The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-20

at herself in the mirror. Inc
image before her eyes blurred, ana
she put her hand up to her cheeks
and rubbed away the tears.
Crying" Marjorie said aloud.
The sound Of her voice re
lieVed her. 1t was the first human
voice she had heard that morning
and It filled the shabby little room
and made her seem more reai.
What have you got to cry about:
With eight Christmas cards and
this. and this!"
She fingered the bottle OF cheap
perfumery that her friend at the OF.
flee had given her and looked at
the Haunting box OF chocolates that
the boss had presented to each
one Of his force. But somehow the
very touch OF the stiff pink bows
on the chocolate box was TOO much;
there she was with her head on her
hands sobbInG out her heart with
short, hard breaths and a painful
catch between and all pretense OF
bravery dropped away.
"If there were Just some one
some one who had asked me to
come today! But every ones got T.
home and a family and guess they
forgot"
Shc mopDed at her eyes angrily,
tried for a smile and caught up her
pockethook to go out, when she
ran bliudly into a little messengcr
boy on the landing.
Miss NJ. Smith? Sign here,
please"
MarjorIe's fingers shook as she
signed, and then turning she caught
up the long white box with a scrawl
OF gilt across che cover. Once in.
side the door she stood a MoHlenl
shifting the air that held 4 tirGc
of woodland scent and the cnl"r
o. sunny days.
y "FloweEs!" she whispered. "On,
ii can't be fiowcra."
She unwound the green tape, iii.
ed off the cover almost ~rererpr!tl2
and turned back The green Tissue,
then she flung herself on her knees
before the couch and gave an e.
%clalnatioh Of delight. Tloses' DaeN
red rosca with hearts Of flame gE3
petals Of dtwy freshness; she ..ft-
ed them out until they covered her
couch withsa cEimson mantle
She filled her water pitcher. her
mag. the Jar on her table top and
still the roses lay thicSly OF he;
couch. She caught no q handfHi
and ran quickly to the neS' ,loo
and knocking and crying "Merr
Clristmas!" she left her Glf' Ead
borrowed bowls and Jars. When
she had filled them all her room
wus Rs1.bower of fragrance. ana
seemed 9gfEenlR bright with Christ
mas GhebrSh Sla stood back with
an e~xcIatDation of delight aud then
reInamhhrel suddenly that she did
rotSkllS who yh4ds sent them.
AZ ca ftd tRs tossed Papc" On
the fiaor bore the name Of Thur
low RsowIvand said briefly viii
heartiest greetinss'
She had never heard Of Thu:lnw
Brown and Eho realized with 4 al!'.
den pang OF wrctchedncss ;fat it
wan all a mistake.
Fer door was half opca and Sh"
went toward it with the half IN.
tention OF looking for the messan-
ger Some ,one vino. came Whist.
ling up the stairs halted abruptly
and dragged off his hat. The nice
man who had the room or the floor
above. The man who always nodd-
cd politely. if iudifferently. and
passed harby. Tom Angus was his
name.
MERRY Chrlstmas!" be said, and
she looked up into his tace with y
pretty smile.
"Oh, I say. aren't they the luveil-
est thingsL" he said, haltinS abrupt
ly and shifting luxuriantly like a
dog. "Ibayen't seen roses like that
since l left caitrurnIa!
He stopped at the doc. and from
looking at her roses he looked a;
the girl who had received this eX-
auisite gift. He had often seer her
before, but this time was the first
that he had really observed her.
A pale face. ~egg-shaped. with
nothing OF startling beauty but its
expression. A touch of usefulness
in the eyes and a gentle mouth. And
her Yoicei What a pretty voice, al
most like silver bells.
You're all alone here, aren't
your" he asked. $50 am I. ALI the
rest Of my family out West and l
never felt so lonesome in my life.
Nothing like a big city to make m
feel lost. I've just had a box from
home, jelly and turkey and all that.
/ wish-r say" he went on boyish-
", 81. asked that little sewing
lady down the hall, would you
come up and share, too?"
Marjorie hesitated a moment, and
then as. he peladed with his eyes
and hts voice and his smile she
answered gravely, Yes"
; Half an hour, then Wen be
ready" he said. whistling his dog
up the stairs.
When the door had closed behind
him Marjorie looked about hes
br~eathlessly. Her roses and then
this invitation. He had lever SO
much as talked TO her before, and
he had lived in this very same
house for three months aud brushed
mast her on the landing and seen
her at night carrying in her rolls.
She took OF her hat and, opening
IRE closet door, chose the one dress
m the hanger, a creepy little frock
N blue. She freshened 1t with her
nne precious possession, her moth.
er'e real lace collar unwrapped her.