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Show ALONE WITH & (THE FIRE ON 13 SNEWYEM " 'WAY!' grumbled John Martin, and pulled the P bedclothes closer around him. I'artly visible In the curtained room, the littered lit-tered dressing table, tumbled bed and carelessly discarded clothing bespoke be-spoke a late and hurried retirement. Beside the bed, in the deepest shadow, stood h'iZ wife, half-clothed. She shook him gently. "Come, dear, wake up," she urged. "It's nearly noon, aud you promised to take us out to see Father today. See, It's broad daylight," and she drew back the curtains. The hard glare of a midwinter morning focused on the waking man. "There! That's better." "Darn shame," her husband complained, com-plained, as he rose. "I'p all night celebrating, cele-brating, nnd then can't even sleep on New Year's morning." Kvelyn Martin smiled,' but It was several minutes before she spoke again. "You don't really mind going out to Father's today, do you, dear? I wouldn't Insist, but we didn't get out Christmas, and I mustn't let the season sea-son go by without seeing him at all. I have the presents nil ready, and we can drive out In no time." "That's all right. Always did like the old gentleman. Lot of useless trouble, though. No reason on earth why he; shouldn't live here with us." "I know, but lie Is so used to the j old home, lie says he Is more lonely 1 hero wllh us, and I think I can understand. under-stand. I'm home so little, anyhow, and there lie knows every nook and cranny, and that housekeeper Is Just a Jewel. I'm going out there more I often, too, this year. I'll make that I New Year's resolution, John. Now that the children are older and, by the way, I'm dropping the Woman's club this year I'll have more lime to spare." She surveyed herself In the I irjirror approvingly. "Welt, I'll go j down. Hurry, so we can start early." i In what had once been the; well lo-do lo-do section of a neighboring town stood the "old home" of Evelyn's childhood. Changes had been made Inside the ill few y y' s rambling house, too, but they con-Klsleil con-Klsleil of the modern mod-ern comforts nnd conveniences with which a wealthy daughter chose to honor her father. Only the parlor par-lor remained unchanged, un-changed, wll h the old porlralls on Iho wall r, the roses painted on tlio celling, and In one corner the music box that that had o n c n been (and still was) its chief pride. Its sole window, which overlooked the neglected neg-lected yard, was enclosed by reddish-brown reddish-brown portieres. A grate lire added to the dim light nnd upreail n reel clow over the two figures Just entering I he door. The lino, n feeble, gray hen rib il man, was haling on the alrong anil of a kindly- looking and Interesting young woman. "See, sir." she remarked. "I've built you a nice, warm fire that will burn all afternoon. Now wait while I fix your chair for you." "Thank you, Marie," the old man answered, leaning heavily on his cane for a moment. Then, as lie settled Into his chair before the grate: "Now go and hava a pleasant New Year's Day with your people. Everything will be all right." "It's not that I want to leave you, sir " "Marie, I have told you to go. Have friends while you are young nnd can enjoy litem. We grow old quickly enough." "You are sure you will not be lonely?" "I shall not be lonely. I am used to loneliness." "Really, sir, I had rather stay. I shan't enjoy myself for thinking 0t you here alone." "Nonsense, Marie! Hero I hava this nice, warm fire. I do not mind. I'erhaps my daughter and her family will come to seo me. They said Christmas that they would try to got down on New Year's." "i'erhaps they will, sir. I shouldn't be surprised." She carefully adjusted adjust-ed a lap robe about him. "flood by, then, sir. And a happy New Year." "A happy New Year, Marie." Tho door closed behind her, and the master mas-ter of the house was left alone. For a long time he sat brooding, his mind repeating over and ovr the final wonis. -remaps my daughter will come I shouldn't be surprised a happy New Year, Marie a happy New Year" Tho lire crackled, and a spark shot out on the hearlh- stone, but the old man still sat engrossed en-grossed In h I s thoughts. Mem-orles Mem-orles of his youth advent tires romance ro-mance pressed upon him. Finally Fi-nally his m 1 n il went back to his humbler. There , -' 't' 1 '-::"-i was her picture on the mantel. Ha knew It was there, even though his falling eyes could barely discern Its shape. I'erhaps If ho could touch It he would not be so lonely. Slio looked so like her mother. Holding lightly to the chair, and resting his weight on his cane, the old man rose, balanced himself, and took a few steps forward. Now he could reach the picture. Ho stretched out his arms, a little higher. His lingers touched (hi" frame, hut In that moment mo-ment he lost his balance. To his dh'.zy senses It seemed tho room wheeled around; he clutched at objects that always eluded his grasp. He half turned toward his chair, and In so doing he fell. "Kvelyn," he called, the pitiful cry of helplessness. "Evelyn!" The lire sputtered, and cast nil tin-felt tin-felt warmth upon tho prostrate num. Benealh i.:s head the crumpled lap-robe lap-robe absorbed the thin tiicklu of blood. In his hand was clasped a tile tare of the woman who looked llko her mother. Rut the man himself had entered upon the happiest New Year of nil. A car' drew up at the curb oulsldo and Evelyn Martin, her anus lllled with presenls, hipped daintily along Hie walk. She slopped upon the porch and shifted her bundles to open the door. "Vim lion, Daddy! Happy TS'cw Year I" She entered the flrellt room, (). 1927, Wi'Hlurn WiuvnuB iir I'nluB I |