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Show LST7LE ,o H," SIGHED Mrs. Bouner. "we have a hundred dollars. Oh, V V' well." And she tucked the money away in her blouse 1 "You don't seem very de-flij de-flij "s'lte' m-v dear," observed vfip-Sj her husband. He laid down his pipe and put an arm around her shoulders. "What does Bess say?" Mrs. Bonner read snatches of the letter. "And so," It finished, "as we shall be well on our way by Christmas, we are sending you two this hundred dollars. I do hope you will get something some-thing you really want. We thought of the usual presents, but It seems you have them all and we get down so seldom nowadays that I have no Idea what may be In your mind. Remember, now, no saving this. Spend it by Christmas Christ-mas for whatever will make you most happy. Bob sends his regards to you both. Tour loving daughter, Bess." "It has been a long time since we had a hundred dollars to spend right off without thinking, Mother," her husband hus-band said. "Now you should get yourself your-self a tine new dress, and let me see" "A tine new dress, John? Why should I? No one ever troubles to come to see us." She turned her head away. "Why, Mother, you're crying." "No no. I'm not, John. I'm too old to act like .1 baby. Only I had so hoped " "I know. I had, too. It would have been nice to have had Bess back again for Christmas, and a tree, and dinner "Maybe We Could Borrow One From .' : the Orphan Asylum." and well, folks around laughing. You know what I mean." "It just doesn't seem like Christmas any more. Remember when Bess was a baby? Her first doll, and that year she got the cowgirl suit 1 She cried and cried, because she had thought It would have trousers Instead of a skirt I declare, there Isn't anything I wouldn't give to have a little . girl again just for Christmas time." "A little girl with golden hair. That would be wonderful, wouldn't It?" Suddenly he slapped his leg. "By Jove, Mother, why couldn't we? With a hundred hun-dred dollars " "John I u Would you want to?" "Why not? You said yourself there wasn't anything you would rather have. . "How. nice It would be,", she mused. - Maybe we could borrow one from the orphan asylum " "And buy her candles " "And a doll " . "And a pink dress " "And a cowgirl suit " "Oh, my dear, It makes us both so young again! Let's do It." Up went the holly and up went the tree. A wreath hung In the window ; a plum pudding hung In the pot Mr. Bonner strung the lights and Mrs. Bonner Bon-ner trimmed the tree for little Orphan Mary was to' arrive that afternoon. Before things were half ready, she came a shy little girl, with big, round eyes and soft yellow hair. Her severe little dress was a trifle short,, her hat a bit too old, her coat very plain. The woman . from the orphanage made the necessary introductions, wiped Mary's nose, stuck the hand kerchief In her pocket and cautioned her to "be a good girl." And then she was gone, and a scared little girl was trying very hard not to cry. "Do come in and get your tilings oft, Mary," said Mrs. Bonner. "We have a lovely tree, but you're not to look at it until after dark. I thought this afternoon aft-ernoon you could help me make cookies. cook-ies. Would you like that?" "0-oh," said Mary. "I'd love It!" Somehow this lady made her feel all warm, and not a bit afraid. "I know how to make cornmeal mush all alone," j she volunteered. "How nice! We must have some while you're here or maybe you'd enjoy en-joy something else more," Mrs. Bon-I Bon-I ner added as an afterthought "We're : going to have turkey Christmas. Do I you like turkey, Mary?" "I guess so. I never had any. We have rooster for Christmas at the Home." "Now before wa make the cookies," Mrs. Bonner directed, "you roust first wash your hands. Walt I'll get you a towel." "Oh!" Mary axclalmed, when the drawer was opened. "What gorgeous rags!" "Those are silk pieces. I was going to make a pillow top, but then when we found out you were coming. I ftuck them In thera. Some of those pieces belonged to my wedding dress, and I j wouldn't have anything happen to j them for the world. " She closed the . drawer and helped Mary dry her hands. "Now lei's g make the rook. . ios." she said. "Hail, do you want to watch?" j That night when Mary bad been i I tucked away in Bess's old room, the kind-hearted couple sat for a long time In front of the fireplace, talking. "I am so glad we could get her for a few days before Christmas," Mr. Bonner remarked. "How her eyes popped when she saw the tree! And when we told her that on Christmas morning there would be presents under un-der It for her. It seemed too wonderful for her to believe." "Yet I noticed a wlstfulness In her eyes," his .wife-' answered, "as though something was keeping her from being completely happy." "She still feels a little strange, perhaps. per-haps. It will pass." "I hope so. I almost wish she could stay always. It will be hard to give her up when the time comes." Mrs. Bonner was surprised to find, next morning, that Mary had closed and locked her door. She answered her knock, however, and appeared promptly prompt-ly for breakfast, apparently perfectly happy. Y'et Mrs. Bonner was worried to notice that whenever Mary had aji opportunity, she would slip away to her room, lock the door, and stay .there until she was called. They spent one day In town shopping, shop-ping, and on the next made all preparations prepa-rations for Christmas dinner. On Christmas Christ-mas eve they went to church, and heard the old familiar carols.. And then Orphan Mary went to bed In high excitement, and Mr. and Mrs. Bonner piled the gifts around the tree. Christmas morning brought a snowstorm snow-storm and dark skies. Mrs. Bonner slept lightly, and at the first soupd of Mary stirring she got up. A few minutes min-utes later she came back to her husband. hus-band. "John, what did you do with, my' silk pieces?" "Why, I haven't seen them, Mother." "Well, they're gone. Do you suppose sup-pose ? Mary I" "Yes'm. Merry Christmas!" Mary came out Into the hall. "Merry Christmas, Christ-mas, Mr. Bonner." "The same to you, dear. Mary, do' you know what became of my silk pieces?" "Why. yes'm, 1 " "You what?" .. - "I'd lots rather you didn't ask me. Mrs. Bonner," she said appeallngly. "Please !" "My lovely silk pieces, and you take them without saying a word 1 Yon know that's stealing, don't you?" Mary nodded and began to cry, "And yet you took them.'Mary?" "Yes'm." "Well, that settles It. There's one thing I won't have around, and that's a thief. Get dressed, both of you. John will drive you back." "Now, mother " "Do you want a thief around? No telling what she might take next Get your things, . Mary. Hurry!" Orphan Mary turned quickly and did as she was told. By the time John had the engine warmed up she climbed In silently beside, him and they started! off. Mrs. Bonnei peeked around & corner of the ; parlor curtain as they went. Then she turned and , looked at the tree. The presents .were In a heap at the foot, but the tinsel was now a mockery. She sank down on a stool and Idly counted them over. ..- And then she noticed one that had not been there last night It was a little back, from the' others, and more crudely wrapped. She opened It, anil there was a pillow, all made from the "How Her Eyes Popped When She Saw the Tree." quilt pieces. She ran to the window, but the car was quite out of. sight "Oh," cried Mrs. Bonner, "that poor child! She couldn't stand not having a. present to give In return, and so she made for me the one thing I said 1 wanted." She hugged the pillow close, and her tears spotted one of the best pieces. After a while she heard the j car drive Into the garage, and her husband's hus-band's step on the porch. She ran to meet him. ' j "Look, John 1 Look what Mary made for me. And I called her a thief! Can't we get her back? She counted so much on this Christmas, and now I've spoiled ; It all !" ! "I wouldn't say that quite. Mother. It can still be the happiest Christmas ever." j "What do you mean?" "Well, you see, when we got to the orphanage I didn't have the heart to let her go. So Instead I went In and 5ked them for adoption papers. If you want to, we can Just sign these up and keep her always." . , "Then, where's Mary?" "Why. 9he's out In the garage." ! Mrs. Bonner threw her arms around his neck. "Oh. John, you darling! What ! a glorious Christmas !' j And they went out together for lit- tie Orphan Mary. |