Show 1 With W. H Her er I Christmas Gifts 41 By ELEANOR KING w J L g Singers Singer's Fj ELLO Esther f r beat me home f tide d e S y tonight 7 hw red Hon Honer Her of 7 J er o or Yes b by y Dining r t Y for lor or ten minutes lr Ir My y but some folks I- I are slow she said Jr r Where have you been 2 r i tit t is a rather long story replied as she removed her wraps hang- hang t them em In la the one and only little bs es S clo closet et the boarding house room 3 ded This was alread already filled to the t c lUng flag ng point needless to add of ot r. r o jou yoth on remember my speaking j j Iss Young r ither ther the er r. r nodded In assent i. i met her when I was a H I f. f r at the settlement house you I 1 She tells me she Is still in that i I think It so o queer that Ik I IId Ik k Id ld meet her like this after our cont con- con t filon tion on last night Now Miss Esther b coming to the point You a ba saying Eating that you ou were so blue beit bet bevy be be- vy elt it t was almost Christmas and you Dp P o home to go to no money to give d I h Joke flake some one happy and you 10 Bat nt go o to see George because you yourt rt J t the railroad fare I 1 Well and Well and r f paused for breath breath linow now here Is chance to show how much you youat at t all this Mrs Young was telling er troubles Mary how ho- awful 1 I and Esther p out laughing g as she threw her arms about Mary and gave her a n hug You old S i dear It li She said proceeded proceeded pro pro- seeded Mary as though nothing had bad happened she was mas giving a abIg abig abig big entertainment for her settlement folks Christmas eve She was having hay hav In lag ing a hard time getting getting artists It Itt seems that t there t j j are so many of ot these things going on that there thero I artists enough to supply the deNow de- de Now you jou OU know know- she wants me to sing I sup sup- out hut I l am horribly out of ot I i I It I-It hUsh 1 I never knew It to tall fall ta J What the they y al all 1 start out with ti the oe liberty to tell her ber you would td d to do It BO so- so will do my best I will be- be this very night I will r rs Young tomorrow about the llie eho ahe ie wan wants is me to sing slog Do you George would come d down wn tole to tome me le Sing and then maybe stay or Christmas ns ae 1 tho night of ot the entertain entertain- slid end the Girls were putting patting the finto fin- fin to their dressing when Esther suddenly broke the silence I think It is so queer qu r that I didn't receive an any answer from George He lie might at least have told me he be couldn't come E Everything e was excitement and noise In the large hall of the settlement settlement settle settle- ment meat house where people of ot all an nationalities nationalities na na- were crowding In The program program program pro pro- gram began at nt the hour stated BeI Before Before Be Be- fore long Esther Estber heard beard her name announced announced announced an an- I and stepped onto the platform platform plat plat- I form with her pianist I Gazing at the audience while she sheI awaited the pianist her wandering I i glance fell upon a n familiar face ItI It I could not be hut but yet In is recognition he smiled It was George 1 The old dear and then In the same breath she murmured Oh God I thank thee for the power of ot breath breaUl the Ule desire to live with which you have Invested me and dear Lord for George Georges I She threw back her head with an nn I exalted e air George was going to hear I her sing singo She must do more than her herI herbest I best I Never Ne did she sing with such spirit and vigor She seemed truly inspired Her IIer cup of or jO Joy was full fuU The burst of ot applause which met her ears showed the tho thorough appreciation of her audience audience audience audi audi- ence for her efforts She couldn't get to George fast enough after the entertainment Meeting MeetIng MeetIng Meet- Meet Ing they both seemed perfectly oblivious oblivious J ous nuS of ot the crowds about them as he ho gathered her In his arms Esther eEsther you were simply divine Your voice volee was w wonderful ul I ne never neer er heard you ou sing like that before Some one tapped him on the arm It was Mary But George said Esther wriggling out of his grasp realizing that they were creating quite a scene Why didn't you jou OU tell me you were coming aUthe all aU telegram with you get my the good news in It V Well ell listen then George said bald excite excitedly ly I brought m my boss aLong He Tie has heard so much about your voice voice Mr rr Williamson Wil Vil Hamson meet Miss Esther Hislop and her friend Miss MI Mary Roner Mr rr Wil Wil- Hamson He Is very Interested In your our he has a proposition to voice voice voice-In In fact put before you Esther slipped her arm about Mary through and put her other arm Geor Georges es e's She needed support Mr Williamson Wil Wil- Williamson My liMy Idea was this this began Hamson for me to send you to NewYork New NewYork NewYork York for training for a year or so beIng being being be be- place of business you ing near my could report often as to your progress And I will be near George too thought Esther But nut aloud she slie said She Is my I II will have to take Mary Iary Inspiration al always aYs I couldn't do without with with- out her Then proceeded Mr Williamson send abroad and finish I want to you you off ort as an opera singer linger All out I shouted the Janitor rather peevishly Esther put Come elCome up to tho the House I want to In This is so wonderful more George Isn Isn't t some talk It t over It ft wonderful We Ve will m be In New York Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- together Oh what a n glorious mas runs I I Western N paper Ne wn ap r Union |