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Show J'. ,.h.,cen ggJE. THREE kings of Orient itjyj a Bearing gifts we traverse trjT-a afar" I S Steps on the porch, and a 3 '30ys 'ou uut changing voice continued: , "Field and fountain, moor and mou-oun-tain, following yonder star, o-oh !" Miss Mary went to the door. "Come In, Dan," she invited. "Can't." He shook the snow from his cap. "I just stopped in to tell you I'll be late to rehearsal this after-Doon." after-Doon." "All right, Dan. 1 hope nothing's the matter?" "No'm. Just got to pick up some mending for ma." He hesitated. "Say, - Miss Mary, can I bring a visitor to rehearsal?" re-hearsal?" "Why, who Is it?" "The little girl ma mends for. She's awful lonesome, sometimes, with only a housekeeper around " "If she wants to come, Dan, it's all right with me. Did you say what her name is?" "Betty Waldren. Over on Elm street." "Betty Waldren? Isn't that John Waldren's little girl? Why, she shouldn't be lonesome. Where is her mother?" "She hasn't any. That is, her folks are parted. She says her dad is through with women." "Parted? Why I used to know John Waldren a long time ago!" "Gee! Honest?" Miss Mary blinked herself back to the present. "Of course you may bring her, Dan. Thank you very much for stopping in." She went back to her mending and began putting it away. Were those tears standing in her eyes? Then she gathered up her books. "Let me see now. Prompt book, hymn book His child! I wonder what she's like? veil for Luck I was a fool ! Oh. yes, the duster! How can I ever make a duster look like a baby? Maybe a pillow pil-low would be better?" She gave the duster an Impatient shake and wrapped Lucy's veil around It Then she got her wraps and set out for the Mission Mis-sion house. Miss Mary was directing the "Pageant" "Pag-eant" using the children affected by her settlement work as characters In the Nativity. She had to forget John Waldren and get to her work. It was cold In the Mission house, for fuel is expensive. It was dim In the Mission house, for lights were never Jit until the afterglow had faded. The light was less dim for a moment as the outer door opened and Dan entered, en-tered, leading a beautiful little girl. The other children quickly formed a respectful circle around them, admiring admir-ing her rich clothes. "That's Miss Mary, over there," Dan said. "Miss Mary!" "Oh, Is this Betty Waldren?" Miss Mury longed to take her In her arms, yet did not dare. "I hope you'll enjoy Mary Went to the oor. "Come In, Dan," 8he Invited. watching our rehearsal. How like your father you are I I I used to know him, o good runny years ago." Dun was already on the stage. "You Bit tb"re and watch," he commanded. "I'm Balthazar, corning with myrrh for the Oirist Child. I'm going to have n blue cape arid a cardboard crown on my head." Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. "What a funny baby 1" It was Hetty's voire "Why don't you use a doll?" Miss Mary turned. "TheKe children are all very poor. They don't have fine big toys." The door was flung ripen and n man entered. "Belly I What on earth are you doing here?" "Jn:-;t watching." She looked np finite unp'Tl hi hefl. "You come, too. Here's n lady Hint knows yon." "John Weld, -en !" "You!" lie clasped Miss Mary's bund. "Miny! You're looking well." "So nr: you. .lolm Such n surprise to see von again. And Belly In n dm lint,'." But "lie wasn't tidnkltig nbnip Belly. J "Yeq. thought I recognized net dov-n Hi'.1 si reel, so I followed her, j though I couldn't imagine what she could he doing in this neighborhood." Miss Mary winced at his tone. "I see you are still doing the same work. Faithful as ever." "My work means a great deai to me." (Hadn't It taken the place of love?) "Come and watch the children practice " Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Miss Mary was looking John Waldren Wal-dren over. He was not the boy she had loved ; he was a man. "I understand you're parted?" "Yes. I we felt we would both be happier apart. You've never married?" "No." They stood awkwardly silent, si-lent, each trying to read the other. "Don't let me Interfere," he said. "No, of course not." She turned back to the children. Not let him in-terefere? in-terefere? If he only would! If only he had cared to help, to understand. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Plans were made for the morrow, and the children were going home. "Good-night, all of you." Miss Mary turned. "Well, John, how did you like it?" "Oh, well enough. But you don't belong be-long In this Hang It all, Mary, seeing see-ing you again has made me realize that I've never been happy In all this "I See You Are Still Doing the Same Work." time. I love you, Mary. I need you terribly. Let me take you away from here forever " "John! You do care? But these people they're my very 1 1 To " "You'll forget them. You weren't made for a place like this. You bo-long bo-long In a real home with some one to love and look after you." "Who would love and look after my boys and girls?" "I don't know. Not my wife, anyway. any-way. See here. Mary. There's Betty. You could pour out your soul on her ' Miss Mary's eyes blazed. "She's the daughter of a snob. John Waldren.'' she said, and walked away. Dan came racing up. "Miss Mary, what do you think? Betty Is going to let us use her doll for the Christ Child!" "Why, Betty! Bless your henrt !" Miss Mary hid her face In the chilli's hair and hugged her. "But If your daddy doesn't want you to. don't worry. wor-ry. We'll get along. I think he's wait. Ing for you now," she said, and released re-leased her. Betty called good by. but John Waldren went out without a word. Miss Mary sat very still, while Dan gathered up her things. It was the same old story, after nil. Her work must take the place of love. And sad denly she knew t lint It couldn't. Slip would he terribly homesick for the Mission, hut she had seen John ngnln. He still cared. In his way. She had already given tip her best yenrs wasn't thnt enough? And Betty no snobbishness about her! Whnt s Ihlng to hnve said to the man she loved. Instead of helping him under stand "Is there anything the matter, MIsb Mary?" "No, flan." He gave her her hooks. "I'll close up." "All right." She rose wenrlly "flood night." A gust of hitler wind swept In as she opened the door. A car was slnnillng by Hie curb ".Mary!" John Wnldren gut oul nnd went np to tier. "Will yon let nie lake yon home tilense?" "John." Her only answer was tils nnitie. "John." "Yon wen: right. Mary, all along Belly made It very clenr to me on the un.y bona'. But won't yon let me mnke up for the past? I love you so loueh. Mnry. I'll do nnylliing Pejir est, won't you leneh me to help you In vour work?" The door of Hie MN'ipin houue opened. A shdloov figure cinergod elintitiug with a glot ious disregard for tone ; "lib, Klnr of Wonder. Nlnr of light " Ills listeners smiled "Anyway, 'tin .Iplrit In willing, " raid John Wnldien "And Hint," p-plh'd Mlsi. Mnry, "Is nil flint really ninll-MJ Isn't II?" i iff.i. t't29 W'lm rinwrinn'ii Uttl'in.) |