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Show I The Cake Lady : Bj Mildred White i. l.o Hi.rn NewipjjH,, liiiucj I -jnpfKSSIE I.OUISt: wns mnk- j(w I '"8 n grent denl of trou- WJr nlt'- '''" Hh- time her !3V Invalid mother tint) & brought Tesslo to the city Q j liospltnl to he treated for L aj hT eitlno, tho golden- iWl ,in,rc(1 ,m,)y ""' 'mi the 'fWyt'i lct of tlm nurses. And VA'UflJr ns nor stny wns pro longed, pnrtly because the Mother wns too III nnd too poor to yet uinleixtnnd tho care of her child. "W'hnt In tho world," naked tho nu-ifioiiwle nu-ifioiiwle young houso doctor, "does that Hilld want7" , "Tess-'eso wnnts n Norn Christmas loll." the hurso snld eagerly. Iinctor Uruco wrinkled his lirow. "Whnt does rIiu inenn?" ho naked. "MIsh Norn Donn," tho girl on-ucrod, on-ucrod, "Is n young wornnn who vis-is vis-is the children's wnrd nnd hns been nucli Interested In them. Sho lives ii n coltngo out on,tho Inke shore, and nut summer sho enmo In nnd took two 'f our little convnlosconts for a mnlli's stny there. Tcssle Louloo wns no. nnd sho so fell In lovo with Miss 'nn nt the time thnt we could hardly t her back. Uut It was necessary lirt Mie should como. Vcstordny, Miss it in enmo to the liospltnl with n bits- ei of Christmas calcbs, mnde like "lis. with currant eyes, nnd colored mMed drersos, Tho kiddles were so .h-fiMd: they crtll her tho Cake Lady. Imrtor Hrueu frowned. "nun's had practice." ho com- liiiiied "nllowlng women to como In 'ii're mid feed our pntletits. I did not suppose-" The plensnnt nurse hurried to chnm-llon chnm-llon her friend. She hns helped us In mnny wnys. 1 should cnll Miss Denn a philanthropist 'f he were not " The plensant nurso paused, "In hum-ile hum-ile clrcumslances herself." "The young woman you speak or lives on tho lake shorer tho doctor asked. Tho nurse nodded. "Her uncle was an old oca captain,'" hu told him. "Miss Norn mndo her homo with this undo and nunt when uho was as small ns Trsslo hero. ",,Nowshe lives on In the houe nt the water's edge to take care of her aunt, who Is old nnd crippled. And still that girl-" Tho pleasant nurso choked up unnc-countnhly. unnc-countnhly. "Well, she's nlwnys trying to do things for others." sho finished ; "that is the wny Norn Denn Onds hnppl-ness." hnppl-ness." "Oreat Scott I" Intcrnipted the doctor, doc-tor, "there goes Tcssle again; thnt noise must be stopped. She must not disturb the sick ones." The prettiest nurso came hastily. "Teisle says she won't stop until she is token to Miss Norn. I renlly wish we had mndo nrrnngements yesterday to hnve her driven out to tho Inke shore for over Christmas." "How fnr out Is It?" Doctor Uruce asked briskly. "I'll toko her In my car," ho explained. ex-plained. "It's closed nnd comfortable." comfort-able." Donald nruco sighted tho cottage ns ho brought his car to n stop In the roadside. Then ho gathered his small chargo In his arms nnd mndo his way to the whlto door. "Como In," Nora greeted cheerily, "tho nurse phoned rao of your coming. There's n now Christmas doll for Tea-slo Tea-slo Louise lu tho oven, nnd a lot nioro to toko back." It was a broad, whlto kitchen, redolent redo-lent of sugar and spices, and an old Indy In n rocking chair near the window win-dow relieved Tesslo of her wrappings. "You must gfvo tho doctor u cup of coffee, Norn dear," tho old lady said, "before his cold drive bock to the city." Bui Donald Bruco seemed In no hurry to return. "This." ho said musingly, "smells llko my grnndmother'fl kitchen. Used to spend our Christmas with grandmother grand-mother when I wns n boy." "We nre going to hnve n ronsted chicken for dinner," the old Indy suggested sug-gested tentatively "I wonder If It might not seem Just n bit like helng ut grandmother's If you'd stny nnd eat with us?" It wns rcmnrknblo how swiftly tho afternoon hours flow In tho lakeside cottngc. "I'm so glnd," tho old lady whispered whis-pered at parting, "thnt you decided to wait to take Tesslo back with you. It has been a happy Christmas for Nora. 1 can see It In her eyes; nnd usually happiness Is only Nora's through tho giving. Sho's tho dearest dear-est girl In tho world 1" "Bho Is Just -thnt I" Donnld Bruco answered solemnly. Ills eyes were on Norn, ns he rlnsped the old lady's hand. " - |
