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Show H A CHRISTMAS j J HAVEN I Bj By T. D. Aldmoa H t (ft. 111. Waiters Newpapr Union.) H rf N out rnnn mtt ,,rra,n"3r V " H0'"" ,n, "l0 frrplnce of HHj lSu n f'Oily furnished room. It Bni I NX wns UhrlHtmns rvc nnd Hf Mnrvln Hughes wns looking mft ! t J hack over (ho yonra of lilt fllji MtiPT "fp nml """ Rravc nn(I "od HHi HnVfft dened ii8 ho realized that he fl! i had neither chick nor child H, I of IiIr own, ns the echo of ISPl ; music nnd the voters of rollicking chtl- Awf l trm in the apartment overhead were In i korno to his cars. B j ! Tho rrcoRiiltlon of tho fact Hint lie Iflf; 1 was setting old, thnt ho wns mlsMnr H'jf aetncthlng In llfo that might make Hji Mm hotter nnd happier, appealed to H klm powerfully thin Christmas ore. II n had mechanically distributed the BJ bbosI Chrlstmns lnrgcse at the ofllce. rail Homeward hound ho had neglected no Hf appeal from the street mendicant Htwj This was not soul-itlsfylnn, however. Hi It hud dawned upon him thnt ho had Hrj brought his Isolation upon himself; Clfli that there wero nt least two persons PEIjj Hi tho great city who wern of kith nnd ED, kin nnd he set to summing up the SI, dnty he owed them. Kw. 1 hnvc been no closer to them thnn Yft If I were an utter stranger" he solllo- MW (tilled. "It Is my fault, I mipposc, for HHy I have encouraged neither; for years Iflrm I have simply sent them the usunl hoi- WH:9 Iday check. When I nra through with JBf'l' what I hove It must go to others. lAXnS Which of tho two deserves recngnl- HI tlen Ettn Harnes or Albortn Norrlsl IHkff The first named wns a widow nnd Htj second cousin. Hughes had supplied IMiJiii tke capital to start her In n boarding IBjff Mcraao at her urgent request nnd she HjB k4 managed to make a living out of PbJjX ft For a time he called and she had IBS, pit herself out to make upon him an IBS- Inprcsslon of admiration of his sue- RHB eeaaful business record, of gratitude PHE for Ms financial co-operntlon, of her HI tore and devotion for him, the last pM'K near relative she hod In tho world. HMlj Then, too, she had appealed to him pBl In a string wny. Onco she hnd tak- PBj ea him to a drapcrlcd niche off the HI sitting room, and hod showed him a HVJl llfe-slrcd oil painting of his dend piK nothcr. pHJj "Bhe was like n sister to me," mild PHK Mrs. Homes pathetically, "and you pHK know brother Willis wns qnlto n por- HHF trait artist. 1 have nlways treasured HVh It as the one precious memento of my LbbbbV IUn" pHK Hughes Has duly touched,, but the HHl Impression wns not lasting. Tliero HSH was something nrtlflclnl nnd Inslnccro b nbout Kttn Iliirncs. Under tho Influ- pHH enco of his present emotions. Iiowev- pHB ct, his softened spirit, tonged for loy- BHH nl compniiliinshlp. H "I'll do It I" spoke Hughes. "I shall IK call upon Mrs. Humes nnd Alberto. HSHi Ono or the other I will endow with pHW fortune nnd I hope to trnco out some. HlBJ real nlfectlon for me; n genuine glad- HHlJ ness to welcome me us a member of pHV their household during my remaining HVl few years." HbJ An hour later ho entered tho home pHl of Mrs. Hnmes. He wns told that she Hli wns out on nn errand nnd wns shown PHVJ Into n sitting room. Invnluntnrlly pHV memory directed him to tho nlcho pHS whero ho had viewed his mother's por- HVR trnlt It wns not In plncc. Then ns pHB ho glanced Into tho room beyond HHS JInmes saw It lying across two chairs, pHS used nn an Ironing hoard. Tho shock PHS drove him to his feet. Ho hnd fnlli- Hj omed tho Insincerity of this unworthy UVE relative. Ho was half-minded to ro- PBKj turn home. A memory of (lie lust HK tlmo ho had Keen Alberta, her bus- HflK bnnd nml clillilrcn, however, liillu- H enccd him to follow out his prescribed HVJ Vb They hnd nlways IIvcmI humbly, hut JH respectably. From tho dav that Al- ncn in orris nnd married Alberta he had hut ono thought In his mind her comfort and contentment nnd thnt of tho tittle ones who enmo to them ns the yenrs passed on. Well Hughes knew tho house, tho room brilliantly lighted, whenco echoed ech-oed sound!) of jollity and excitement. Its window was open for ventilation, nnd his eyes dimmed ns ho viewed the bnppy-fnced Alberta nnd her huubnnd, the two little girls, nnd n baby crawl-Ing crawl-Ing about, cooing ulth unlinutlon. "Keep Marvin away from tho candles, can-dles, Alden," ho beard Alberto speak, nnd his heart thrilled. This last child then was his nnmcsnkcl He en mo Into tho house to receive tho usunl earnest welcome nlways bestowed be-stowed upon him. "Albertn," ho said, "I am lonely nnd unhappy. I hnvo re- fconou to secic some congenial haven whero lovu nnd sympathy "III bring me pcaco und contentment. Is It borer With open anus sho greeted him, and nmlil Christmas cheer and the loving lov-ing tenderness of true, honest souls, thnt ClirlKtmns cvo Marvin Hughes was awarded the longing desire of Ma heart. |