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

Mice navuR," agreed Mary. where's Aunt
Josephine?"
upstairs dressing Betty and Peter. Let her
alone. She adores doing it. She read them to
sleep and they've had good maps"
what dears you all are," Mary said happily.
Why had she thought her living room any
thing but beautiful? As she entered it now, the
tree with its electric lights glowing, wnked and
glittered with very profligate Chrimtmas spirit.
The fire was burning easily and restfully, and
all the tissue paper had been picked up and
thrown away. Gifts everywhere, on the tables,
on the chairs, things she had seen but hardly
appreciated before
Frank came in as If hunting for her.
did you like your presents?" she asked.
ct got a pair Of grand driving gloves" he
said that must have bankrupted you. First
fur-lned ones I've had in years"
Like them?"
Didn't I? Did the kids have good timer"
"They were drunk with presents" said Mary.
which reminds me that haven't given you
one"
CHE had been aware Of that not admitting 1t
to herself, wondering if he really couldn't
afford anything, or hadn't had time. deter
mined not to care.
IT don't want one, Frank! It's too utterly
nice to have you home tonight. That will be
my present.
IT was going to give you a check, little
one," he went on, and she fancied he was
apologizing for not being able to do 1t, "for
knew all this TODD must be making you run
close to the wind. But then this came along"
He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. Il
wanted to give it to you last night when you
were so worried about the car and so tired.
Then thought you'd prefer it If held on
until today And nearly gave it to you this
morning, but was counting on q grand pre-
sentation scene this afternoon. Served me
NSnw1 - H-~I&m
it, for the past half-hour forgot i'll"
She had opened the envelope, drawn out -
contents and looked stunned.
"a thousand dollarsl But, Frank, what fpr?s
at came to me from the clinic. I've indorsed
1t over to you, and you can do as you please
with it. DR.. Allerby gave it to me last night.
He said some nice things about this years
work. But that's not the best of it. old girl.
He and his wife are going to Austria next year,
so he can study, and I'm going to have charge
Of the department. He was quite pleased about
1t today He likes to feel, in q case like that,
there's some one he can count on"
They looked at each other for just O. minute.
sharing 1t. Then the children came In, re-
freshed and riotous, with Aunt josephine ,ex-
cesSively proud Of her handiwork in dressing
them. Mrs knight insisted imperiously that
every one must come to supper, Ethel was s11il-
ing back Of her eyes Is she looked at her roses.
And Mary's heart was singing.
She asked herself If it was just because e
the money, the triumphant outcome Of Tou-
bled day. No-she had been happy before that.
happy when Frank had wakened her with his
hand on her forehead. It was because Of he9
childrenS faces, the sleeping baby upstairs thA
hospitality at her table, the sparkling tree; bee
cause Frank was home and these kin Of hers
were happy.
There was song in her head, the one tbs
chimes had left there as she fell asleep, .
wordless song made up Of the memory Of the
creche in the church. the little living Whitaker
baby, Of Winter SHOWS and struggle, of peace
that comes ut last-Noel, the hymn Of hArth
and home.
(CopyTisht, ie3oD