Iilltown! Hilltown!" cried tho
hlealS.faced brakeman.
The prospective groom arose and
snnthered his baggage, beaming
dyer Larry and the rest OF the pas.
sengers, tho entire landscape, in
TACT, With little enthusiasm Larry
heiped him assemble his rather
Formidable array of belongings and
IL, God Hy1rfr