The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-18

the kind old man guarding the tunnel.
What's your name, little girl?" in
Quired the man. Who's your Nam
MAJ"
I'm Eunice. and my Mammals a
fairy godmOther-"
Miss Fay's child" said the man
She told you to come for her. eh?"
Eunice did not know what she an
swered. for she was running down the
tunnel along q well remembered pas
sage toward a star of light that shone
in the distance. And then there
burst upon her eyes the dazzling spec
tacle of the Christmas play
She did not understand that those
rows OF ghost-like faces stretching
away into the distance were the au-
dience. and to her the setting OF the
stage was reality Her eyes were
fixed upon the beautiful woman who
stood and bowed and smiled. q won
derful being ilIumined by a great
shaft of light from overhead. which
followed her every movement The
fairy children had gone. and Hilda
Groves bowed finally and withdrew
toward the palace threshold
She had needed all her concenfra-
ton to play successfully that night
and in spite of that more than one
OF the newspapers commented dis
paragingly the next day upon her per
Torrance 1t was unreal. they said.
and ffeless- Gould they only have
seen her after the curtain feT!) To
Hilda it was agony. The mothers
heart was aching but she did not
that her child
could cure her malady; she thought
Of Eunice only as hateful aud repug-
nant duty to which she must return
after her evening task. She turned
and entered through the palace poT-
tails, which gave upon the wings
Now she was only a tired woman
again, anxious to divest herself Of
her tinselIed trappings. But to the
little figure that stood before her she
was an Olympian. Eunice stood lost
in amazed admiration at this wonder
full being who was her mother
Mammal Mammal" The arms
were outstretched.
"Eunice!"
The harsh tones broke the spell
The child remembered her last visit
and the disiIIusionment that followed
it. She clutched at her mothers
gown.
who brought you here? How
dared you come? You should have
been asleep hours ago."
The little arms were clutching at
the fairy gown frantically and the up
turned face was one Of piteous en-
treaty
Don't scold me. Mamma. want
ed Thanta Clauth. He gives most
anything to good boys and girls
The tragedy in the child's face ar
rested HiIda- The cold crust of self
ishness was breaking
Il wanted him to make you love
me like the fairy children, Mamma
Love conquered. If only the critics
could have seen Hilda nowi Sudden
" she understood the infinite sorrow
of the child's mind, the tragedy Of
the little life which she had created.
the loneliness, the craving for a
mothers pity and love. Tears gushed
from her own eyes and mingled with
the child's as she drew her to her
breast.
The doorkeeper came hurrying up.
Miss Fay he cried excitedIy, you've
she was waiting beside mel just
missed her. There's a gentleman"
|, He gave way to John Groves. Mrs.
Holmes had discovered the empty bed
five minutes before, and, frantic with
alarm, had rushed up to the lonely lit
tie room on the third story. John
Groves had shrewdly guessed his
daughters objective.
You've got her, Hilda Thank
God!" he began, and then stopped,
astonished at the look of happiness
on his wife's face.
''She came to find Santa Claus"
said Hilda she wanted something
Of him. and guess he's heard her
prayer. But I think 1t must be Santa
sent her to me. John, I've found
something tonight that / never knew
I'd lost, and I'm going to keep #
Eunice-home with me-us@aiways
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