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r?| . i: . Tree Idyl jl |j j| k m |||| i| By ALVAH GORDAN GARTH Ijjj i ti? | "" JSifW'WSSEKHB passenger coach was filled with a merry i Wil* crowd and the Christ- / JL $) mas spMt was broad' ' ? manifested. Luggage \ racks were filled with MFbundles giving out the perfume of " flowers; ) here the head of a doll, j there the wheels of a 9 ^\ak J toy peeped out Some . I (USjk ^ 1 jovial traveling men v\. were discussing their welcome home antl girls on college va- -h cation bandied, gay repartee.. All Was. mirth ahd happiness?except with one. * Shrinking back into a dark corner n ? Of1 the car Was,a bronzed young man. ? The face under the. drooping som- a brero bore a wistful, anxious expres- & sion. He went out to the platform as the train sftrWed" tip; leaped to the ground, skirted the main street, ** evaded a brilliantly lighted church * where some Christmas eve festivity j to was in progress and- reached a house | a set in the center of a large lot He ,u gained the shadow of a great evergreen tree. | P The forlorn taker ventured a few ,k yards, gaining a view of an ell where i *( a dim light showeA He nttered a com- 11 forting sigh and something about "the I fo&s probably being at the church," . * adding: "I can watch and wait I I wonder if the old hideout in the tree is. < still there?" He reached for a branch, |11 i;;. , lifted himself aloft scrambled up the ;* V*; trunk and came to where a few boards al formed a platform. He had placed it B< ji-Vv there when a boy. It trembled from ;a age as he crept upon It *Three years," he whispered, dream- j11 IlfS "Christmas eve, hotee, arid? | d wiatr " ' iu , He bad left this selfsame spot a ran* v< lyv away, he had returned like seme fear-"j ^ - fined fugitive. How vividly be recalled 8 hlglast day at home! He and others |a ^ had been playing ball next to the home e fr of wealthy Jndge Earll. A cheer had Jf v. greeted i his strike which sent the Sphere whirling.- - It landed agfeinst a. " window, crashed througb It and a rata* 11< lite later there appeared a pale-faced, tl excited servant, waving his arms wild- ? ly and shouting oot; b v "Wno did it? It nas gone tbrougu ? the Judge's most valuable painting that ] coat him two thousand dollars f L- v JL wild thought came to Jasper, ft 8 would rtfln his father to pay that bjg | two thousand dollars. Ah! he would ? earn It himwftf. Longingly he glanced- 1! at the vine-clustered cottage where ei lived Edna Harsh, his first love, his ti "girl." Half an hour later he was n huddled In a boxcar, going west Then three years, weary, toilsome, with: no word from home. He had been lured to the gold diggings. Most days n be picked up flakes and nuggets worth h a dollar or more. Twice he was lucky, ii Qe lived at the cheapest rate. In his n ; snatreskin belt he stored the predous w dust; Then, just before Christmas, the d " call of home was not to be resisted. ! a With a shock he aroused, chilled and n confused. Lantern lights dazzled him h Cram below. He made oat half a dozen A forms. One was swinging an ax. It rl 1 " ' sunk deep Into the base of the tree, j h "Take tarns!" called out a sten- ! . \ torlan voice. "Let all hands have a s; chance at cutting down the biggest | Christmas tree In tovL How she will 01 t<Jwer on the common tomorrow night, | all alive with colored electric globes fx and gifts for the kids!" I "Hold on.."' called down Jasper Wal-' den,, missed a clutch and fell to the 3-- snowy ground. | He opened his eyes to find himself : - lying on a couch In the house, his fa-! ther, mother and sister bending over him with solicitous cara and there, 1 clinging to his sister's arm, pale and rv . anxious, was his boyhood love, pret- ( tier than ever?Edna Marsh. | "My boy, Ob, my boy, heaVen is kind!" cried his mother. I Jasper unshipped the snakeskln belt I "Father," he said, "It's full of gold. It V will pay for Judge Earll's two thousand-dollar picture." * . ....... "wnati mat sent you away?" cnea ~ bis mother. 'Tour ball never hurt the ! * 15^1 | picture. It only ripped one end loose." w There was a crash outside, then a ai cheer. The great Christmas tree had ii come down. vThe throng had seized it tl and were bearing it away, singing, 11 "Peace on earth, good will to men." Jasper ran to the door, and Edna with cl bim. ir "Men," he shouted, a-thrill with Joy, v paving his golden treasure, **trim that tree fore aod aft with the brightest, ai prettiest ornaments money can 'buy si and send the bill to met" and then, as t? he led his sweetheart down the hall , back to the parlor, he whispered: C "A Chriatmal kiss for the wanderer s< returned!" and Edna pressed her t< fweet lips to his own, ja .. ..... . ' r" . "' ; 5 i A Christmas ii i Decoration j! HikV . ) By WALTBR DBLANEY jj fIS Christmas present had been a bullet in his left arm from an enemy gun. He lay upon his cot in the field hospital. Yuletide bustle pervaded the camps outside. With grim, set lips, through an op?n windotf, he watched an airship gyrating in mid air, and wondered what the future would bring to Im of weal and woe. "The most resigned, heroic patient re ever had," spoke the Red Cross urge to the- surgeoiy "When he woke p .after the anesthetic and missed his rm, he Bald quietly: They didn't get oth, did they?- I've one still left for le service of my country." Tres;** nodded the surgeon, "the ma.n i made of hero stuff all through. He ooted eighteen of the foe out of a rench and marched them Into cimp 11 alone, that shattered arm hanging seless, at his side." "Sergeant Dexter Marsh has some Iiing on his mind," said the nurse. He eepB hi$ eyes fixed with a faraway >ok, as if some haunting sorrow made ha forget everything else." 'Tell him the general Is coming to se him," advised, the' surgeon. But the patient simply smiled his banks when the none imparted the jtelllgence. Even ppeared he was ilf-contained and Wj / _ J "Bravest of all le war-scarred ave added to our ude and esteem, llwi ileutenan^ I \\^\ II f I tajsh," and helfi \( Lj\ ) Inned a golden \v ' 1/ ledal to tie. louse the patient wore. "Get well, my boy," spoke the genraL "Well see that you help win the ar behind the lines as a directing arte, jost as you have with that mad* scklcss dash that has Invalided you." At noon, when the nurse came again > the cot, her patient was gazing at ? hoUy and evergreen trimming^ and iemed pleased at some flowers rought by a comrade who sat beside !m. "The whole company wanted to wne," explained the latter, "but I told tern that wouldn't do." The nurse accompanied him to the uteroom. "Do you know Lieutenant! larsh very well?" she inquired point- j lly; and as he nodded, "then can yon >11 me what is so constantly on his iind7" >\ "It's Ada Wilbert." 'Who is she?' "She was his wife. Back home he lairied her on an Impulse. He had , alf an honr to catch a train. She had isisted that she would become a war urse and follow him abroad. They i ere married by a clergyman, near the epot Marsh had just time to snatch kiss and catch the train. He has i ever heard from her since, bnt a lonth ago a relative wrote him that: da had managed to have the mar-1 [age annulled. She had disowned lm, and It broke his heart" "Poor soul!" murmured the nurse rm pathetically. *tor?t? ninuori hln ovph ns dnsk came a. The bands outside were playing y i old, familiar Yl it tunes. His torIll tared mind went 11mPN\\\ I taclc to ^ome 111'M I ?cenes ?f which 111 Ada had ^)een center. The nurse ' 11 fancIed he' was i [(/ rmiil asieep> aQd left j|^H ^Brl) the room. In the [I^H | corridor outside MfiC MB' a girl wearing a js/Qg gossamer spoke to j jf "Miss Arnold 7* ^ f' "From the chief of the medical j taflf." The nurse read an order trans*1 siring her to another ward, substi-1 ite: Miss Ada Wilbert. She stared 1 l amazement. "You know who I am?" spoke the ltruder. "Why, yes. I?I cannot understand." "As to my being here? It has been le one Impulse of my life, ever since le military authorities passed the re- i trictlon that no wife could accompany j er husband abroad. My marriage ; ent for naught. I had It annulled. I; m nfi'lnnwr a mlfo T om nnln o lnir. I lg, loyal girl, whose place Is beside le man for whom she would give her fe." Ada swept aside the enveloping loak, to reveal a Red Cross costume. Fou noble creature!" quavered the ftrse. "Come." And after a while, when the shock nd surprise of her presence had been abdued, Ada retold her story to Dex>r Marsh. Outside his comrades were singing ftristmas carols, but within his happy >ul th? very harps of heaven seemed > echo, with an angel of love and jwcy at his side) . ; DU uupciui UlOt JUlft UiUJ 5?fW UW ? Christmas visit this year, and yto and Mr. Willis^ would be so Welcome!' "Why, -this won't do 1" ejaculatet John Willi8, replacing the letter thai had been carelessly opiened by the of flee mall cterfe. "Dear old people?an< Nellie I" His heart suddenly smote him. Nel lie never murmured at the exaction! business. Faithfully she ' accom panted hlra to seela! foeetlens, and aT the time a conception of their holloa superficiality had ended in a dream o: the dear old life, where true hearti and quiet, humble pleasures seemed t< beckon longingly. * 'Tm going to take a run down t< the country to look after my ole home," John Willis told Nellie tha evening. "The tenant has left and ] want to see what can be done with it.' He returned two days later. "Sav your folks, dear," he said, and Nellie'i famished soul greeted the tender won like a cooling draught to a thirsting spirit. "Look: here, Tuesday is Christ mag eve. Those suowclad hills a home have made me hungry^ for i sleigli ride. Be ready to take a regu lar old-fashioned frolic." And then awoke in Nellie the most extravagan soul of hope. "Bundle up good," directed her hus band the next evening, as a doubl< team attached to a roomy cutter ar rived in front of the house. "Now then, snuggle under those robes anc let us see if I have forgotten how tc drive. Thirty miles?do you think you can stand it?" "Oh, John?' she almost gasped "That would be our home town. Yob don't mean?" "That I am going to take you to yonr folks? Yes, dear, and stay there with ycu over the holidays. I say," bracing and thrilling as they started down a clear smooth road full speed, "this Is Uke the old times, when I used to steal a kl$s from you, and? m take one now;" She was crying for Joy. Her trem* bllng hpnd stole to his arm and lightly rested there. Her heart was singing amid a aewly awakened happiness. "The river, hill and old bridge I" Bhouted John in hour later, alive with enthusiasm. f,Bonfire on the skating patch afid?\yhoa! Nellie, this is my Christmas present to you." He had haired In front of the old Willis homestead, pretentious In its mansionlike beauty. "I've decided to give up the crowded city. Well, what Isltr She could irot tell him at that supreme moment The merry sleigh bells rang out a gay eon? of renewed youth and contentment in a dash for Nellie's old home. She ran up the steps to greet loving outstretched arms and fond cries of heartsome welcome. "Home at last!" cried John Willie, bursting into the brightly decorated parlor radiant with evergreen and holly. "Why! you loots Uke ft flrl again, Nellie! Merry Christmas!" And be kissed her under the mistletoe. ' SHVmMWWUWiHVHWWVit ij Under the ij i: Mistletoe I; i! I j; . By RALPH HAMILTON LACKED a week to Christmas, but Ted ^ II S Newton, office boy for ?Ri JL Willis & Co., had been ,n holIday buhaor since the first of the month tif. and 'ust now was caught by the full influence of Yuletide. vHis eyes sparkled as jVk 1 he lifted various pack[ flv*v 0 | ages from a box that had just arrived by express. Amid his chuckling and gloating smiles there came a check. "What you got there, Ted?? squnded a sudden voice, and Ted, turned to be confronted by his "boss." "If you please, sir," he stammered, "it's my regular Christmas box from the folks home on the farm." ''Let's see what yoo'rW got, Ted,*1 suggested John Willis, and he fished out a cake of maple sugar, bit off a fragment and smacked his lips. "Genuine 6tuff, 6h?" he laughed Jovially. .'You're a lucky lad, Ted," spoke Me Willis, his voice a trifle husky. Thee he went into his private office and toi ten minutes sat Idly in his swivel chair, a dreamy, far away expression upon his face. "I can taste that maple sugar yet!" he' sighed finally. "Let me see, lt> two years since I've visited the -old home town. I'm ashamed of It, foi we've run down to Nellie's folks onl) twice since we were married. Maybf she's longing for a sight of the com* toy, too. Hello iH " ' He had picked up his mail and be gan to rifle the slitted envelopes. Th? first lines of^the letter he opened read: . "My.dear daughter Nellie: We ar< ?M\n' tnov erltro no c Mj Santa Claus' j! !; Present jj|? Hi ** III". " |: By GBNBVIBVB ULMAR ||i vi WAS the mournftf- cc rlS est face ever was, p] f s II though rotund, smooth fci JL as a woman's, with . kindly but serious eyes. Their owner waa tl thoughtfully pacing the sidewalk 4n front of the j q( hotel. Suddenly he : baited and his face Ay . j shone as with an in? Is : r < ? I spiratlon.- tc "The chimes ol a] , 'Christmas eve," he murmured, and a smile, peaceful, reverential, all good ' 1 will and gentleness, told that his soul B i was drinking In the sweet music of the oi distant bells, their notes mellow and ; a; ; soft as silver beads dropped within a| i crystal dish. "Fire! flrel" someone yelled. "It'sjP ' the schpolhouse. 'No, It's Benton's l [ store." Tne man watcnea tne nretracK pass bat did DQt join the rushing throngs. He entered the hotel, sank, into an armchair and sat Immersed In. meditation. He was not aroused until an hoar had passed by. Two men took ( the chairs just beyond him. "That settles Santa ClausI" spoke one of them. ."Much of a blaze?" , "Enough to burn to ashes the Santaontflt the store had ordered from the 1 city." > 'We must rig up. a home-made, - Krlss Krlngle, then. There's no tlmej l to lose, either. Those little ones will; ' be on hand at the hall In two hours." , The sad face of their listening neighi bor lit up with responsive sentiment "Excuse me, gentlemen" he spoke, > "bat do I understand that yon are look* i ing for a Santa Clans?' I "That's it," nodded the man nearest > to him. r . 'Td like the job. Td enjoy the Joli Uty; I am the Hranpty Dnmpty of a . stranded company, homeward bound. I fin my wardrobe, I am sure, I have a . Very notable Kriss Krlngle disguise." j i Z Thus it was that Robert Merrill, ex- j ?lrcus clown and famous Humptyi . Pumpty, set Juvenile Belleville wild j j with delight that memorable Christ, mas eve. ( I > "You have won all hearts," enthused ? Mr. Arnold Drew to the great star of, f the occasion. "You have gloriously, 3 saved the day. Of course you will be j] iny guest." Robert ^Merrill hesitated. Then he ' glanced at four little happy-faced chll-, dren In the Drew automobile. "Perj haps I can make np a Christmas spej cial for those cherubs," he said. For two hours at the Drew home: | Robert Merrill fascinated the little' ones. He exercised the best that was ' in him of grimace and contortion to j 1 set thett wild with delight* They were j ! singing a carol at the piano when Mr. j ' Drew beckoned, led him into a small; ' room and proceeded to a closet. "We have a jewel of a governess for j the children and this is her sewing J room," he said, going to a cabinet "This may be - acceptable after your ~ . arduous exercise," and he set a decan- ~ i ter and a glass on the table. k He was almost startled at the sud den change that came over his guest Robert Merrill's features grew stern. "I want to show you something," h? j said, and bared one arm. Across its j surface was revealed a date. "Ten i years back?you note it? The circus tattoo man did that. It commemorate ed the day when I realized that my i reckless way had brought me to poverty, had cost me a loving wife and j two little cherubs. Ten years?twenty ?a lifetime, still will I seek them the 1 world over to atone for my cruel neglect I" "You brave, true man!" cried Ar1 nold Drew shamedly, and swept the | 1 table clear and went back to the room j where the children were, leaving his I guest to recover his composure. [ "Show me!" Robert Merrill started with a thrilL fffelMkpl ''V---; - ^ 2?I He turned to confront a sweet, patient* j faced woman, whose eyes were fixed. upon the tattoo chronicle as though ! ? fascinated. ' "It is true?" she whispered, and tottered, and he caught her in his' arms, and the joy of his own soul seemed imparted to that of the lost one found?his wife! "At last!" his tones vibrated. "You believe? You forgive? Our little ones?" "Safe In the care of kind friends. I nave toiled for tnem so giaaiy, tmnKing you dead. My husband, you have redeemed all those bitter, cr,uel years 1" ' Arnold Drew, returning, stood spellbound viewing the reunited twain? j and comprehending. "You will send for your little ones," he said, "end tomorrow will be for all of us tie brightest, happiest Christmas day that loving hearts can makeltr ... I ^ _ _ .. j STOCKHOLDERS MEETING. . ei s< A meeting of the Stockholders of tl te Abbeville Ice, Laundry and^Fuel t( ompany is called to meet in the of- s< le of William P. Greene, at J?bbe- vi ille, South Carolina, on January ci rd, 1919, at 6:30 o'clock P. M. to L )nsider a resolution, authorizing the d; roper officers of the said corpora- a: on, to execute and issue one hun- n red fifteen (115) Coupon Bonds of si le said corporation, of the par va- k le of One Hundred Dollars ($100.- ir 0) each, making in the aggregate leven Thousand Five Hundred Dol- p trs ($11,500.00), which bonds are* a > be dated January 1st, 1919, pay- p ble in lawful gold coin of the Unifri states of America at the Farmers t< ank of Abbeville, South Carolina, a. January 1st,, 1926, which bonds re to bear interest at the rate of 1 They Have Ar The Ford ??f the i Labo "*c. ' that you have been lo< o# come to Greenwood will ,do. Will give yoi yqu want to see. The; a rtiule will. ... ' JNO. I. ( ' G i.l '11 I i.l, PF-ff Nnf ftnlv Tfip : A1VI VUIJF M liVi r . rr.- v/(l- . .. V * . But at the present ppic< GRANITE is the CHEAP / construction of WALLS, I NEYS and UttDERPINNI or on the Farm. We can furinsh promptly class of work drilled and br twjQ men can handle. II. . Carload Ship WRITE FO] OGLESBY G1 . ELBERTON, TELEPHONES ' . "d ? . 817,000 Cars Went to i r No Need to "S v'.'j , The Red Cross I in France?Ever Automobiles i AND believe us?saving au is a mighty important ma anyone to neglect it. This is ai Look out for ruinous sulphati battery troubles. We test you 5 minutes?to protect you agi repair all makes of batteries. C will do the rest. Don't lose the use of your car in 1919 Eveready Storage Battery is definitel; if not abused it will repay your investi have the right size for every car. OITX/ r> / v-fi 1 I U/ We test and repair Cy Ifjlt all makes of batteries Ll '1mUL| MiMlMWMMnMPBMMMMi ? tei r ii ght per' cent per annum, payable ;m'i-annually at the same place, on le surrender of the coupozfe attached > the bonds, the said bonds to be :cured by and subject to the proisions of a mortgage to be exeated by the said Abbeville Ice, aundry and Fuel Company, to be ated January. 1st, 1919, conveying nd assigning to a trustee to be amed, all of the property ,of the. lid corporation of every nature- and ind, including, its real estate and j lachinery. . ' : The stockholders of the said, cor oration are notified to ' be present' t the said meeting: in penon or by roxy to vote on tlje said resolution. By order of the Board o? Direct ors.: William P. Greene, President, F. E. Harrison, Secretary. 2-3-5t. Toes. ' : ^ J rived " |Tractor In I ' r Saver ? { 3king for. Write us , s' ' y*' ' '' i and see what they 1 any demonstration 3 y will pull any place MPLEY j reenwoodyS. C. i. ' > i * ^t ! Most Durable ?:? : ii . z ' 3 of building materials J EST you can use in the . I i-Oj1 ,DATIONS, CHI#NG for Houses in/ Town if ' - ' ? r stone snitable for .$18 \ j; oken in sizes that one and " t merits Only * I PBICES. | ] RAMIE CO. i UHUKUIA If B 1 2602?208. - |.fl he Junk Pile in 19171 1 B crap" Yours j H ^I 'r ' BC3| r%jf"" i " ?g s Saving Lives n eady Is Saving 9 in America 9 ^ KCT itomobiles for use in 1919 GBR tter?far toe important for n "old car" year. oil. It causes 90% of all - ESl r battery free?a matter of |SH ainst it?and we skilfully jive us the chance and we for want of a new battery I The jfifl y guaranteed for 1 yean, and |SH nent over and over again. We SB9 ^RAGE I A ||yt'Oar repair workIs H Mr M