Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-12-11

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silent But when the curtain fell a
last her little form was trembling
with fearful joy. and she chung &c
statlcally 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 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 and
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 un-
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 very cross
mother and very subduad father,
and after that she found aerself 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 1t ives SO
dark in the room, and looking through
the crack of the door at the streak %
light that came from the room adj
Joining
Her parents were talking: she
heard her mothers petulant 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 home Of
our own" answered her father.
and have me give up my work
just when / 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 I
sacrifice" answered her husband.
Frankly, Hilda, am not thinking of
you in this matter, nor of myself.
| am thinking of Eunice."
"Eunice!" repeated his wife bitter
". The child is quite happy with
ler dolls, and Mrs. Holmes will take
Ill the care of her that may be nee
sssary. 1t is only when you take her
away from them and try to amuse
1er that she becomes troublesome
sometimes wish we had no child
o be burden to u.s."
Eunice understood, and all her
vor& seemed to tumble into a fathom-
ess abyss. Her mother did not want
Ter, then.
JOHN Groves accepted the offer. but
Iilda went on with her work. Be
ween them they could live comfort
bly, and save money, but there could
g no home for Eunice. If Hilda left
he stage their means would be strait
ned. The disagreement between
hem on this subject bred ranccr
hitch brought suffering to the child.
unice's mother could hardly bear to |
,ok at her, and Mrs. Holmes became
lore and more indignant.
"Pll wager therell be no Santa 9
laus for you, my lamb" she said {
espondently, as she put the child to '
ed two days before Christmas. but o
quill hang up your stockings" she 7
ontinued angrily, giving the pillow !
rake. "I'll fill EN- | mean, I'll tell a
anita to do so. Tell me, dearie, what s
ould you like Santa Claus to bring n
)u?" {
"Thanta Clauth," repeated Eunice, (
i'd her eyes frightened. "Glves Il
,erybody everything they want" n
YES" said Mrs. Holmes. Good n
tile boys and girls like you can get
ost anything. What would you like h
ost in the world, dearie?"
81 want my Mamma to love me IN
te the fairy children" Eunice an
'ered. al
Mrs. Holmes understood and hur ~
ID out OF the room to give vent to
II tears She approached Hllda p'
owes that evening on the matter. st
Wont you be telling Eunice to VI
ng up her stockings tomorrow 10
ght, ma'am?" she inquired, IN
II certainly will not teach her that