Show II NN rr p rr 0 Mina Dares Dare's Real Christmas By MARGARET LYIE I n 0 Of Ot course courso your Christmas day Is entirely taken up said the caller caller- you are going away or entertaining entertain entertain- ing at home borne I haven't kept Christmas for several several sev sev- eral oral years replied replied replied re re- plied Mrs Dare Dare Dare- not since my husband husband hus I band died The visitor who only knew hery her hostess slightly y murmured Indeed Indeed Indeed In deed sympathetically and glanced round the beautifully beauli f full fully u 11 y furnished room Mrs Dare was was barely 30 handsome wealthy and yet at a season when j l the poorest get some soma joy i Into n t o 0 their lives she was lonely and desolate M u Mina lUna Dare colored col r ored Deed slightly and seeming to think some explanation was necessary added We had only been married a year and on Christmas day he he-he he he was killed inan in inan inan an accident Even after atter the lapse of seven years she could scarcely speak with calmness ss of that dreadful catastrophe which had robbed her life of all light and zest Since then she went on after a moments moment's pause I have never kept Christmas at all I Miss Ancrum Antrum the caller sympathized sympathized sympathized albeit she thought her hostess morbid and self But still the still the religious part of Christmas day dap she ventured Mrs Dare Dar shook her head We had t been to church in the mot morning ning she said brokenly No ChrIstmas No Christmas day has nothing but painful memories for me Miss Ancrum spoke a few tew kindly I words then passed on to other things Just before taking her leave she ventured ven vena lured half halt timidly I wonder if I could ask you to help me on Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas day We are giving a dinner and entertainment to a a number of the very poorest In the East end and It Itis Itis itis is so difficult to get adequate assist ance once I gasped Villa Ulna Ilna Dare I I Yes It Is just such as you that we need Perhaps you will think It over and let me know by Christmas eve at latest I should be deeply gratefuL grate grate- ful She said good good-by good by and nd went her herway herway herway way diplomatically leaving her ter host host- hostess hostess ess ass to thresh out hilt the proposition in solitude Mina Mimi Dare found it difficult to refuse refuse refuse re re- fuse the request though at first she sho felt Inclined to do so She would really be doing nothing on Christmas day and helping to brighten for one day in the year lives Ives s generally gray and sordid would not be keeping Christmas so far as she was con con- earned Still It was more because she was really ashamed to refuse her s request Ulan for tor any better reason reason that Mrs Dare at length wrote and volunteered her services for Christmas day A long wide room naturally bare hare enough but made bright with bunting and a profusion of holly mistletoe and other evergreens two long tables spread bountifully with Christmas fare and all down the tables rows oJ of pale thin but happy and for once at least clean faces these faces these were what whai Mina Diana Dare saw when Nhen she entered with Miss 2 Ancrum the hall where some 30 poor little ones were being regaled All were meanly dt dressed essed some were In actual rags many were barefooted barefoot barefoot- ed none none boasted even decent shoes Minds Mind's heart went out to the little guests and she thought with a pang of the seven selfish years of brooding and useless solitude Soon she was waiting on the children children chil- chil dren talking to them even laughing with them In helping others her own owr grief seemed to be soothed and she proved herself an admirable assistant After the fhe dinner there was an entertainment enter enter- magic magic lantern singing and playing Mrs 1 Dare both played and sang well and became a huge favorit favorite favor favor- it ate ite singing pretty nursery ballads to the delight of the youngsters and accompanying accompanying accompanying ac ac- companying other singers But Dut when at last the children filed led out cheering and singing and Miss Ancrum began to thank her helpers Mina Diana Dare held up her hand Dont thank me she said You ought to rebuke me that I have never before thought of help Ing ng to make others happy whatever I f might feel myself I 1 have been happy day to-day all my uty heart was as In the work ork I have been beets selfish very selfish very l selfish elfish I 1 have learned a a. lesson this Christmas which I hope may serve me not at Christmas time only but bat throughout the tho year Miss Ancrum clasped the speak speakers speaker's rJ hand warmly In her own own- We have Christs Christ's own pl promise she said softly soft soft- ly that whoso whose ministers to his his his' little ones shall reap his reward refused Mina's Minas eyes filled with tears of hap hap- happiness illness and her face pretty flushed Gushed as she turned to go to her home All the tho way through tho rho snowy streets she murmured ed joyfully to herself hersel In as ye do It unto one of the le least leut t of at these these these- I |