| Show by MART D ARNOTT struggled ay iy ian e tears that squeezed at laba through tired eyelids it was not often that the brave attle homemaker gave way to grief but in the present mo ment she seemed unable to control her emotion in the next room childish voices prattled joyously had not found the heart to tell them that christmas would have to come and go without the much heralded visit from santa claus since the loss of both parents linden ette had managed to keep a root over the heads of her small brother and sister and had provided food for their slight frames what did it matter it her cheeks had lost their roses and her lips their cheery bloom the smile lingered that was all that mattered she br dished her tears aside and arose to answer an unexpected summons from the knocker she looked her surprise at the great man who stood on her tiny porch I 1 have come in search of one alln den lane the stranger said with a smile to which the girl responded the name Is unusual admitted and my own Is even more impossible being lane may I 1 ask ou in from the cold sho opened the door and marvin goodwan entered the barren room into which she led him his ees followed the girl rather than the contents of the room two small pale faces peered at him from the kitchen door and goodwan smiled at them do I 1 look like santa claus he asked them by way of breaking the ice no you dont returned the boy bluntly besides linda says it may be too cold tor santa claus to come out this 1 ear there was a wall from the little and the boy strove vainly to conceal his disappointment at this announcement linda gave them each a hug and told them to run along hen they bad gone she turned to goodwan with inquiry in her eyes sly errand Is a pleaseant one he aalde quickly for his own voice was none too controlled it will add to our happiness I 1 know he drew a memorandum from his pocket and atter consulting it asked your father linden lane did he live in stillwater glnn 22 years ago yes replied linda with a flush ot excitement lending roses to her cheeks I 1 was born there then to come directly to the point goodwan told her we find two I 1 its of 26 each in two of our banks there one linden J lane opened the account 22 years ago linda laughed softly my father urca always to fear bank failures and put small amounts in many banks she turned eyes upon goodwan we thought ate had collected all bis savings she eald these two nests were undiscovered the man laughed and the hena have been laying golden eggs you have at this very minute three hundred dollar sl oh she impulsively held out her two tol lworn little hands it Is a fortune the children they can have their santa found himself feeling hap pier than he remembered having felt before as it the knowledge that he had been the good fairy in this small faill or was it moro subtle more wonderful that had crept into his mind he laughed a trifle nervously L am going to ask for immediate for th lor I 1 hai e uon sr aou ne bald and hen linda a ques aea his he said imnetu bously let me come tomorrow and help make christmas glad for the children alar I 1 come linda glanced at him falth a ne shyness yes she said simply it you like I 1 will go with you to help get that christmas tree next morning linda and the ahll dren were up early the crackling of the fire as it roared up the stovepipe created a spirit of cheerfulness that greeted goodwan when he presented himself at an early hour oh shouted bobb heres our own santa clauer his eyes were glued to the armful of packages goodwin deposited on the table bobby cried linda haven t sou ever been santa claus before queried peggy never this Is my very first experience peri ence I 1 hope I 1 acquit myself with proper dignity and linda s eyes over the heads of the children looked don deep into goodwan s big soul and unconsciously ehe let the man read hat her heart was easing next christmas he is as saying in his mind linda will liae permanent roses in her cheeks and her ees will be mine and that will be all the happiness one santa claus could hav e palled an |
