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

the Midnight service. Inc voices OF
the choir rose high, with almost
- unearthly sweetness, caroling.
Young DR.. Knight and his wife sac stiffy
wedged together They were mercileSSly tired.
and this hour of relief from activity was max
ing them realize their exhaustion But they
always came to the midnight mass on Christ
mas Eve Always" meant i've years to the
knights Five years ago they had been here,
Mary with q great bunch of violets tucked
inside her coat and wearing the excited, CON-
scious look of the bride. They had been mar
ried just a month on that first Christmas
. Now. after five years. they had left three
children sleeping at home and their tired young
shoulders leaned toward each other in COM
mon support. Mary's hat was a little awry
and the doctor needed a shave. But they had
been too hurried to bother much about how
they looked,
The boxes to the out-0f-town relatives were
gone. The shopping was done at Iast-that
difficult, skillful shopping which meant spread
ing = little money far that there would be
q gift for each of the relatives, and the chill
dren would have fun stockings.
THE lights we're on the tree. The Christmas
candy was made and the chocolates dipped
TIE turkey was stuffed It had cost an APP
palling amount, and Mary knew what planning
it was going to take to keep next months meat
bill down 50 that the extravaganza of nine
dollars for a Christmas turkey might be &p-
peased. II was going to take planning IN an
directions to work IN the Christmas bills. But
there were chestnuts In the stlIfing Francis
liked IL that way. Everything was IN order,
and Christmas had really begun In joy and
reverence.
the choir chanted 1t, the scent OF pine and
incense mingled, the bell ON the altar rang
sweety, and Mary and Francis knelt together
The doctor moved as IL he reused himself and.
looking ct her husbands face. Mary noted with
pity the way fatigue dragged at it, lined IT,
He must get some sleep In the morning. and
yet the children couldn't be hushed too much
on Christmas morning
Her double responsibility for his tfreeness
and the children's pleasure set her to planning
now she would work It out. Christmas must
be perfect day for all Of them
Outside 1t was clear and white and cold
People moving away from the church in steady
lines Of black figures called merry Christmas
70 one another. Automobiles started reluct-
antty, their chilled engines nunlbed By two
hours Of the steady cold. Mary, pulling her
coat around her closely-there were no yiolets
under Il tonight-hurTied with her husband to
their little car
Il hope We aren't going to have any trouble
getting started" she said. Merry Christmas
Frank"
He drew her arm through his own. returning
her greeting affectionateIy.
Beautiful night isn't IL? s1,ess she,l
start all right"
Mary shivered against him while he pressed
his foot on the starter The engine wIairred
sprang to life, died. Jumped again, turned over
steadily at last. A. carol hummed IN Marv,s
head Two more miles and they'd be home
and warm. with their beauty behind them and
the chndrenS fun ahead. But the car Vas
making great deal Of noise.
Aren't you running In secOnd2" she asked
Francis ''1'9N-
~First. can't shift she's cold
The engine storHned and ratified for aSfew
more blocks. Frank made . valiant effort with
the gear shift. and pushed It into second
Il don't like that rattle"
Neither Of them liked &c. SomethinR Iooae
something broken-an omino.Is sound. eettin1
steqAiiy worse. He stopped and pulled On his
brakes and they glanced disconsolateiy at each
other
Wen have to leave Il and have IL towed.~
said Mary unhappfly.
Both Of them knew what that meant. Ten
dollars unexpected expense for towing the car
in1o the garage, where something serious might
be found wrong with It. The thouRht ground
on the nerves Of them both as Francis turned
the wheels Of the car into the curb and they
abandoned It. -
The street car runs along, one block over
there" he said. "Come on"
You suppose there win be q carr"
We can try. II not. we can call taxi"
ION, Frank, we mustn't It can't be more
than mile =. .s pa - nA.sf
Pretty cold for a stroll" he answered,
'Ohs let's not talk Frank Let's hurryl II
we walk, a street car win probably catch up
withanS". - -a..4s -. /. ~ - ~. =
ay started, .braeing their WoaRineas aRainsss
the FIRST few blocks. which. were, uphill Mary
faced ahead stOutIy, then turned and triad to-,
walk backward !, She. couIA feel her fingers,
aching already through the tips Of her. gigss
s1sgeT ~ ~ sfsst'