Arizona republican., 1917-12-17

walked from the store with eyes to the front. She might have saved her self the trouble, for the new poor but honest" as Loretta had dubbed him, was en route home.
 For blocks Rose Ann walked, dart ing between package laden pedes- trians, pressing her nose to shop win doWs, even venturing into some par ticularly gay places in quest of her earnestly sought Christmas spirit. Ar rived home. she explained her lateness to her mother by pleading a headache, and the need of fresh air and 8 walk.
 Long after her mother was asleep Rose Ann addressed her Christmas cards and cut tissue paper for her sim pie little gifts. Finally she threw down the scissors; her fingers wouldn't tie perky bows, her gifts all looked com monplace.
 She dumped the lot into the box couch and dropped off to sleep, with a troubled heart. Was she growing old at 23? No, that couldn't be it. people at 75 still had Christmas spirit when they were supposed to. Was she i'll? No. not when she could eat seven hot rolls for dinner.
 The next morning found her no nearer a solution. But she was a nor nal girl and she loved her mother dearly and the sun was shining. So for the time she smiled and was happy. But once in the whirl of shop pers she was again disturbed at the lethargic manner in which she exc cuted sharp orders; at her absolute lack of spirit
 She could not bring herself to look at the poor but-honest," though he traversed the aisle oftener than his duties demanded. She could not let him see that she was calm and spirit less at this time of all the year. Again she forfeited her lunch to dash out into the cold, stinglng air, to mingle with the gay. hurried throngs. But she came back at one-thirty a little disheveled, with one or two last-min- ute gifts, and-no spirit.
 The afternoon seemed cons long. When at seven o'clock the last shift came on for the Christmas eve rush, Rose Ann took off her black apron reluctantly. As she stopped to recover her pencil, Loretta remarked in no unkindly tone, Even looliin' on the floor for your spirit, me little Rosie? Say. take q little more stock in things level with your eyes, and don't inten sify so on the spirit, up or down, You'll find it sure, as soon as you stop lookin' fer it. Merry Christmas, Rose Ann, Gnightl"
 Rose Ann hurried home to help her mother assemble some remembrances for the washwoman's children. The two of them made popcorn balls, and gingerbread men with funny faces; filled stockings with candy and trink- cts, and wrote rhymes for each child S Mother Goose book. Rose Ann's eyes glistened and her hair tumbled in riotous curls on her temples. At length they finished the baskets of childish, sweet gifts for the kiddies, and Rose Ann opened the box couch and brought forth her unwrapped gifts. Her heart dragged; her mouth dropped. For fear her mother would notice her change of humor, she snatched up a sweater and ran onto the back porch steps. For 8 while she sat with chin in hand ] glancing first into one lighted window and then another across the alleyway 1 Suddenly she jumped up, catching l the post, strained her eyes across the darkness into a room in the opposite house. She brushed her hand across her forehead. and looked again. There 1 in his second floor rear stood tht poor but honest" struggling with al awkward package on a table. He trieS
 
 gave it up, cutching his hair. ant tangling yards of red ribbon in hi despair.
 Rose Ann had wild moment of in decision Then, dashing into tn
 house, she pretended a mysterious CT
 rand to her mother, and rushed out
 sped down the walk and knocked a
 the front door. corresponding to tn back window above. For a brief mo ment her heart pounded and sh
 thought she must run home. But e'e
 she could suit the action to the though
 the front door was thrown open, am
 there stood the poor honest"
 "Er-well-or,' gasped Rose Ann, ''
 didn't know you lived here until
 saw you from my back steps, an
 somehow, all of a sudden, 1 just ha
 to come and show you how to tie u
 that package. And I'm sorry-I-tha
 I haven't looked at you, and-oh, let
 so fix up the Christmas package
 And then the poor but honest,
 because he wasn't poor in the req
 sense, and because he was very hon
 est, did not mince matters. He le
 her tie up the package very carefully
 because next morning it was to b
 for her And he went home witt
 her through the still cold night, am
 let her tell him how she had sud denly gotten the spirit" by wantinl to help somebody else. That's tn whole secret" she said happily. ' was too intent on doing things fo myself. Tonight I had d real thrill when I was helping mother fix tn poor kiddies baskets. Then when came to my own thought-over gifts my heart sank again, and I had to g out and make myself get over i Then I saw you struggling over tha maze of ribbon, and the spirit can, over me in a flood; and" They reached the steps. He too her face between his hands. Was it only the holiday spiri Rose Ann. my dearest?"
 Her radiant eyes answered Iii questions eer her lips could frame reply
 In the distance the Christina carolers were singing that sweetes of Christmas songs: It Came Cpo , thAAidpieht- Clear