Evening star., 1932-12-18

pened to Daddy. But she didn't want to know
she wanted to pretend Mummy was telling her
a story. So she closed her eyes so Mummy
couldn't see she was pretending. and Mummy
told her how Daddy and Jerry had gone for a
drive.
There was such big moon" Mummy said.
"any everything looked SO beautiful and white"
She was sure she would have gone for q
drive too. Mummy paused when she said that
but Ann stood very still and kept her eyes
closed. She knew Mummy was pretending. too,
because she knew Mummys pretending voice.
1t was better though, when Mummy contin-
ued She stopped brushing AIMS hair and
sat down on a little chair and took Ann
her lap
Daddy was driving very carefully Mummy
told her. but all of sudden there was very,
very slippery place-and before poor Daddy
could do anything about 1.-THE car went over"
Now. would Ann be very good little girl
and eat her breakfast up quick so they could
60 and see Daddy? Because Daddy Mummy
added. had been hurt Just little he
couldn't come and wish Ann Merry Christmas
but Ann and Mummy would have to go and
see him
Ann tried very hard no. to think about
Daddy being hurt. She couldn't eat her cereal
very we'll: her throat did funny things when
she tried to swallow.
Nora didn't say Hurry up!" not once. She
put more sugar and cream ON fer Ann. But
even that didn't do any good So she just
said, Never mind, Pet and she tucked Ann
up very warm in her little blue coat and cap
so that she was all ready to go out with
Mummy. q
1t wasn't long walk up the hill The big
white house where Daddy sat right on
top. There was winding road that led up to
it on one side and on the other side another
winding road that led away. Ann had been
there when she had had her tonsils out, so she
knew it was very nice place
Right inside the door was a beautiful person
in white who took her hand and led her along
the hall. Ann liked her. She had very white
teeth and blue eyes and she seemed to smile
with both. She said to Mummy, so this is
Mr. Sheldon's little girl?" Mummy said, Yes,
this is Ann. I'm Mrs. Sheldon
And the lovely person in white said, Go
right in. Mrs. Sheldon. Mr. Sheldon is expect
ing you
Somehow or other, when they got to the
bedside, Ann couldn't believe that was Daddy.
He looked so still and white lying there. He
didn't hold out both arms and say Merry
Christmas. Kitten!" He didn't seem to see
Ann at all.
He said, Nina, Nina, can you forgive me?"
His voice was hoarse and deep and his eyes
looked frightened and sad
Ann thought Mummy going to cry, too.
But she didn't-She laughed.
She knelt by Daddys bed and put both arms
around him and she kissed him and kissed
him-and she kept on laughing.
She said, Il love you, love you, you're
mine!''
DADDY didn't seem to be thinking about that.
- He didn't seem to understand what
Mummy telling him.
He said, Jerry is dead!"
Mummy stopped kissing him
She looked at him hard for a second. Then
she said, "Hush!" and she put her finger over
his lips.
Ann knew very well what that hush" meant.
She knew Mummy had remembered her.
She was awfully glad because then Daddy
smiled, and he looked just like Daddy again.
ard ne said, Hello Kitten" and she climbed
up ON the bed next to him very carefully. for
Daddy said he had . crazy old leg and he'd
have to be careful little while-b then he'd