The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-19

IN DtI. All bdJ %
" pla yed happi
with her dolls In the shabby furnisht
room which was her mothers be
room. The door was locked, ar
Mrs. Holmes, the landlady, was und'
Instructions to look in from time
time to see what Eunice was doing
but since Eunice was never dOin
anything except playing with he
dolls the good woman's visits becam
less and less frequent
She's the most contented littl
body in the world. ma am said tn
old Scotch woman to Hilda Grove.
Eunicess mother. Mrs. Groves wa
also called Marian Fay. but that wa
when she stood behind the footlight
and enraptured her audience with he
giilish charm and ingenue manner B,
day she was Hilda Groves, wife o
John Groves, an unsuccessful writer
and the charming ingenue was verl
tired woman with a disconnected
droop to her mouth.
I'm glad she's keeping out of mis-
chief" answered Eunice's mother
coldIy.
It's a wonder" soliloquized Mrs
Holmes. pausing In the act of taking
pair of sheets out of closet and
looking at the closed door. its a
wonder that sort of parents has them
kind of children"
4 The good woman disapproved of
Mrs. Groves. whom she thought hard
and unmaternal. AS for John Groves.
EuRice's father. who worked all day.
humping upon his typewriter In the
little half empty. back room. two
stories up. whenever he met Eunice
he experienced a curious sense of en-
baTassment and shame.
! When her mother entered the room
Euntce 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
and dismissed Mrs. Holmes. who was
making Eunice ready for bed.
Congratulate me. daughter" he
said Il 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
ngly. because he did not quite know
what TO say to her.
"'Es,'' said Eunice. slipping her
hubby hand into his own.
THE motion is carried" said John
lroves 1--WE are to go, then, to see
Mamma transformed into beneicent
airy. AS you are doubtless aware,
he takes the part of the Fairy God
mother In the Christmas play now
unning at the Hudsonian."
That was the first time John Groves
nd Eunice had ever been out to-
ether, except for an occasional stroll
ound the block to the newspaper
aan or the corner grocery. To
'roves the sensation was as aston
;hing as it was unexpected. Here he [
ad been creating his dream men and
omen all his life, while there was
We child. his own, waiting to be
iscovered, and full of the most amaz- |
lg touches of what he would have
allied, in his jargon, human inter
st." But as for Eunice, she was t
wonderland. and it far transcribed a
3ll-land. She had never imagined b
1ything so heavenly as the lights, t
le people. and then the mystery of e
10 tunnel-like approach to the thea d
r. the gloomy aisle, and the wall Y
hind the row of little IanpE That +
ent up into the roof and disclosed Ii
Motheri n
"O-oh.'' cried Eunice, leaping up
1 of her chair. And nobody scolded C
even frowned, because this was d
lristmas pie and the spirit of b,
Wa IN everyone. "
There was her Mamma, all colors CT
d shining things, standing in the 81
Try garden, while her god-children S;
ouped themselves around her, And W
ch transformed Mother! How VI
ppy they all were! She was laugh
, as Eunice had never heard her az
Ugh In Mrs Holmes boarding ey
use, and she kissed the children
! gave them the most wonderful lit
T. M
Do you know who that old fellow nj
Eunice?" inquired her father. in
ating Christmas character ill
aat's Santa Claus sw
Thanta CIauth.' repeated Eunice
,pily. rte
Yes. He's the spirit of Christmas he
gives everybody everything they CIR
At on Christmas eve
Does he live here7" asked Eunice. ha
Well, for the present. yes" her nil
asr asts @'rred Eunice was very