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Cg3Cbe Salt Cake tribune i t.
- SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, SUNDAY M 0 I i M N I i , J ; IE M J i K I 5 , 1 904 . WU
A r Christmas like that
V ne voire was lnflnltely pa
L.v0 child more eo. Possibly she
Wi. US but the small face w hich
H! we tn round, rosy and full
KLs risbt r ch,,dhood had
V. us Inheritance entirely or
RTcoiw ,nt0 " at for U was
JInfl thin, and the yellow hair
f M away from the temples
f"; yjcery of blue veins that
piethine- Quite different from
. T ,1 up eagerly as she spoke,
,r stern Hues and she looked
M W' v g..-! the shop wln
fMi.g'ly. Suddenly she turned
KJr" ,lie chUd lhroun tht-'
HL froT-d to the curb, attracted
oog of a hug- red automobile
o-mlns up the street. The
1 : . - lit of
e HE agbt the child's hand and
"Mfe'r'-at. the auto! TliPt s the
RwerV son In It. S .' big
-- KVi Btrong He doesn't work.
rKjk.ni that makes their way
1 ""sorM without earning It.
S i '
Hpjturs face brightened v. Ith In-
lL rcammn-I see him! Do you
Kefcif turk '
Hut!
Kjcrr liOV Sl1'
jEtc tie mm beside her w 1 1 1 1
BITOuld Laurence think of th
WL V.:t.l...' pushed out his lips
Rtfles rr.e the youngster has a
BgAruu admire th'- ir m' But see
K'f1 us he's -
ITS' - tf v !- talk foil..
Kv: .m:' li; and tl cu-
Krtib tno child was pulling her
through a Kiplu-llre of ques-
j Kr-j'. . i.ildn'l
in I
llll' bf's fat In th'- b 'Hi.- jila that
.';fcj-n' his f i. -jHfcf.r.'i
Kfejh'" at her own remark But
Hm
K'- ir. .
Kd' t- 'f In v go I a doll. 1 do
SB f I don' I
Ht Nay
H(biM. di.r.'l
HttethlM "-'J': think of was th
H of this b-lng -.ii.!.. claus's
Ht1 automobile This I i
B-iy-f m Idle i ban
S-V.y bo Simla Claus's sm,
Bbkrif HUM li- .jiill- o.l Ln
adr.ui'. that Mi.
tealiorf .iirsni.- .,.,, ;ui
P" a-'fi ..s aft Mid to
jjBlKj rInJr any kii.-i and so
Vnc In his
Pfiyould com..- In an autoiuol.il.-.
H ' 1 " V. I'l' at Hi.
"B- V'"!- '. b :. li doll thfre
)f ted did not know h-v iiain-;
t . Mi- would t-U him.
' 'I from her
i: d : I I i.- in l-
I Ctj ,:l'rj''-nt she had climbed
p-. Mister ain't you Santa
MB An' have you got a doll
Lambert" 'Cause I'm her."
teaman stopped his drawling
rHmomi.nl, then spoke to
kid off of there. Jose!
; Mt'-r. Mlsg Morrow-hut I want
'Bk'''' she can e"' wn t
ihe bls; Koggicfl chauffeur
Vj;; 10 her with a kind of ter
'Jl'1 fn had not understood
ShV?nllM at lhe youn 1:,d'-
HM,r' P-ntaTs son I'm Etlse
TT. " 1 wnt a doll'"
K, " 1 'l-d In a wall as the
Elth ho1'1 "f Sh'"'
j '- ,lr with frantlo eager
Wnifcd to the younc woman
l't you tell him who I am 7 I
'ySt18,311 hlm3lf Interrupt.-. 1 n-
-;;t,.'.lU9' co that
-I . ' '' '
sKlTl: 00 t the waist and stood
I H iKf,1 Z0U ran do Is to keep a
BM.j... yoUr hca-'l. lr. She's
BS-'lt1" d;tU?ntcr lnt0 her arms
jMUTliiirtA .tne 8hP window
u qu,it n fobbing
to taktmmond mado a brave
B'tit u.".-"0 the conversation
In "r,1' "' Ult thr r- w.l3
lu ,,J r: ' "rr"v. 's fao, that
jWr h,ti,0hl!Va''1' ov-nts-iKlu
Srrow' ,a,,'hty Though
K-'-h -nCUB,U- H. r,. was
W.0 WpJ T l''m- too As to
"LiuH f m.ach,re- He
S "-hUk h rKet lnt It now and
jniVVl ood there like a chump
cr,me tor
EtlnK1!- hP the Altn fel-
lUBL'V1- ""'"y 'fs getting
iViIl-Ing still."
WWthlOg laughed
I 44Tor the m uiuhour the
I mir T$ Bare"
By
softly at the expression on Laurence
Hammond's face.
i say did man," he remarked, lipht
1. "why not start her up and let us
how she goes with only you In. You
might cut n swath down Main street
and slay a few of the herd for a
. bane,- "
Laurence Hammond glared. The
Chump was looking up. His memory' re
called other times when the chump had
spoken unexpectedly. Perhaps It Mere
belter to ignore him entirely. He lifted
hif hat to Miss Morrow, ppoke to the
i hafiffeur and was soon out of sight.
Bvelyn Morrow turned back to the
side-walk quickly.
"I must And that child. Jack. I ni
ashamed of myself not to have spoken
to her sooner She looked starved."
"The? little chicken had an idea, f-h-'
Ideas Invariably bring trouble don't
you know that, Evelyn?"
'Nonsense! They "don't at all. Oh
there they are, now! Just look at that
woman, Jack. What a bitter face!"
' By George It's nearer acrid' There's
more than poverty In It. You'd better
let her alone, Evelyn."
"I shall do nothing of the kind. I'm
going to give her money. She'll take It,
too see If she doesn't."
The street was crowded with late
choppers. People of every description
were hurrying br-athlcssl in all direc
tionsa happy, careless lot, well-fed.
w-U-dressed for the most part, with
only now and then an unfortunate who
plainly bore Hi- stump of poverty. Ther-o
was a Jangle of automobile gongs In the
air, and the high B trident call of news
boys the whole a sibilant murmur of
many sounds blended Inlo one ex
pressive of mystery, happiness, gllng.
A busy street indeed! While over there
to the east and above the din and blare
or sound lay the Wasatch mountains,
watchful, dignified, silent, clothed in
purple and rose, un exquisite, constant-ly-changlng
blend of color; tints an
artist would not dare portray upon a
canvas lints as Illusive as the soul's
Joys which may be tasted but not
again recalled.
Jack Worthing stopped before a wln
diOVBj pot Iiik hands HI Mil pockets and
began to whistle again, while ESvelyn
turned toward the woman and child
with an Impulsive rush
"Pardon me, but I saw I heard your
little Khi Just now about the doll.
Won't you let me have the pleasure of
glylng her this?"
She held out a five-dollar gold piece
daintily.
Evelyn's garments were rich. Her
sealskin meant luxury to the gaunt wo
man who turned abruptly to face her.
That big plumed hat above the fair face
did not apptai to her. instead it seemed
to open a gulf between them What
had that girl done to deserve such luxury-'
Here she was. a worker, poor,
hungry, alone, at Christmas-time; there
was the other, rich, petted, loved, an
Idler, with hand extended to give to her,
the poor. Why? Because she was the
poor. No, never! She would go on
starving.
She caught down her child's timidly
out-reaching hand and thrust h-r face
forward, her thin, dry lips parting over
her teeth in an expression which meant
so much more than anger.
Jack stopped his whistling. He saw
the woman say something and turn
away In the crowd, while Evelyn shrank
us If struck- She stood a moment un
decidedly. "She wouldn't have It," she said, as
Jack went up to her "And. oh T wish
-h- hadn't looked at me like that It
makes me unhappy. How can I go on
shopping now ?"
Never mind about that. Take my
arm and let's get through this crowd.
It's that 'Punch and Jud show at Sav
age's. . . What did she say to you.
Evelyn?"
Oh she fairly hissed nt me. 'I'll not
taking from the rich that gives nor
knows what giving means:' What was
In her mind, Jack?"
"Poor devil! . . I don't know. Eve
lynunless a very Just resentment "
"Just resentment? The Idea! What
did I do? I meant her to think fhe
would do me a favor In accepting the
money."
Jack laughed aloud.
"You perhaps don't Bppreclate the
woman's situation. The very poor,
i; elyn aren t up to the newest thing In
etiquette the politest phrasing. They're
generally too hungry to be proper."
"I think ou're horrid' Mamma al
ways says "that 'I shall do myself the
. isure, Or the favor' of this or that,
lakes away takes away"
' The sting? Now. I call that good!
That's i Igh-toned altruism. The only
trouble Is It's too high-toned for earth
Mart rrte, Ev. I i ' The Intelligent poo,
,,,, sometimes proud as well, and the
only ch t it In such a case is ih gift
, 1,1, ti-,,. 5lver. lon t you remember
Lowell's line 'For the gift without the
giver Is bare'?"
You're full of notions. Jack and I
don't think you're very nice to preach
at me like that, either. Besides I am
truly sorry for her."
"Undoubtedly. But your clothes
couldn't speak your thoughts They've
a language of their own."
"If I were poor I should s-tlll appreci
ate beautiful clothes and I know I
shouldn't be envious If other people had
them,"
"Ah but that's not It. Evelyn, iou
don't get the woman's point of view
HOW call you or I say what we'd do un
der given circumstances" What right
have we to give money simply because
we happen to have it and the other fel
low's broke? Why I'd resent your ac
tion, too"
"You Jack?"
"Oh well, I at least If I were she
I mean. You know you're never kind
to me In the way I want you to be,
Evelyn. Anyhow, I'll venture to say
that woman wasn't envious of yourl
clothes. It's a deeper foelinj? than that
Here's the truth Sho felt th- differ
ence between you, and while she
couldn't put It in words, perhaps, she
knew that she had earned her propor
tion of this world's goods without get
ting It that you had It without know
ing what labor meant It seenis
to me that h.-r- v the crux of the whole
I question to the Belf-respectlng worker,
whether man or woman the unequal
adjustment of things. And ihe seeing It
and realizing their Inability to make it
right produces the rabid Socialist w hom
we so calmly pronounce dangerous to
the community. '
"Oh. bother! Now you're started on
the labor question. T shall go home if
jou don t Mop. Everybody knows that
brains make the money as much, or
more, than work "
"Brains, opportunity and muscle,
Evelyn the three modem graces. The
trouble is. In considering them we leave
out that Imperishable something In man
which must be tak.-n into account if
we're ever to have ideal conditions."
"Let's cross over and go up Main
street again past when.- the n,.w .,,1
Pedro building is to be. Won't it ie
splendid when all the buildings up and
down both sides of Main street are mod
ern skyscrapers? They won't have to
fence off the street then as they do
now. Pear me I must take the next
car. It's almost dinner time "
Jack smiled a bit sadly at Evelyn's
open effort to change the conversation
Into more agreeable channels. Clearly
she was not fond of problems. Perhaps
he had been a bore to be so earnest.
' May I come out after dinner, Eve
lyn, and help decorate the tree for vour
small fry?"
"Yes, if you 11 leave your theories at
home."
' I'll try. "What you going to
give me for Christmas. Evelyn?"
"Not a thing, sir People who nsk for
gifts are like women who hint for com
pliments quit- undeserving from the
first. Oil, there's that woman again!
See crossing Second south street. Let's
follow her."
"All right, suppose we do. Shan't I
step into this drug ston and t-lephone
youi mother?"
"Oh, if you will. And then we'll see
where she lives. Hurry. Jack, do!"
Evelyn turned up her coat collar and
looked at the chamois vests and sarsa
parllla bottles until he returned. By
this time the woman was more than a
block ahead of them Ii was growing
dark. The lights w-re on and the air
Benslbly colder as they set out down
Second South street The wind blew
Trom th- west In fitful gusts. Jack
pulled -bis hat over his eyes and but
toned his overcoat
"Pretty brisk breeze, that! Won't
you lake my arm you -an walk b-tt-r.
it's going to snow before
morning, sure "
"Good' I shall be glad. Christmas
Isn't anything without snow Dear me,
how fur we've com-' ('an von s them
still?"
"Yes turning north there the other
side of the railroad tracks, see? Are
you tired?"
' h. no, Indeed' I'm distressed, that's
all. That woman's face haunts me. I
don't blame her now for acting like
that."
"No? I thought you would feel that
way when you came to think about It
1 had un experience Hk- that soon after
I got out of school. It was an eye
opener, too. I came to one conclusion
right th-n and there, and that is w i
absolutely no right to give Just because
we can any more than we've a right to
bestow charity where there are un-.
pleasant conditions and talk about the
conditions. Oh, I know, lots of people
give and expe-i a certain expression of
gratltud. and when it Isn't forthcom
ing they kick about It but that's not
the light kind of giving. The gift must
be free and yet hae the giver, too.
That's not Impossible If It is a para
dox." "But li s hard to be the giver, too,
Jack unless you've lived more. Life's
been so easy for me how can I really
sympathize?"
"Living helps, I think, hut after all.
sympathy's a growth a process. It's
a good deal like truth we don't really
believe a thing until we've had some
thing that equalizes something not
necessarily like, but fully as hard."
"Look, Jock quick! Aren't they
stopplng at that cottage?"
"Urn I b-lleve th- are. Walt let's
not have them see us."
They stood a moment In sll-nce. Then
they saw the blue spirit of a match as
a lamp was lighted. Cautiously thej'
stole up and looked In at the window.
The woman, without removing her
wraps, had seated hers-lf In a chair
facing the window ami taken the child
In her arms. The child was crying and
the mother sat huddled forward In her
chair Btarlng, staring, with bu h a des
perate look In hor eyes that Evelyn was
frightened Her face was terribly thin
and worn, hut to Jack Its most striking
characteristic was pride pride In every
cur e of it. even to the set of the head
on the bony neck. Suddenly Evelyn
shuddered and caught him by the arm,
'The room looks so cold, Tip k- whj
don't she light a fire?"
"All she has Is prld.- Evelyn." he an
swered, voicing his thought "I'nfortu
nately, pride won't burn at least not in
the right way "
"Surely we can do something, rnn't
we? i I'm so sorry for her!"
She caught her breath and began to
cry.
"Thrtre. there, Evelyn, don't cry. Of
course we'll do something. That's what
we're here for."'
He led her quietly from the jard,
talking rapidly until she could get con
trol of herself.
"1 II tell you we'll step Into u whole
sale house along here a bit and get
some supplies You shall make out the
list. Can you write with a
stub" Walt there's a hack.
We'll go right up to a grocery storo.
Heigh ther. ' Wan't a fur..:"
The question evidently appealed to the
hackman In a positive way, for he drew
up beside them with nil the deference
that ho would pay to a well-dressed
toui Is!
"Yes, sir. You want to go to thnt big
grocer's cm Main Street and wait out
side? All right, sjr, Koh oh-l Wot
up therei" 1
It did not take Evelyn Morrow long to
write that list once she was Inside the
great store and comfortably seated on
a stool at one of th- grocery counters.
Sugar, salt, coffee, flour, fruit, turkey,
iplces, cranben les" she wrote on gay
ly, while Jack looked oer her shoulder
and made laughing remarks.
"You've put sugar llrst. Evelyn. That
shows how your mind runs to sweets!
. . . Now, don't stop at cranberries
that'll nover do. What's the matter
with a ham and some bacon or a
pumpkin or two?"
"Pooh pumpkins' That s a lot worse
than sugar. That shows ,how your
mind runs."
"Why that's a good subject for evolu
tion. Evelyn Into pies. I say, while
you finish that list I'll telephone about
some coal and kindling."
She sal with p ncll tipped against her
teeth and watched him disappear down
the long aisle. Then an Idea occurred
to her. Underneath pumpkins she w rote
"blankets, comforts, pillows. house
shoes, shawl" then paused uncertainly.
Possibly that would do. At least the
rest could go until later. . . Oh'
happy thought a doll for the little girl.
Of course. Why hadn't she thought of
It before? She sprang up, her eyes
shining, and said to the clerk:
"Take me to the doll department,
h. Cu Mr. Worthing returns "
The clerk smiled broadly and did as
he was bid, and when Jack came back
from ordering a ton of coal he found a
Bushed and happy girl surrounded with
packages.
"I'm quite ready, Jack. Now. these
packages are all mine, see'' I shall pay
for all these and you may settle for
Ihe supplies I'm going to be Santa
Claus's daughter Instead of the son."
"Good! That makes you sister to the
supposed brother and removes one of
the thorns In my hitherto difficult path.
. . . If everything's ready, boys, let's
get these things to the hack."
"Isn't this fun, Ja-k?" asked Evelyn,
as they rolled along Second South street,
"It's easy to be charitable, I think."
Jack did not answer. Perhaps he
thought It was not worth while; possi
bly he was thinking of something else.
At last, however, he bent toward her
the best he could for packages and said
softly:
"Evelyn !"
"Go 'way!' she answered, sharply. "I
mean be still. . . You always talk
to me when I want to be quiet. I want
to think. Besides we couldn't get
along, Jack you know we couldn t!
You're too full of notions too er
bossy!"
"Evelyn!"
"Now. Jack I'll Jump out If you don't
stop speaking to me In that way. Thank
heaven here we are!"
They removed the packages quietly,
making as little noise as possible, and
deposited them by the door. Then Jack
stole up to the window and looked In,
The lamp was still burning brightly.
On a bed In the comer of th- room lay
the child asleep, but the woman was not
there
"I believe she's gone, Evelyn. Try the
dooi will you?"
It yielded readily. They went In and
made a thorough search of the house
finding It quite empty Save for the child,
and totally bare of provisions. The fur
nltute was scant, but the entire house
breathed an atmosphere of pleasant
cleanliness.
At last they returned to the front
room and stood looking at each other.
"I've a notion about that woman.
Evelyn. Can you stay here a bit while
I look her up?"
"Of course. I'll get everything ar
ranged while you're gone."
"Wonder If I couldn't break up some
of these. boxes and start a Are In that
old grate? It would be a lot more cheer
ful for you If I could."
"You might try but don't make a
noise and wake the llltl- girl."
" ilush. be still, or else you'll wake
the baby," " sang Jack, as he busied him
self at the grate "I say, Evelyn shall
I have to build the fires always?" He
looked up at her as h- broke a piece of
box across his knee She Hushed under
the mischief In his eyes, but deigned no
reply to his silly She had long dis
covered his tendency to tease, and
learned along with the discovery that
silence was quite effective In rebuking
It It was apparently so in the present
Case, for afler a moment he went on un
concernedly, "There, now I call that
quite a fire. Lock the door after me,
Evelyn and don't let any one in until I
come back."
"Oh! I'm not a speck afraid. Do go
on I've such lots to do "
Jack wasn't made of very do He stuff
He stood looking at her as she moved
about the room, the lamplight falling
on her young tollnees, her sweet un
lined face; and then, because he loved
her. he went out quick I) and shut the
door behind him. striding down the
walk with his head up and a mighty
happiness filling him.
"How little she know s of life " he
said to himself, as he stood with his
hand on the gate. "But sh- thinks she
knows a lot. Helgho! love's a queer
thing' . . Well, I mustn't stand
mooning here. That woman to find
her! I'll do It and I'll bring her to her
lenses If It takes nil night which I
hope It won't, for It's deuced cold. "
He walked on briskly, absorbed In
thought, but keeping a sharp lookout
Suppose for a moment that phe had
thought Of suicide. There were many
ways If she had but a drug store wn
not one of them, for sho had no money.
He stumbled on the Rio Grande tracks.
No nor the railroad, either; sho was
not the type for such a way as that.
Well, then there remained the river.
That was too far and too cold but what
was that on the track ahead? A wo
man yes, the woman, too What If she
were desperate enough for so horrible
an end. after all? He quickened his
step. There arose In his mind Tolstoy's
vivid picture of Anna Karenlna s death,
and he felt his hands turn cold What
fools human beings were! As If such
action were ever Juctltlable Hark'
What was that0 He heard away off
somewhere, at the Hot Springs or there
abouts, the long, mellow whistle of the
southbound train. That woman! Ah'
relief! She had stepped off the track
and was crossing to a more Inhabited
part of the town, where there were sa
loons and stores
She slopped at a corner where a gro
cery sign swung In the wind beneath
the electric light paused uncertainly
and glanced about hor Jack looked nt
bis watch It was twenty minutes af
ter 7. What was she doing there, any
how? Her back was toward him, but
: ned to him thai she bent over the
vegetable trays In front of the store
Jack felt his throat tighten his eyei
smart. He was near enough now to
see thnt she was handling some pota
toes. How pharp the wind was. He
pulled down his hat ond moved closer.
Just as he did so the woman made a
movl un nt whbh arrested his attention
ffho lifted her head and looked Into the I
storo apparently listening (Then
a. flash she snatched a handful of po
tatoes from a tray, thrust th-m Into
her dreBs and turned about to come
face to face with Jack who had reached
her side unnoticed
The hunger In her fac, th dcrpera
tlon of h-r attitude as she took the po
tatoes unn-red Jack completely. He
could not speak and so It happenod
that they taced each other In dlcnce.
Then the woman spoke.
"Well What of It .' . . . What are
ou going to do" ... I took 'em I
would again'."
"Don't please," said Jack lifting his
band "I understand. You you're
hungry! . , . You're the last woman
In the world to steal."
"No, I'm not! I made up my mind
before 1 came out. My child cried her
self to sleep saying 'hungry, mamma
hungry! . . Get away! Let me pass.
I'm goln' home an' have a feast on
four potatoes! What do you say 'Cod'
for? There's no such thing as God!"
By this time Jack had hold of him
self again. He took her arm firmly.
"Put those back," he said. "I m go
ing to help you. It's my right my
pleasure my duty what you will but
It goes. Come lean on me and let mo
help you home. You're tired and sick
you poor soul'"
Evelyn turned the key In the door as
Jack had told her to Then she took
off her hat and coat and fluffed her
pompadour.
I wonder If my hair was all right,"
sho said, half-aloud "When Jack
looks like that at me I'm afraid of him
almost' . , . He is a dear, though
If only ho wouldn't try to manage me
I'd be willing he should."
She proceeded very softly to carry
the fruit, vegetables and groceries into
the little kiti hen whit h opened off the
room sh- was In. The tiny upi.oard
would not hold the half and sh.- was
obliged to fill the table and to leave
part of th supplies In the living-room.
Ir the midst of her work the man came
With coal declaring that Mr. Worthing
had ord-ied It delivered before 7 and
he was sorry not to have been on time.
Then there was the living room to ar
range. Shi- rebuilt the lire and loosened
the roll of bedding Now- If she could
get the bed made up with good flannel
blankets how nice that would be. She
tried very carefully not to disturb the
Bleeping Child, hut at first touch Of the
bedclothes the blue eyes opened wide
and she sat up her rosebud mouth
wreathing into a smile.
"O are you Santa Claus's daugh
ter''" she cried. eidentl having ear
lied the thought of Santa's progeny in
to her dreams.
"Yea." said Evelyn, promptly yield
ing to her fancy. "1 am Indeed. But
you wakened before I could get things
fixed. This Is my first trip and I'm not
in good practice yet."
The spirit of enchantment beamed
from the little girl's eyes. How won
derful that this had happened. She
held up her hands and opened the lln
g rs slowly.
'An' have you got a doll for me?"
she asked.
"I Just have and ever so many
things beside. Jump up now and sit In
that chair by the tire until I an get
your bed arranged th- n you shall see
the doll "
Ell.se sprang out of bed eagerly.
"Goody, goody I've got a doll."' she
cried and ran to the chair. But at.
first sound of rustling paper she could
not but turn her head
"Now, now sit still, little girl, and
shut your eyes tight tight, and don't
open them until I say you may. Then
see if you haven't just the heavenllest
creature In your arms'"
Elise obeyed. She sat back In h-r
hair, Bqulnted her eyes until they
ached, and held out her thin trembling
arms for O what c-istnsy! Evelyn,
seeing the transported face hastily
placed the doll In her arms and stepped
ba. k.
How passionately the tiny arms went
round It' How she hugged that unap
prcciative waxen image to her thin
little breast' And actually, there were
tears In her eyes at sight of whl h
Evelyn felt h-r own lids quiver. She
Slipped down on the floor at the child's
fei t.
"Do you like It. Ellse?" she asked,
tendgrly. ' You know Santa Claus
like? to please his children."
"O It's Just too beautiful no.
'tin t either 'cause I dreamed It ao.
But It seems like it couldn't really be
mine "
Well It Is and there's ever so many
things beside. Doll-car rlage. trunk,
dresses everything Think how you
will play what fun you'll have! , . .
How old are you. Ellse?"
"Nino In March the 12th but I
can't go to school cause I haven't any
Clothes. An' my mamma was sick so
b.ng that I couldn't have gone anywa
What's that on the table? I'm so hungry-Evelyn
Jumped up and brought her
a banana and some grapes.
"O my, ain't bananas good? Do
you like 'em, Santa Claus s daughter'"'
"Yes I think they're delicious. And
you'll call mo Miss Evelyn, won't you?
. . . That's a dear Now, can you
tell me where your mother Is?"
"My mamma? . . . I don't
know." Her face was overcast at once.
"Cnlcss she's gone to hunt work You
see she was sick so long tliat all her
places was took 'cause when she went
back to get "em again the ladles all
6ald they'd had to get other help. They
couldn't wait to navo their work done
you know. My mamma's a fine worker
when she's well, but my she was sick!
An' we couldn't get a divtor Don't
you never tell, "cause mamma said
'twas disgraceful 'but each one
wanted his pay before he'd do any
thing. When the last one said that my
mamma told him he wished peopled
pay her like that for scrubbln' an'
Ihen she turned her face to the wall tin'
wouldn't speak to him any more. She
was WOrser that night an' I went over
to the store myseli an' telephoned the
poor doctor to come. He said his
hours was all full an' there was too
ninny poor, anyway I hated to tell
her what he BSid but she made me an'
I guess she thought It was a Joke 'cause
she laughed an' laughed, loud-like
an' said she'd often thought the same
thing But all that night she kept
tnlkln' to my papa an' my papa's
dead! . . . The ward teacher said
my papa'd rone to God but my
mamma said he wasn't s-ttln round
cioln' nothln' wherever he was an' she
believed he'd gone to a place where ho
had to work 'cause the poor never
had a chance. Ain't It awful to feel
the way she does'' . . . Jt Beams to
me I COUld be happy If I Just had
enough to keep my stomach from
Bhrlnkin' the way It does when It's
empl y That hurts'"
"How could you be happy, dear?"
"O well, there's a old apple tree In
our yard an' a swing an' I like to sit
an watch the sparrows An' once Lis'
spring I yaw the funniest thing! it
was Just after a rain an' a robin was
hopplu along In ibp ffi?wiliQpian' v
worm. All at once he put his head to
one side and listened then slas! that
oulck he had a big fat worm that wrig
gled an' wriggled! You ought to Been
him He hopped along looking at me
Sideways as proud, an' then what do
ou think'' A nasty mean sparrow
flew right under Mh beak .and snatched
that worm an' after him dlggln' It.
too. I was as mad!"
"And 1 suppose the robin looked
quite crestfallen?"
"Quite what?"
"O I mean sorry disappointed. He'd
lost his dinner, you know. Lliten1
Someone's coming! Sit still now, that's
a good child!"
Evelyn ran to the door as someone
rapped quickly.
' Is that you. Jack""
"Yes, Mrs. Lambert and I."
She opened the door and stepped back
timidly. Jack entered, supporting Mrs
Lambert, who seemed on the point of
collapse.
' Take her arm, quick, Evelyn, and
let's gel her to a chair. Can you make
some coffee? She's chilled through.'
"I'll try, Jack, but I'm afraid It won t
be very good," dubiously.
"Well you help Mrs. Lambert, then,
anjd li! make it, I've made coffeo In
.amp strong enough to lay cut a regi
ment. Come here. Evelyn. This is Miss
Morrow, Mrs. Lambert Shell do what
she can for you w hile I make some cof
fee "
' shall be glad to help you If I may.
Wait I'll take off your coat and hat."
Eli.e stole up wonderlngly .
"Are you sick again, ma' . . See
my doll what Santa Claus's daughter
brought me Miss Evelyn, I mean. Ain't
It beautiful 9 . . Oh! are you sick
again, mamma?"
"No. child no! I'll be all right In a
little while.''
She bent forward awkwardly and let
Evelyn remove her coat It was then
that Evelyn noticed her shoes. They
wero worn out, worse than none, and
wet through Pity filled her. To think
of any one going about the streets In
shoes like that. How fortunate she had
put house shoes on the list! She stood
a moment doubtfully then made a res
olution. Quickly she slipped a pillow
under the woman's head, saying lightly.
' Now. Juet wait a moment, and I'll
make you ever so comfy!"
She hurried to the little kitchen for a
washbowl, and found Jack Just mixing
the coffee the teakettle sputtering on
the tiny stove In contagious good hu
mor. "Don't come In for a few moments,
Ja-k, and when you do, please rap."
It was a simple thing to prepare hot
w.it.r in the bowl with mustard In It.
Fortunately her mother had taught her
the benefit of this eusy treatment for a
chill. She carried dt In and placed it at
Mrs. Lambert's feet.
She shrank in dismay.
"What are you going to do?" she
asked.
"Nothing but what my mother's often
done for me when I've come home from
a dance a bit chilled " She slipped off
the wet shoe unconcernedly. "There's
nothing like hot water and mustard to
warm you up when you're cold." She
deftly stripped down the stocking
"Now put your foot In, please and the
other? There -isn't that comfy, as I
said? Now, I'll wrap this quilt about
you so the cold air won't get to your
feet, and see how you'll fe-l In a min
ute." Evelyn got to her feet flushed and em
barrassed by the expression in Mrs.
Lambert's eyes. She fluffed her hair
consciously, hesitated a moment, then,
as If overcoming something in herself,
dropped down at the woman's feet
again and began to talk.
"What a dear little girl you have,
Mrs Lambert. She's been telling me
how ill you were. It must hae been
very hard "
"Yes harder than you can under
stand, I guees."
"Oh! I hope not. I like to understand
about things You've fought the battle
alone haven't you?"
Jack rapped gently, and hearing no
detaining voice, opened the door.
For an Instant he stood there with the
coffee pot in one hand and a cup and
saucer in the other the fragrant st-am
going up over his shoulders like Incense.
Then ho took In the scene before him.
His moulh fell open. He gazed In as
tonishment. Slowly a look of delight
)' lined in his face, and he went for
ward unconcernedly.
"Here's the coffee, Evelyn. Con you
take it right on youi lap, Mrs. Lam
bert -
"Yes thank you," very' slowly.
Jack placed a big plate on her lap and
set the cup ami saucer on it. Then he
poured the golden brown ilquld care
fully ' Hasn't that an odor for you? There's
nothing to beat coffee when you're tired
and cold. 'VN ill you take cream and
sugar, Mrs. Lambert? It's only con
densed cream sorry It isn't the real
thing "
"I'll not have either, thank you. I'm
used to doing without."
"You're taking It straight these da3-s,
eh? Well If you'll excuse me I'll get a
cup for myself. Won't you have one,
too. Evelyn?"
But Evelyn did not hear. She had
forgotten about Jack. Never before
had she come so close to poverty and
human misery, and what she saw In
Mrs. Lambert's face fascinated her, set
her heart stirring with a brooding sad
ness which needed vent In speech or ac
tion. It had found action when sho
bathed the cold, tired feet, yielding un
knowingly to a divine Impulse within
he breast that impulse which Is the
one thing that makes all humanity re
lated. She felt a warm happiness per
vading her, yet was curious as the
young ever are. What history was
shrouded In this gaunt woman's eyes,
cold, hard, remote? She wanted to tnlk
to lier. but was restrained by a fcen9e of
delicacy which forbude questions and
qui -Hons thronged t her lips. She be
gan to remove the quilt In silence
Mr Lambert looked at Eiyn ns she
bent forward In the soft light of the
grate fir-. Her fa.-e changed with her
thoughts, but all she said was:
"You'll And some stockings In that
drawer yonder the upper left hand cor
ner." She got the stockings and took away
the water. When she came back Mrs.
Lambert was putting on the warm
house nhoes. She dropped forward with
her elbows on her knees, her face In
her hands, as Evelyn closed the door
and sat looking Into the fire.
The grlii was struck by her expression.
She slipped down betdde her again not
conscious this time of any restraint.
'isn't there anything I can do?" she
asked. laying her hand gently over Sirs.
Lambert's knee "It hurts mo to see
you look like that."
The woman turned her face from the
lire and looked Evelyn over from head
tO loot.
"I don't see but what you've done a
good deal for you," she said
tie voicq was. poignant ViiXb some
thing not understood by Evelyn. She
did not notice that Jack had come In
again, that he stood up awkwardly
against the fireplace, that h watched
her with an expression in his face
which In time past had often made her
restless.
' But the little I did doesn't seem to
make you happy," she wen on plainly
distressed
"Happy? . . 'W ell no not that I
guess. I'm grateful, though and I
never accepted charity before. I could
always work."
"That must have been hard,
Jack thrilled at the sympathy In Evo
li n's voice.
"What the work?" Mrs. Lambert be
gan to show some Interest. "I never
thought so. I was brought up to work.
1 never went to a party In my life like
the ones you were talking about a while
ago. I never lied or stole or done any
body a ne-an turn. 1 jus. worked that's
all. . 'till I fell sick. You can't do
much when your legs shut up under you
like mine did."
She let her eyes fall to Evelyn's hand, J. '
white, jeweled. Jt h-id her speechless.
After a moment she touched it timidly,
A softer look came into her face.
"You've got a pretty hand," she said,
glancing at Evelyn quickly. "But It
hasn't worked." Th-n. after a pause,
during which Jack h- Id his breath and
Evelyn looked at her wonderlngly, "I'd
hate to think 1 i ;is mean enough to
want it to be like mine, though." Sho
laid her own beside Evelyn's and ex
amined the two with critical eyes.
To Ju k th- contrast was dramatic.
There was Evelyn's hand, slender,
white, the nails beautifully kept; there
also was the older woman's, worn,
rough, the Joints knotted, the nails
broken, the palms calloused a yellowish
brown Many thoughts rushed into his
mind. He felt his forehead throb. I if
what use, though, were words of his It
were much better that Evelyn should
see for herself
"It's a shame," she breathed, think
ing of the woman's hand. "It Isn't
light "
'No," repeated Mrs. Lambert, parrot
like; "It Isn't right."
"I mean for you to work so hard "
"Oh, as to that honest work doesn't
hurt anyone. I'm glad I've had it to
do. If only " she paused and her eyes
filled "if only I could get work enough
to lay something by But hard work,
like I've done, doesn't pay at least not
according to what you do. Look at
these hands of mine!" She held them
up before her. "They've scrubbed,
washed, scoured, lifted, cooked, they'vo
fairly dug thejr way an I've never had
rnore'n a dollar and a quarter a day an'
car fare. Do you think that'll buy a
home, pay taxes, get clothes and food?
Why this little place alone costs eight
dollars a month In advance, too. An'
I haven't bought potatoes for six weeks
or butter or eggs!"
"Heavens! And you ought to have
clothes, good food, books, pictures;
your child should go to school!"
Jack smiled at Evelyn's hurried
words. She seemed to have forgotten
about the Importance of good English;
she had forgotten, too. her opinions
upon the value of education and certain
traits of character which she had long
considered necessary to success. It was
Just that the woman before her was hu
man that she had always been denied
the tilings which had made life Worth
living to Evelyn. As to whether these
things which she had always had were
necessary she gave no thought, Sho
sympathized without analysis.
"Oh. yes," answerc-d Mis. Jjimbert,
with a sigh "I know all that what we
think should be what Isn't. Sometimes
I think the reason 1 didn't die when I
was sick was because I knew there'd
be no money to bury me. 'Twould have
been easier. Life's hard, child,
don't you 9ee? Don't you understand?"
"I'm trying to. I'm sorry things are
this way. I will help you we will," sho
reached out her hand to Jack conscious
of him of needing his spoken word.
"Won't we, Jack? It must be that you'll
let us. I can't ever rest again If you re
fuse." "She won't refuse, Evelyn," said Jack,
kindly.
"I'll work for you If that's what you
want," she answered "You're like some
creature of light, child. And
you, sir you understand. You love
her I see It. You'll teach her to un
derstand, too, I know you will
It's a hard lesson to serve the poor,
but It's harder for the poor."
She sat up suddenly and clenched her
hands against her withered breasts
"Oh! do you think I haven't longed
for all that life holds the education,
the books, the pleasures everything?
If you do don't think that way
any longer. My life's been one long
hunger. I didn't want so much only
enough to be comfortable, to look
ahead Now I'm old, broken! And
here's the child left to face the same
thing It seems like I can't stand ltl
She's tendered'n I ever was. bless her!
Seo how sho sleeps there In that chair
With her doll I Ah. you don't know the
d i ling to see your own Desh and blood
doomed to go the same way you've gons
so Ions. And I can't see that her fu
ture's to be any different from mine.
I've gone in a rut she'll only
wear It deeper "
Evelyn's ey s were burning, her Hps
were shut, hep hands clenched each
other.
"Stop1" she burst out. "None of this
shnll be! I ll h. lp you give you work
honest work I'll provide for your child,
send her to B hool until she's old enough
to provide for herself and you. Just
think I'll uiake It possible fcr her to
keep you In your old age Come, ho
cheered! There's a future for you and
It's not so dark, either."
A lire smouldered In Mrs Lambert'3
eyes She sat up very straight
"1 11 take nil you'll let me have." she
eald. "if I can earn It. Can I do that?"
"You shall earn every cent. I would
not ask you to take from me without
pay. Oh. I see things so differently,
now: I understand! You don't want
charity and you shall not be offered it
from me. Oh. I wish I didn't have to
go home, but I must Won't you
go to bed now. and get a good night's
rest? I'm sure you'll feel better to
morrow. Please don't cry. I
don't want you to cry when you'vs
been so brave!"
.i-lc turned from Evelyn and put hie
hnnd on Mrs. Lambert's shoulder.
' She gives you good advice." he said.
"Tears are no good unless they re tears
of joy. You must sleep There's c cry
thing here to make you comfortable
until we can perfect other arrange
ments for you And tomor
row's a wonderful day." He turned to
ward Evelyn and his voice rlchened.
"Wonderful for us. too, Evelyn, eh?
And wonderful for vou. Mrs Lambert,
Yes, i think Christmas will have a dlf
ferent meaning for all of us.
Shall I get your wraps. Evelyn?"
While Evelyn put on her coal tai
rebuilt the Hi" Sh- writ up to Mrsj
Continued oa g-
HHHHHIBflflj
