Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21

q,
party. The children grew greasy and uncon-
troilably. almost Historically. greedy for new
and untried parts Of the turkey. The baby
upstairs began to cry, and Mary had to leave
the table. She knew as she went that she
never wanted to come back to it. But, of
course, she did, for there was more food to be
served-ice cream in shapes and nuts and
raisins
It was over at last and she marshaled her
guests back to the living room, still listening
for the noise of car, that quick, comfort
ing sound of Franks footsteps. More than any
thing else, it hurt her to think of him missing
his dinner, missing his nights sleep, working,
working for people who didn't appreciate him.
HALF-PAsT 3. and the children were quer-
ulous They must exchange the presents,
or Christmas would be over before they got
to them.
I'VE must begin to take the presents OF
the tree, think" she said.
"Oh, can't we wait for poor dear Frank?"
cried his mother
IT think poor Mary" said Aunt Josephine
tartly, might like to get these children put to
bed. They're getting wild. No one knows when
Frank will get here"
hat was the spirit in which the gift giving
began, and all the jocosity Of Mr.. Knight could
not remove that trace Of something that, wasn't
quite rancor, but more like acute disappoint-
Knight, because her poor boy wasn't home; at
Aunt Josephine because Mary, whom she
secretly adored. looked tired and worn; at
Ethel because she didn't have q home: at the
children, because they were exhausted at Mary,
because Christmas Day wasn't perfect and she
had failed to make it so, and been forced to
spend it without her husband
There were many gifts. Dozens of things
which represented the work Of months and the
careful thought Of affection. But for Mary,
"a GhA HAM
wrapped. She suspected that Ethel didn't
really like the neglgee. Mary had made 1t
herself, and thought it rather lovely, in the
making. But ncw-perhaps 1t was a trihe
tawdry, the orchid not quite EtheTS color. And
the money she had spent on the old people, the
hne knitted scarf for her mother in-law the
fur cap for the old unexpectedly check
would have been much more to the point.
The children had lost all sense Of discrim-
tnation now. They were interested in quantity
In the excitement Of unwrapping more tissue
paper. It seemed to their mother that they
were acting Ike savages. grabbing. tossing aside
one present after another. They had too
much
With things being stepped on, things being
casually received. boxes from out of town be-
ing opened. the old man capering with three
new neckties about his neck, the confusion
mounted Through It, trying to remember the
proper forms Of gratitude, Mary united ribbons
and struggled with knots in silver cord. The
ever get cleaned up?
The baby was crying now. She had been
brought down to see her parents and had
chung to her old arrowToot stick and slapped
everything else away. Mary wondered as she
carried the little year-oId-child upstairs IL
Cathy were going to be sick. She bathed her
and put her down ct length IN the darkened
little room to so to sleep. Then, waiting to
see II Cathy would be still. Mary sat down on
the cot bed beside her.
nfin howa 81,
church. Noel, Noel" they called gently.
sweetly, remindingly. The tears came to Mary's
eyes, IS she thought Of that first Mother and
her child In whose honor this day had been
set aside How she had fumbled in celebrating
1t, and now It was gone.
WHEN she woke, she had lost all memory
Of the day. She knew that some one had
made her warm. There was a soft Guilt over
her. She knew it was Francis hand on her
forehead Even IN the darkness, she always
knew that soft, firm surgeons, husbands hand
Nice sleep. old girl?"
She sat up. horror-struck, remembering.
What time Is 1t? Have 1 been asleeu?"
'You only took a couple Of hours off,
ITS all ready. That's why came to call
you. Want to get up?"
She was up in an instant. feeling amazingly
refreshed. He was home He hadn't been very
late after all. That was the way she always
felt when he came in. They went into their
own room, bright with lights; and she saw
that he had changed his clothes, shaving again,
looked tired, but somehow satisfied
TOO bad missed dinner" he said at Was
sorry, but couldn't help It,"
1T was all right. Your father carved"
Hes great carver, isn't hep" chuckled
Francis. and quite casually remarked I'VE
saved the Whitaker baby"
Did that baby come? But"
He nodded. EARLY wanted to spend Christ
mas with his folks. He had few bad hours,
but he's steaming along all right now That's