Show I MARIANS MARIAN'S It was Christmas eve and Marian sat alone by the fire Tears were in her herey ey eyes s for her mind had wandered back into the past All the important scenes of her short life were pictured before her She saw h her r old home as it had looked seven years ago when death took her mother away She remembered how she had stood at t the bedside of her little brother and smoothed back his soft curls as he slept and thought of how she would have prayed to go with her mother if if it had not been for or him Then came the picture of the new home her aunt had taken them to large to-large large and richly furnished so different from her simple quiet one Her aunt and cousins were kind to her and she was grateful yet there was no real sympathy between en them She always seemed to be alone They thought of little except dress and society and her uncles uncle's in inI interests interests in- in I in life were embodied in the theone theone theone one word money How could they understand the delicate nature of a poets poet's child Her little brother Harold was the one joy life contained and that joy was great enough to make life bright He was all in all to her and she was mother father and sister to him Then she thought of how the years had rolled away and brought that sad Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas one year ago For weeks Harold had thought of nothing but Santa Claus Glaus Every day Marian had told him how Santa would come in the night and leave him all the pretty presents he had asked ti for then steal away as quiet as a mouse One day about a week before Christmas Harold was feverish The next day he was worse and the doctor was called Typhoid fever he said Marian dered Do not worry Miss Marian we will do the best we can the doctor promised Marians Marian's hope was strong and she did did- not lose it all through the long seven days that wearily one after the other Does Santa Claus come to sick children children children chil chil- dren asked Harold one day Yes yes dear Marian answered kissing the eyes that were so very very bright He loves sick children But my little brother w will ill be better by Christmas day But when Christmas day had come his little hand lay cold as ice in her own the little cheeks that had been flushed were white as the snow that was falling and the heavy lids had closed over the eyes that were never to look into hers her's again It was then that Marian had longed for sympathy and she had found it not in her aunt and cousins but in the young doctor Claude Milroy It was he who taught her that the sun never really sets that some other love might spring to to fill the empty empt space Marian was thinking of all this as she sat watching the flames chase one another r rup up the chimney Alas some other love had come b but t it seemed only to make life Suddenly she heard the sound of laughter at the gate In a few moments the door opened and her cousins came into the room Why Marian exclaimed Marie I thought you stayed home to rest Not stopping for an answer she exclaimed exclaimed- Oh y you you u should have been there It was delightful Just st guess who brought me home horde MarianNo MarianNo Marian l' l Will asked r t f No o. o J f i 1 Bert z Jr II No j Ill give up Well it was Claude Milroy He was with me nearly all evening he took me meto meto meto to supper and danced with me three times Why Marie I did not know you cared for him Care for him Marie said I dont Then what makes you so h happy Marie and Luella both burst into a hearty laugh Why Marian dear every girl in town wants him they all have been trying to get him for over a year and I Ive I-I've Ive I've caught him But what if you have caught him him him- to kee keep Why so much the better Marie answered her eyes dancing with delight I will be the envy of every girl in the place isn't that enough Marian thought it best not to reply so soshe soshe soshe she turned to Luella and said I am afraid someone has made an lIn impression on you you are so quiet I would woul advise you to be careful men are such triflers She said this with such an elderly mai maiden lady en air that the girls burst out laughing Oh Oh you should have heard the compliments compliments compliments com com- I received on my gown exy ex ex- y claimed Luella They were well ell worth the awful scolding papa gave me e for my extravagance By- By way the way he-way Marian you must go to church with us in the morn- morn ng to help decorate the tree We must be there ther by ten for the children come at one Then we had better sleep instead of talk Marian answered as the clock struck two When she reached the door she stopped and made a deep bow saying saying saying say say- ing with mock ceremony My best wishes to Mrs Claude Milroy It was a bright picture that the church presented the next morning with the great green tree bright holly and the still brighter faces of the young folks gathered round there Every Everyone one was gay and merry except Marian She who was usually the life of every very gathering worked silently in a corner half hidden by the tree The gayety that she had commanded commanded commanded com com- the night before to hide hid her feelings she could not summon now She thought she must have killed it and wondered in a dazed way if it would ever come to life again Have you gone to sleep Marian dear asked one of the girls gayly but she pretended not to hear One year ear ago today sh she said to herself herself herself her her- self over and over again She could not forget it Each toy recalled a childish laugh out of each picture book book two bright eyes looked into her own O 0 is this not enough to bear without without with with- out out out- She looked across across the room where chatting gayly with her cousin was Claude Milroy l No Noone one was looking at her now she slipped quietly out of the corner into a little side r room om There alone she let come the tears that had been burning in her eyes all the long morning Why did he teach me what sympathy y r l lj j 1 meant only to leave me alone again 1 o she asked bitterly Oh the summer time I love she said as she looked out wearily through the frosted panes on the dreary scene before her Snow snow everywhere everywhere everywhere every every- where She thought of a lonely little grave gra far out from the heart of the city The snow has covered it she said It has covered the bushes where roses bloom in summer Down on the window-sill window went Marians Marian's head She did not hear the door open nor the step foot-step behind her But she felt the hand laid gently upon her shoulder and heard the dearest voice in all the world to her say Marian There was a pause Oh Marian will you let me help helpy y you u bear it There was no answer Marian was very much interested in the shape of her finger nails I saw you come in and guessed why he continued Marian dear there is only one one ne thing in all the world that I Ilove Ilove Ilove love better than the memory of your little brother and that is yourself Will you let me try to show you that two can carry a burden better than one Maybe Marian whispered softly then catching sight of her face in the mirror opposite she said with tears and laughter fighting for mastery But I think its it's real mean for you to ask me when my eyes are swollen and my nose is as red as a holly Blanche Thom Thomas s. s |