Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-12-18

silent. But when the curtain fell at
last her little form was trembling
with fearful Joy. and she chung &C.
s~tatically to her father.
Now we are going round to Nam
mas dressing ROOM" said her father
and before Eunice knew where she
was she had passed through the~tun-
mel again, and through a second tun"
mel, longer and gloomier, into a queer
little room, in which her mother sat
before a mirror. Her shining dress
lay over a chair, and she was deadly
tired, and her face was all red n
white and streaky. Eunice looked at
her and her heart was full of helpless
misery. She burst into sudden sobs.
The child's tired to death. jack
said Hilda Groves petulantly. She
ought to have been in bed long ago.
What made you bring her here?"
Eunice behaved uncommonly badly.
She cried and cried, and the more
her mother scolded her the more I'M
comfortable became her sobs. So that
at last she had to be carried out in
the arms of the dressing woman and
put into a taxicab, with a very cross
mother and a very subdued father,
and after that she found herself in
bed.
1t must have been all a dream!
Eunice was old enough to be able
to distinguish dreams from reality.
Dreams were things that happened to
you when you were asleep, and she
had been asleep; but she was wide
awake now, wondering why it was so
dark in the room, and looking through
the crack of the door at the streak of
light that came from the room adj
joining.
Her parents were talking: she
heard her mothers p~etulant voice.
I'm sure l don't know what we
will do with that child when she gets
older, John" Hilda Groves was say
ing. "Of course the profession is not
to be thought of for her."
But if | take that position on the
Manhattanite we can have a home of
our own" answered her father.
And have me give up my work
just when I am beginning to attract
the attention of the managers" an
swered his wife sarcastically. after
ten years Of ~drudgery, to be robbed
of the reward of it all! No. thank
you, my dear"
But /, too, will have to make the
sacrifice" answered her husband.
Frankly, Hilda, I am not thinking OF
you in this matter, o OF myself
1 am thinking Of Eunice."
'Eunfce!" repeated his wife bitter
ly. THE child is quite happy with
her dolls, and Mrs Holmes will take
all the care of her that may be nee
essary. It is only when you take her
away from them and try to- amuse
her that she becomes troublesome
I sometimes wish we had no child
to be a harden to US"
Euuice understood, and all hel
world seemed to tumble into a aathom'
LESS abyss. Her mother did not want
her, then.
JOHN Groves accepted the offer, but
Hilda went on with her work. Be
tween them they could live comfort
ABLY and save money, but there coult
be no horne for Eunice. If HiFda left
the stage their MEANS would be- strait
ened. The disagreement between
them ON this subject bred rancol
which brought suffering to the child
Eunbce's mother could hardly bear t,
look at her, and Mrs. Holmes. became
more and more indignant.
p "Rll wager there1l be no SAINT;
} Claus for you, my lamb" she sal
despondently, as she put the child t.
Z bed two days before Christmas. "Bu
you'll hang up your stockings" shI
, continued angrily, giving the pillow
!, shake. I'll fill Tem. l mean, I'll tel
i Santa to do so. Tell me, dearie, wha
would you like Santa Clans to brin
' you?"
: ''Thanta Claqth," repeated Eunic'
and her eyes frightened. give
g everybody everything they want"
YES" said Mrs. Holmes. Goo
little boys and girls like you can &c
most anything. What would you Liz
v most in the world, dearieT
l. q" want my Mamma to love m
like the fairy children" Eunice al
swered.
% Mrs. Holmes understood and hu
ried out OF the room to give vent
her tears. She approached Hilt
v Groves that evening on the matter.
won't you be telling Eunice
hang up her stockings tomorro
n night, ma'am?" she inquired.
y Il certainly will not teach her tn