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Show fVEKYONK was huppy but Carrie, Car-rie, they said. All four of the others had come In the last two days before Christmas. A heavy snow had fallen and to remind them of old times Father Carson had met Harry and Esther at the station In the old bobsled. And Harry and Esther, In turn, had Jingled merrily down after Frank and his wife and the new baby. Mr. and Mrs. Carson beamed at the children, home again. A yule log crackled In the fireplace. The old fashioned pantry almost bulged. Harry and Frank had brought a Christmas tree from down by the creek and Esther and Marlon. Frank's wife, trimmed It Of course, poor Carrie hud to be the last one home. She'd wired them that she had to teach np to the last minute and wouldn't arrive until Christmas eve. "Poor Carrie," they said aguln. For Frank and Marion were so proud of the new baby, and Harry'd had a promotion. Esther was romantic with a beautiful diamond and a young man's very soulful picture. This was her senior year In college. She'd depended de-pended on Carrie for funds as each of the others bad, but she couldn't help patronizing Carrie a little in her mind. Poor drab Carrie with her eternally shabby clothes and her same old teaching Job. "Did she ever have a fellow?" Marlon asked Frauk and Harry as they pulled on heavy overcoats before meeting the train. Everyone reflected. "Once," Frank recalled, "the year she was In nor-mul nor-mul school, but he married soimlx.dy else." Esther gazed casunlly at her ring and shrucged. "roor dear," she murmured, mur-mured, "She has no Idea of how to handle men. It requires much tact" The boys roared with laughter. "You leave Carrie nlone!" they shouted as they crunched out to the sleigh. Mrs. Carson came from the kitchen, kitch-en, cheecks flushed. "Girls," she said "Carrie's always been the family backbone. back-bone. Let's be specially nice to her this Christmas. I don't think we ought to brag to her ffbout our own good fortunes. Don't, abeve all thing, let her see that we feel sorry for her." The girls agreed. "Especially Efetber't ergagemeat That'll make |