The Ordway new era., 1922-12-15

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EGINA gazed despondently
out of the window.
A light snow was fall
M Ing like millions of spark
KNV ling diamonds and pearls,
WT MA yet Regina saw nothing.
M WI Her Christmas tree had
W NV not comel
I'M W 1t mattered not that the
MaaSD day was wonder day
z/SQE and that the eve of
lN1llF Christmas was close at
.VN hand. Nothing mattered
" eb to Regina save the fact
that she had promised her
sunday school class a glorious tree,
and that now there was no tree for
them.
She argued with herself that she
might have known that the New York
Shops could not be relied upon to send
tree to the suburbs at so short a
dotice, but that did not help the
situation.
Regina shrank from facing those u
little girls whose smiles would vanish
In childish disappointment when they
learned that the tree they had been
promised was not to be theirs.
The tears brimmed over and fell.
kegina's vision was cleared and in
the clearing she gazed directly at the
miniature fir tree In the vacant lot
next door. A sense of keen delight
swept over Regina. After all, her chill
dren would have a tree!
Some 10 minutes later Regina ap-
peared in outdoor costume. She had
put on her gymnasium suit, high rub
ber boots and her fathers great top
coat. Over riot of curls her snug
fur cap fitted closely.
"You look for all the world as If
you deserved your nickname" eSpostu-
lated Regina's mother. Regina, do
hope nv one Will see you"
Now, this nickname to which Re
gina's mother alluded with distress
had been bestowed upon the girl by
her father. 1t was Tommy-no more
and no less-Tommy And Tommy
stood for tomboy. You see, the girl
was no hothouse flower. even If she
did teach Sunday school class and
weep with disappointment. In fact,
her father insisted that the nickname
fitted-and secretly he was proud that
1t did. For Regina was distinctly able
bodied. She could ride and swim.
She could handle 2O-gauge shotgun
and casting rod. She was notable
mountaineer. She could paddle canoe
and sail a boat. And she cared lot
more for out-of-doors things than she
did for dances and for social functions.
Her idea of happiness was a camp
In the woods.
"There's no one for miles around
Regina laughed, and shouldered nm ak.
"Unless people who live In the bunga-
low turn up-I will have the world to
myself" She picked up n big tub
with her free hand and trudged OH
toward the fir tree in the vacant lot.
Regina's eyes were too intent on her
mission to see that a thin curl OF
smoke was lWlStiHS NOM INV Si'AAA-AAS'
OF the bungalow that rambled In the
lot beyond the vacant one.
Regina drew near the coveted tree
,nd her heart expanded lovingly.
"What little beauty" she ex-
claimed half aloud.
The little tree stood not much high
or than Regina. Over its branches a
veil of smoke seemed to linger. After
a moment spent in admiration the girl
nut down her big tub and began to
clear away the light fall of snow from
about the roots Of the tree. Her
cheeks were gloriously red and the
sparkle In her eyes rlvaled the day It.
self.
When the snow was cleared Regina
swung the great AK into the frozen
earth. The ground scarcely respond
ed to her strength. She swung
again.
"Hey. What are you doing to that
tree"
Regina dropped her ak and gazed
in the direction of the deep grun
voice. A man was standing on the
veranda of the bungalow.