Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-12-24

UenEy, oear, sne Saio tnlck.
ly, "we're not going to have treo
this Christmas. Daddy isn't here
to help decorate It, and besides
Santa will come without . Christ /
mas tree"
and Joe had explained to him the
first time they'd bought tree just
the kind they liked. 1t had to be so
tall and so big around. 1t had to be
cedar with clusters Of blue berries
on it. Old Oliver always had the
kind OF tree they wanted.
Little Denny ran into the kitchen
from the front room.
"Mommy. there's OIL Oliver"
he said. "Mommy. he has our
tree.
Iarge dried her hands and knelt
to gather little Denny in her arms
Il know he has. dear" she said,i
making herself look at him. Since
last January when the horrible car
accident had taken Joe away from
her. she'd had difficulty in looking
at Denny. Denny had Joe's rurnpled
dark hair. his dark eyes, the deep
cleft in his chin. A sob caught In
Marge's throat. Denny. dear" she
said thickly, we're not going to
have a tree this Christmas. Daddy
isn't here to help decorate 1t. and
besides-Santa will come without
a Christmas tree"
'I'n help decorate It." Denny
said. Il did last year"
Marge pressed Denny close. II
know. dear" she said. Poignant
memories Of last Christmas crowd
ed her so that she couldn't talk for
a moment. She could see Joe teeter.
ing on the ladder to put the star in
the top Of the tree.
"I can help. Mommy. -" Denny
insisted
"You could. dear. but we don't
want tree with Daddy gone. Some
day, dear-oh, hope It never
comes to you-you'n understand
why Mommy didn't want Christ
mas treel" She rose to her feet
hurriedly feeling a rush Of tears.
"rll get your wraps. Denny. and
you can play outside in the snow
for awhile"
Shadows heightened If the little
house before it came to Marse with
frightening realization that It had
been all OF three hours since Den
ny'd left the house.
"Denny-DENNY!" She ran out
on the porch and down the steps.
her slim unprotected feet and legs
sinking into the deep snow that had
banked there. DENNY" The
echo of her voice came back to her
in mocking horror across the white
stiffness Of the little yard.
A cold wind swept against her ss
she stood at the gate locking W
and down the street and calling
Denny's name. It was q horrible
moment, one in which she knew
she must have aged twenty years
and one In which she saw In hear
wrenching clarity her unfairnes,
to Denny In harboring a self-cen
tered grief over her loss Of Joe tt
the extent OF his safety. his protec
ton. his veritable happiness.
A familiar wagon made the turr
at the end Of the street. and Marg'
recognized old oliver and his loat
Of Christmas trees. His chant RAM
out again. Buy your Christmas tire,
now! Only two dollars. -
Marge shrieked against the wind
"Oh. dont-please don't!" The
she saw Denny-little brown gsrbe'
Denny sitting up in the seat by oil
Oliverl
| The wagon stopped by the gate
and old Oliver grinned as DEM
climbed down into Msrge's reach
ing arms. He likka th' ride
He.
/ Marge didn't give him . chsnc
to talk. do you have our uea
| Oliver?" she asked.
H Old Oliver chuckled and jumpe
down from The wagon. ALA wee
| i've had your tree" he said.
II "Just put II In the yard" Mars
| told him. why. Denny and
couldn't do without our ueel"