The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-19


silent. But when the curtain fell at
last her little form was trembling
with fearful joy, and she chung &c
statically to her father.
Nov 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 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 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 1t was so
dark In the room, and looking through
the crack of the door at the streak OF
light that came from the room ad-
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 vas 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 | am beginning to attract
Tho oftnntinr IF thn 0nrc an.
swered his wife sarcastically. After
ten years of d%rudgery, to be robbed
of the reward Of it all! No, thank
you, my dear"
But l, too. will have to make the
| sacrifice" answered her husband.
Frankly. Hilda, l am not thinking of
you in this matter, nor Of myself.
l am thinking of Eunice."
"Eunice!" 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. 1t 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 burden to U.s."
Eunice understood, and all her
world seemed to tumble into a fathom-
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 saw money, but there could
be no home for Eunice. II Hilda left
the stage their means would be strait
ened. The disagreement between
them on this subject bred rancor
which brought suffering to the child.
Iiunice's mother could hardly bear to
look at her, and Mrs. Holmes became
more and more indignant.
"Tll wager there1l be no Santa
Claus for you, my lamb" she said
despondently, as she put the child to
bed two days before Christmas. But
you'll hang up your stockings" she
continued angrily, giving the pillow a
shake. "I1l fill 'em. / mean, I'll tell
Santa to do SO. Tell me. dearie, what
would you like Santa Claus to bring
your"
'"Thanta Clauth," repeated Eunice,
and her eyes frightened. "Gives
everybody everything they want"
YES" said Mrs. Holmes. Good
little boys and girls like you can get
most anything. What would you like
most In the world, dearie?"
II want my Mamma to love me
like the fairy children" Eunice an
swered.
Mrs. Holmes understood and hur
ried out OF the room to give vent to
her tears. She approached Hilda
Groves that evening on the matter.
Wont you be telling Eunice to
hang up her stockings tomorrow
night, ma'am?" she inquired.
II certainly will not teach her that