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Show (ffitjkm$ By Maud McCurdy Welch j lUrEREDITH HARRIS, known as i Merry, sat at her desk In the big insurance office and fought back her tears. A voice startled her. "Why are you here working? Are . . . you crying?" cry-ing?" It was Hugh Mallory. the agency head. Merry said. "Just finishing up. Everybody's in such a hurrry." "It's Christmas Eve. Let everything every-thing go." Hugh started to his office. of-fice. Merry's eyes followed his tall figure. She liked Wm very much,. He turned back. "You didn't tell me why you were crying." "It's nothing. My sister and her family have gone to California. I guess I . . . I'm lonely." "That may be my good luck," hi said surprisingly. He was alone, too, he explained. His sister-in-law who had looked after his little daughter since the death of his wife four years ago, had left unexpectedly. His Aunt I I li I w0$A "No . . . No!" Dee cried In anguish. But Hilda tore the cat from ber. Amanda was still with them, but she was getting old. There was no one to do the things to make a little girl happy. Would Meredith help him? It took them three hours to finish fin-ish shopping. At seven o'clock, Hugh's luxurious car turned on the drive of an Imposing house. A little girl sat in a big chair looking lonely. She held out her arms and cried a little. "We're not going to have a Christmas tree or anything." Hugh Mallory swung his little daughter up in his arms. "Oh, yes, we are." He put her down. "This Is Miss Meredith Harris, She's going to see to everything." And it was the most wonderful Christmas Dee had ever had and the most beautiful tree. But Merry's gift was best of all. A beautiful Siamese kitten. AFTER THE presents had been distributed. Merry and Dee sat in a big chair, Dee stroking the kitten's kit-ten's head. "How did you know I wanted a kitten more'n anything?" "Because I was a little girl once myself." Hugh went uptown on an errand In the later afternoon. Soon after a handsome woman in rich furs and jewels came in. "Aunt Hilda, you . . . came back?" "Yes, Dee, I know my duty, even If your father and I . . ." Hilda broke off staring at Merry. "Who'i this?" "It's Miss Merry Christmas . . . that's what I call her. She fixed j my beautiful tree, did everything." I Hilda looked at Merry coldly. "You can go now. And take that cat with you. They're full of germs." "No . . , No!" Dee cried In anguish. an-guish. But Hilda tore the cat from her, thrust it in Merry's arms. The next thing Merry had been ushered out the front door. She went to her small apartment, sat. down in a chintz chair, holding the kitten. "Well, after all, it was fun even if it is over," she confided con-fided tearfully to the cat. But it wasn't over. Two hours later Hugh Mallory knocked on her door. "I hunted through a hundred office files for your address and I found you at last." Merry was flushed. "Your sister-in-law came back." He nodded. "She's gone for good now; We'd had a disagreement. You see, . I found she was teaching my little girl to be a snob." He broke off, smiled again. "Dee wants you to come back and so ... do I. For good. Do you understand, darling?" She was afraid to believe he'd really said that. But he took her hands, drew her closer. "Look, Merry, I've been searching for the right girl for a long time. I knew I'd found her when I saw you sitting sit-ting in that big chair with Dee and the cat. Oh, my dear, say you love me, say you'll marry me. Dee and I need you so." Meredith lifted her face and he read his answer In the sweet sincerity sin-cerity of her eyes. |