Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-12-12


IVY Der. All day sh,
v played happll.
with her dolls In the shabby furnishe,
room which was her mothers bed
,rom. The door was locked, ant
Mrs. Holmes, the landndy, was unde
Instructions to look in from time Il
tine to see what EunIce was doing
Tut since Eunce was never doinl
rnythIng except playing with hel
dolls the good woman's visits becam,
less and less frequent.
shes the most contented little
body In the world. ma'am." said the
I'd Scotch woman to IIlda Groves
lunice's mother. Mrs. Groves was
also called Marian Fay. but that was
V hen she stood behind the footlghts
ID enraptured her audience with her
r'rlish charm and ingenue manner BY
LAY she was Hllda Groves. wife Of
John Groves. an unsuccessful writer
nnd the charming lngenue was very
red woman with disconnected
droop 10 her mouth.
"Im glad she's keeping out of mis-.
'hief," answered Eunices mother
coldly.
ITS a wonder" soliloquized Mrs
Holmes. pauslng In the act OF taking
n pair OF sheets out OF closet and
looking at the closed door. Its a
wonder that sort Of parents has them
Lind OF children"
The good woman disapproved OF
Hrs. Groves. whom she thought hard
md unmaternal. As for John Groves.
I.unice's father, who worked all day,
humping upon his typewriter In the
tile half empty back room, two
stories up. whenever he met Eunice
he experienced a curious sense OF en-
tarrassment and shame.
When her mother entered the room
Eunice would experience much the
same feeling OF embarrassment that
she occasioned her father. Though
she had never been told that moth
ers ought to love and caress their
children. Eunice wondered dimly at the
cold formality OF her mothers kiss.
and felt chilled and repressed.
One snowy night in late December
John Groves came slowly downstairs
md dismissed Mrs. Holmes. who was
making Eunice ready for bed.
Congratulate me. daughter" he
raid. 81 have an offer of position
on the staff OF the Manhattanite."
Eunice looked up vaguely.
How would you like to celebrate
the occasion with me. child?" inquired
her father. addressing Eunice banter
lngly. because he did not quite know
what to say to her.
"'Es," said Eunice, slipping her
chubby hand into his own.
The motion is carried" said John
Groves. I'VE are to 50. then. to see
Mamma transformed into beneheent
fairy. AS you are doubtless aware.
the takes the part of the Fairy God
mother in the Christmas play now
running at the Hudsonian."
That was tho first time John Groves
and Eunice had ever been out to-
Gether. except for an occasional stroll
round the block to the newspaper
man or the corner grocery. To
Groves the sensation was as aston
ishlng as 1t was unexpected. Here he
had been creating his dream men and
women all his life, while there was a
live child. his own, waiting to be
discovered. and full OF the most amaz-
ing touches OF what he would have
called. in his jargon. human inter-
est" But as for Eunice. she was
In wonderland. and 1t far transcribed
doll-land, She had never imagined
anything so heavenly as the lights,
the people. and then the mystery OF
the tunnel-like approach to the thea
ter, the gloomy aisle. and the wall
behind the row of little lamps that
rent up into the roof and disclosed
OOH" cried Eunice. leaplng up
out Of her chair. And nobody scolded
or even frowned because this was a
Christmas play and the spirit Of
Christmas was upon everyone.
There was her Mamma, all colors
End shining things. standing in the
fairy garden, while her god-chlldren
grouped themselves around her And
such a transformed Mother! How
happy they all were! She was laugh
Ing as Eunice had never heard her
laugh In Mrs. Holmes boarding
house. and she kissed the children
and gave them the most wonderful
toys.
DO you know who that old fellow
Is. Eunice?" inquired her father. In.
dicating Christmas character
That's Santa Claus"
"Thanta Clauth," repeated Eunice
happily.
Yes. He's the spirit OF Christmas
lie gives everybody everything they
want on Christmas eve"
Does he live here?' asked Eunice
We'll, for the present. yes" her
Iather answered. Eunice was very
EassfklS Observation-Disclosures