Show A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AT NIGHT NIGH T By ALICE E E. E ALLEN Copyright 1812 1112 by br American Press Asso Ano I. I j 1 T to Ruth Huth as she flew for tor IT the time her to-her to telephone that dreary afternoon of the day r before Christmas that she had 3 friends In the grim old city of ot which oho aho he had never neTer known until then then true true friends even If It they were humble and andr r too poor to do more than telephone their good wishes This special mes message ge was was from Ruths Ruth's proprietor Could he ho cl call U that evening Ruths Ruth's Of Ot course not Mr Mayno was firm Could he take her J out the then then then-a a a dinner somewhere the tho r. r theater Just this once for tor C Christmas Christmas' Christ i t mas' mas sake Ruths Ruth's refusals I as s trans trans f- f witted by the telephone were all firm firmand k and relentless But as she came away i k and sat down In her chair by the window window win cv dow her eyes were wistful It will never do for tor the proprietor ri- ri u. u to call upon his stenographer she i. i rt said ald with a sorry little smile To be inre sure Bure there was a time when tIme when he way was washer R r her fathers father's clerk clerk but but times have haver t r rt changed g f Perhaps because It was Christmas i t. t eve when memories no matter how howa t a well behaved at other times timeR and seasons sea set b sons will walk abroad perhaps beb because because be be- cause cause other things such things such as all love Joy r. r peace and good will worn thronging i tr 54 heaven and earth below perhaps only ony I It because Ruth was tired and perplex I y I A f t ft Sr 1 liL W- W nt I 4 W i aY F Ft t IZEE WERE FIRM AND RELENT RELENT- RELENTs s LESS Liras c iY ed ad and lonely whatever lonely whatever the reason reason- sitting Bitting there In her little window looking down upon the street with its r throng of ot gay good nat natured red shoppers Ruth did what she had stern sternly 1 forbidden forbid forbid- H den herself to do do she she went back over the years which had made such changes In her life lite There was vas her ber fathers father's Y business disgrace the loss of ot everything every thing followed by his death Then came her own beginning in business In spite of ot herself herselt Ruth smiled to think f of ot what her old friends would say says s could they know what a a capable little business woman necessity had made of 01 x her ber But not one of them all knell keen knelly y where she was Not one had traced her to this great city that city that Is except Jack Jack As soon as Ruth admitted admit admitted admitted ted that name into her thou thoughts It t t dominated all else It brought ht back its 4 o owner owner ner strong manly insistent insistent- one atthe of at the Vo take for take no answer for an answer kind Ruth found round he herself herself elt wondering-almost wondering wondering almost I that that Jack had bad taken her ber no as final anal i Apparently he bp bad had It had hud surely beep been as strong as she could make It And Andl l he be had gone away away and and had had hadn n not t come back With the many friends friend who had rung up to ask how she was and to tolay tolay lay tray Merry Christmas there had been no Co Jack Jack Jack-Jack Jack Jack-Jack Jack of or the stron strong face rare the loyal heart the tender eyes and und voice How had she ever let him go r 1 Some time you will want me Ruth he had bad said Above the rush and roar of ot the great city Ruth heard beard the words again just Just Justas as she had bad beard heard them every ev ery cry day and every nIght eight since Jack had gone awaY t away I 1 could urge you now but I J want you of ot your own free treE will dear flear And you will come some da day I do not even nE need to ask a 8 promise I 1 s know What is ours does come Orne to us S S Sr If it we wait wall I 1 can waitS wait walt r That was three thre years a ago o. o At At first d Ruth Rath had half haIr expected his return But But be he never came ame And he hg never sent ent her a word n was Ruth wn tb tired of watch watching In ing the malls mails now And her proud lit tit littie littie tie head t told ld her eager ager little little heart t that at It was not fair to call Jack hae hark hack k Just be because life was b hard h. rd and lonely and t almost unbearable sometimes So Sn she tolled toiled away until toll toil became hE work work- work that she enjoyed She bl had her bel beli herle i t litt little le rooms rooms by herself her 1 books ks her her fr 1 4 i. i i i 1 I- I 1 U. t-U. 1 tv HI el lIr What more mon need any nor one ask Noth NothIng Ing except Int except at ut Christmas At Christmas Christmas Christ mas to a woman love lore Is III a necessity That night In the middle of ot th the e I darkest hour Ruth sat at up ul straight ht lu bed bed Sh She was nb absolutely sure that the telephone bell over o her ber de desk k had Just rung All was still so so after a min to tc of ot waiting she lay down again u laughing to to herself The telephone had been so bus busy all nil day bringing ln her I messages es that she had heard Iward It In her dreams It could not really have bave ruu rung After a little little she drow drowsed ld off oft only to to hear Its shrill Jingle If n again aln and again again It no longer er wakened her Butin But ButIn ButIn In her dream sll she went tent to the tele telephone phone took down the receiver and listened listened lis lis- tenet Out of ot the darkness and und distance distance distance dis dis- tance a voice olp spoke spoke lacks Jacks Jack's vol voice e. e Merry hrry Christmas was Its only message message mes meso sage sae B But But so t su sa stron strong and clear dear were the words word that when hen Ruth finally ly awoke to a sunny Christmas morning morning morn morn- In ing she still tingled led to their memory Perhaps when hen one first awakes the heart beart has bas more mOIl control over one oue than thun the bead Anyhow when wl en Ruth Huth sat at up ulI and looked out of ot her window at nt the already busy streets far below helow her her heart art was doltl dohs doing the talking o lack I Is waiting for you some you some some- where whre It said And Aud he h. belongs to you wh Why not claim your own 1 After a t minute Ruths Ruth's heart spoke again W What it you If-you are poor What If It he tie Is 14 not rich Cant Can't two work together to to- pettier gether Ither better hetter than thau apart Why 11 not give j k 1 Th The only one oue h he nf 1 Ruth t tl did did not give Ive her head time to nr h her I heart heart- As AN O l. a as she he wits wits' d dressed s 's d- d she was tells pt atthe the h telephone giving lacks Jacks business r After she fund waited what seemed seemed- a long long- long time tune her la hl head ad did remind remind her Why Wh of or course e she said he bl will be bl up country lu 1 today She about to to hlll hang up 1 the receiver Wilf u a minute cried r ed her ber heart I Hearts do know things 4 especially at Christmas And the thc then then- i- i Hello said Raid a big gig Ite hearty ty voJe out of or the tilt distant distance e Ob Oh Jack cried Ruth Is It you really you 1 Yes Ruth HuU said the Who else el You wanted To wish To you you- youa a a merry Christmas Jack Ja Ruth faltered Thanks Thanks' That all nU Yes yes said Ruth listening to her hr bead head Then No not No not quite I I J I want wanted wanted wanted ed to hear bear your our voice Hints Hint's all nil Is 4 It asked the voice vole Hn h wanted to hear Jack Ruth Huth hurried on I 1 dreamed nh about t you In last t nl night ht I l I-l I thought ht d me ml up and It was only 31 a d dream dream m. m I l earners earner's i. i n near r It It sold said the voice e that I stood liere herP by my mr t l ml fo for an hour But wp late and and imd well trell Ruth I wanted YO you u 1 t to cull me call cui me up this time time Youre Your not not In 11 Not yet We VE go o tonight We Mother and I. I Slips She's t part of ot Christmas R In the lit ctt But wp we we miss ml- the snow and the lied the home borne folks It sounds lovely cried rl d a and ml so y Give H your mother muther my mj my love laCk Jack and wl wish h her the merriest Christmas Christinas Jo Js- Js Shell h 11 hE be glad to hear h lr from you VOU T M I 7 4 Y J W 1 8 J WJ J j. j i d SITTING O 1 IN u HUB HER LIITLE WL WINDOW DOW Ruth weve we've been talking of you Any Anything Anything Anything thing else No I Sure dear Ruths Ruth's Ruths Ruth's eyes eres were so so full of tears tears that as she Rhe said afterward she bl she sep to talk Sure dear asked k d the the voice again all all Hh she said b bravely VelY only ony are are you well I Perte Perfectly And you I f Oh Oh yes yc Wasn't Wont It t e heard beard th the bell when you you ring ying up last night Jack t No said Jack firmly Your Your heart heard mine little girl i If If only ony you would I st n Jt f fi 1 i iI I I la cant can't t. t alway alwag h hear ar r It laughed i Ruth My IY head hlad Is IR such h a good god od talker talker k Times up up said sald a voice olce som somewhere where i Co rA Z f ye I. I V it vy Y r t v x s C-s 4 x y r l d to rS i t e I 5 d t k 5 c itS 4 x Y yr n a L y j Frn s yF 3 Y r 4 a i yai Y 1 of Y fv 4 i 7 y A AF F G Goodby odby Jack def dear r cried Ruth But there W was M no answer answer The next nest minute she a again aln t took ok down dawn the receiver Get again quick she said Hello said ald Jacks Jack's vol voice Is that you Jack Of Of course Something om you for forgot ot dear No t 1 didn't forget J J. J wouldn't ay It but I 1 must Dont Dout look at nt me mf Jack Ia k rg IVE BEEN IE HEADY LEADY ALWAYS JAC JACK C but listen Im I'm to my heart now There Is something I want J Jack acl Yes Its a bI big something Guess No 0 dont don't guess gues- Walt Wait Its It's you you ou Ruth Huth hung up the receiver and and- ran to the chair b by the window quite the ot other er side of or the tbt room It was wag not quite u te minute when the telephone bell rang shrilly Is this Miss fi Hazen said theoper operators operator's oper operators ator's voice olce Yes said Ruth Huth o Message wn wasn't nt finished finished wait Hello Bello came came- J Jacks Jack's to ft big stron strong vibrant with happiness hap y you Ruth t y Yes i Co mother and 1 I. I to ti take Vou you o Tip IP in Can an your yo l I e H Feud J Ji I fUi 1111 Y Yes Ys said f iH n ready I always lw s l T C What rati i i Ij- Ij H d fl deven even that f w vrn rini lag Ing In win win- port h ti l t lot tl that Ruth's Ruths flume nUi- nUi I co StAnd N St NAnd And Aud iV even II I l fr she h run Ull t tn I put pat b her r ir clothes In III her hr fi r iii 11 use I In do her Wall and t to tn put on mu hI hw- hw r We UI Pt tW tr J taint n nb above wt her f lum l h took lof l- l i of fu With Vilu i n wd ni bon she be tlc 1 It tr Iti over Mir h th dea h 1 ainer G t 4 C R e i Him glue th cried y n do dor dorc c i t t. t |