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Show . yiiwf'iivitr 8fwcf)p tJdnnprDilltr; -ir-tiE softly falling snow held for r Marion Ainsworth no beauty as ijD she waited shivering with the l77 cold for a bus which would un doubtedly be late. She sighed at thought of the ten-mile ride before her. Christmas wa3 very near, but there was no Christmas spirit In Marion's heart. With no member of her family nearer than an aunt, her father's sister-in-law whom she had uot heard of for over five years, the coming holidays holi-days held little prospect of Joy for her. The present days were busy ones with the usual mid-year work of teaching school, with examinations and Christmas entertainments. Never did she long for a real home and loved ones as at this season of the year. Remembrances of Chrb?tmases came to her and at the thought that thi3 year would probably be spent alone In her room, her eyes tilled with tears, j So engrossed was she with these thoughts she failed to notice a small J dog, travel stained, foot sore and weary, looking beseechingly at her. At first sight of bim with an exclamation ex-clamation of pity she stooped and tenderly petted him. At this kindness the dog crept close to her and remained re-mained so until the bus came. As Marlon stepped on to the bus the dog followed, so she hastily gathered gath-ered him up In her arms. Assured that everything was all right, he settled set-tled down in her lap for a nap. This gave Marion a chance to study him. She decided he was a fox terrier, although al-though If was difficult to tell In his present unkempt condition. As he wore a collar and license tag it was evident he was a pet. especially as the name M m mm IiA""fJj'i hi, 8 li L'hJw'v ''lllltt Secretly Hoping It Was No One to Claim the Dog. "Horatius" was on the collar. Such an imposing name for such a small dog brought a smile to Marion's lips. Around his neck was a bit of frayed rope, so he probably had been stolen. So interested was she planning how she would care for hiin and what steps to take to restore him to his owners, that she had reached home before she realized it. The affectionate little fellow soon won a place of welcome, both In Marion's and Mrs. Lane's (her landlady) land-lady) hearts, and soon proved In watchful care and faithfulness that he had well earned the name he bore. Christmas eve Marion's heart was lighter than for years, as she thought with gratitude of the joy the little dog, now freshly bathed and with a new bow on his collar, lying asleep at her feet, had brought her. During the evening a caller was announced, and Marion went down the stairs, secretly hoping it was no one to claim the dog. As she went forward to greet the caller, the lady came toward her with a smile and outstretched hand, and then stopped short. "Marion I" she exclaimed. ex-claimed. "Aunt Ethel !'r exclaimed Marion. Then followed the exchange of happenings hap-penings of the last five years, in which Marion had lost her mother, and how the Information had not reached her aunt until her return from a long journey, many months after. She had searched unavailingly for her niece, and Marlon then explained that she had sought new scenes and faces hoping hop-ing In that way to ease the loneliness. Then followed the account of the finding find-ing of the dog, and her aunt's account ac-count of the loss of her pet, which had been stolen from her home in a distant city. She had heard some one at that address had found a dog and hoped It might be hers, and so It proved to be. As both were alone In the world, Marion's aunt persuaded her to make her home with her as a daughter; and urged her to resign from her position posi-tion as soon as possible. A few days later as Marlon sat In her new home, so comfortably and beautifully cared for, she held the little lit-tle dog close to her. "Ton blessed giver of good things," she whispered. "How anything so wee could bring so much happiness?" And back came the Inaudible message "As ye have done to the least of these." (. ID2S. Western Newspaper Union.) |