Show A CHRISTMAS RESTITUTION ALEXANDER WENDELL stood at her MARY bedroom window scratching at the frost on the It was bitterly cold with a hard Wind Deep snow covered the ground and clung to the leafless and the birds who had neglected to return to the warmer south huddled in such shelter as could be Mary's face look ol sorrow and and a sob rose once in a while to relieve the tension that otherwise threatened to She had tried to save a little money for but after paying her bills she hadn't a cent Christmas's hadn't mattered much because Donnie had been too young to know about such This year he had heard people talk about Santa Claus and had asked It was the day before a time of cheer and good But there was no cheer in her Life had been trying for her since she had left Concord and cut herself off from her friends of former Sickness and the loss of one job after another had kept her on the edge of I come he will Santa bring me Donnie had asked when she had put to bed the night don't she had knowing she couldn't buy him even a stick of She raised her head and looked at the crib where he was He was well covered and She left the window and went into the sitting room where a cheery fire dispelled most of the She went to the window and pulled the j shade down as she could dispose of the black mood that assailed In the center of the room she fell to her she i prayed in lift my burden from I know I did but I know You have forgiven me by allowing me to keep my little pro-j vide me with the means of making this a happy time for in recognition of Your Son's sacrifices for Visitor A knock on the door brought her to her She glanced that way but didn't cross the room until it was Then she opened the door to confront a blond man in army uniform who stood in the dimly lit She rec- j him Donald she cried I come he She was too startled to so he laughingly brushed her aside and He took a quick look around the room and noticed the evidences of did you quit he wasn't much to she answered He went to the doorway of the kitchen and looked Then he crossed the room to the bedroom seems to me there could have been a lot to His eyes took in the crib and the baby in He hurried across the Mary following He looked down and studied the face of the sleeping child for a few and then turned to Mary with an unspoken inquiry in his why I left Concord to avoid the talk and she He looked again at the child and then didn't you tell didn't think you would do you think I'm Do you think Td have left you to face all this alone without my He held his arms out to and she flew into the coming A voice came from the has Santa come a little and going to bring you a new she If you owe a pay if you owe a forget |