The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-22
Eoening Story
The Best Gift.
BY CLARISsA MACKIE.

]
that had covered their section of the
| handkerchief counter.
Lorna shook her head impatiently,
| II don't want to co." she said GROSSLY.
You're a nice onei" commented
| Rosie, as she pulled out some boxes
of rumpled handkerchiefs and looked
| them over. Help me with these.
kiddie, while 1 scold you-'
"sure-don't yant to go hame and
see your FOLKS
I'm sending them presents-Tm
sending mother a new coat and father
an overcoat-been saving for them all
the year. And a big box of candy
and everything sent the box yester-
day
'Humphl They'd rather have you
the only one, amt your"
yes" answered Lorna stiffly. All
the pretty color had fled and she
I loked pale and sad ct know they'll
miss me-but 1 wrote and explained
and mother said she understood and
that needn't, come"
! what are you going to do?" asked
| curious Rosie.
Lorna shrugged listlessly. Moth
| ing much-stay in that old boarding
house and read all day-it will soon
be over
~'Here's the first eustomer-you can
| have her.
1t was the day before Christmas and
| threatened snow People rushed into
| the shop in droves and soon the aisles
were damned with men, women and
| children most of them happy and
rosy checked and full of the Christ
| mas spirit of giving. Lorna forgot
her own unhappiness as she helped
! other people in the choice of hand
| kerchiefs-eyery time she saw a quiet
little gray-haired woman or short,
4 h ~ c1<1xr y Mn
she felt dreadful stab in her throat
there had been a lump there all day
with these reminders of her lonely
parents in the little heme-nest which
she had not seen>sinee the summer va
cation-came a longing to see them
that only her pride suppressed. Just
| then her pride was greater than her
love-.
Rosie Magee watched her closely
and at supper Ehen they hurried up
stairs to eat the meal provided by the
store, she found time to scold Lorna.
II know why you're not going home
I've thought it OUT"
Lorna swallowed some scalding hot
| coffee and nibbled at her sandwich
before she replied, Don't bother
about that"
It's all because you had a silly
quarrel with that young hayseed down
at MeadoWbrook last summer, and
you're too proud to go back and face
him-and so you're hurting your ia
! Their and mother-gee, you're a selfish
kidd hate to be your MOTHER"
Kissed Rosie amid the clatter of cups
and saucers and the happy talk about
the coming holiday. you've forgot
ten that Christmas comes on Sunday
and that Monday will be a holiday,
too"
"why?" quavered Lorna. why
would you hate to be my mother?''
Because you care more about your
old feelings than you do about max
ing them happy-come along, our
time is up and there's a big mob out
theFe-betcha half of them wilr be
wild when the store closes at 8
O'clock"
Lorna said nothing and when clos
ing time-came she exchanged Christ
mas greetings with her companions
with special little wistful smile for
Rosie Magee. 81 guess l did make a
mistake about that, Rosie" she ad-
mitted, and this is for you--and
Merry Christmas" Lorna slipped a
tiny package into Rosie's hand and
vanished around the corner of the
snowy street which led to the grav
boarding house where she tPd lived
sinceashe Mad left school and declared
she was going to support herself and
help her father.
Christmas morning broke with snow
piled almost to the fence tops. The
sky was blue with white, woody CLOUDS
scuoding before crisp wind. Smoke
curled from the chimneys of the little
home of the Rogers family and the
red geraniums on the window stills
looked like Christmas holly, while the
two hemlocks in the fl ont yard with
their powdering of NOW sparkling in
the sum seemed like gigantic Christ
mas trees. A stalwart young man in
mackinaw and high boots with a knit
ted muffler about his eek was SHOW
elng a path from the gate to the lit
Tie front porch. When the door sud-
denly opened, he locked up cage:gL
Christmas greeting.
That's real neighborly of you,
Nate" he added. You must have
heard about my rheumatic Leg
Sure did" agreed Nate. plying the
snow fh;s shovel vigorously. Folks all up
Mas up said Jonas slowly-"ain't
nobody else to get-up."
Didn't Lorna come homer" Mates
rudy face lost some of its color.
No-she wrote her ma she reck-
oned she would stay in the city,
That's tough" mumbled Nate,
gloomily.
''Yes-it's some hard luck" and
Jonas's voice quayered little as he
turned away. Come in and have
HAD mine hours ago, but I'm hum
cry enough to eat another one" hel
said with assumed cheeriness, for he
knew the old people were lonely
After breakfast they showed him the
gifts that Lorna had sent and the tiny
tree they had decorated with slittering
ornaments and little gifts.
she always had one" explained
Mrs. Rogers. land I thought she'd get
the better of her pride and come after
ALL" When she turned away to wipe
her tears, Nate brought a diamond
ring from his pocket and fastened it
to the topmost branch. "She gave it
back last summer. but I hoped she'd
come and we could make up" said
Nate.
And then the door burst open and
with the cold Christmas morning came
a radiant Lorna. 81 had to come" she
explained. as all their arms EMBODIED
her; 81 couldn't hold back my love
when the Christmas chimes rang out
and so came Her eyes saw the
ring in the branches of the little tree