mgr JBER 1a. 1941 , _ __

. _RI$TII

>

5mg Yarrow had so often hear! hbors remark that she would u an old woman before her time. m! rhc had begun to think of W591i us quite middle-aged. Act- mh. 5pc was not quite 30, nor ﬂrr lull days as mistress of m; Yarrow household turned her ‘y urziy or her cheeks wan. zucmurs, since she had taken w» mother's place, Kate did think \\Ii.> imposcci upon. But she Wm“! no one. Her father was wiernw enough with the money. W1 _~;\..~ Iiliii lVlartie in the kitchen m1 .1ri sun: for outside work. But . 1- Imiclcrute younger bro- l .~l$li‘l', n preoutupicd [a- .I grumbling grandfather viuclzolil that required

purl tun yours, Kate 1cm hat! really been no But this year would u. The brothers, all in ~. om or college, had ac- . ions in spend the 1:1. room-mates, Ono visiting an aunt. and had gone south with her uzt yxniihlul grandfather. .. Luhcr was spending with n thoroughly’ cap u \\ii0, it. Itliti been he wus ronsicierimz as sllUUiili wife.

i. ..... mgnts before Christmas and Margaret was backing to go home. Contrary to traditional sentiment. she wegnot haPPY about it. for she had plan- ned to stay in New York ‘with Ralph. With considerable fore- thought she had even planned the day; church in the morning. Christmas dinner with Army and Bill, a walk down Fifth Avenue at twilight. a. snack of supper. and the theater.

But Ralph had been invited to a. "swell house party in Philadel- phia." Margaret slammed down m;- top of her suitcase. She could have borne up under a Christmas with a lonely mother, or a widow- ed sister.

"What about me?" she had

and went to open the door rather timidly.

But her timidity gave way to annoyance. There was her older brother. Tom. who had started that morning ostensibly to pass the hOIIdHYS with a group of bachelor friends. And here he was, back-- with rive young men in tow! They were heavily laden, turkey feet protruding from one or the bund- es.

"We, we began talking it over." Tom said, "and decided Christmas at the club would be a frost. So I saked the fellows to come home with me. I was afraid you wouldn't have things for the least. so we

,4;

‘gill did not neglect his privilege.

go K001’! as the last member of [m- IJFUud had faded down the driveway. Kate told Martie and pm to like a two-day vacation-- m! then settled back to spend Qristnlas by herself. She ran into lg pspwlotis living room and with sconwpietely- undignilicd leap planter! herself sprawling upon ﬂie divnn. Everyone but Kate mwled on that divan. Kate never [ad time. Now she would begin Is Christmas holidays by staying we for hours.

Before dinner-time she donned when red evening frock and over his. her smock. Then she went Mn to the kitchen to make her- lllfa mear admitting for the first Ime that it was rather lonesome lithe old house. She heard loud lppinss on the old brass Icnockeri

stopped and got what we thought you'd want. Bill, here, even got mistletoe, though I told him therejd be no pretty girls!"

Than. turning to one of the you": mm WIhOm Kate had never met. the tactless brother went on. "Bill. this is my sister. Now I'll run along and get the ear in the gap like. And. sis_ you might take the fellows up and show ‘om when you want ‘em to sleep!"

Bill alone of the young bachg. iors noted the 100k of disappoint- men on Kate's lace. Later. alter she had prepared an impromptu Christmas Eve supper and m“ aside her smock. she heard B!!! say from the other end ol the table: "I thousht ‘Ibm said there would be no pretty girls here. Boys, let's drink a toast to sister Kate!"

It was past midnight that night when Kate loft the kitchen. The boys had helped with the dishes be pies and puddings to mike 1o;- under Bill's orders. but there would the next day and Kate knew she would have her hands lull. she was up early to prepare the festive breakfast. and all day she wag-k- ed in the kitchen, 1t was late Christmas night when she had finished the last work in the kitchen. As aha p555. ed through ta hall. Bill stood Wlitlﬂe for her. There. above them, hung the mistieto -and Bill did ‘wt "eelect his privilege.

"It isn't lust because o! the mis- tletoe." he told Kate. holding her still close to him. "I loved you when I first saw you. It has been outrageous for us to impose on you this way."

"It's all been worthwhile, Bill,” Kate replied, "because I've mad; myself believe that 1 was doing it all for you-alone!"

'\VAR

CHRISTMAS TREE

FOR HOSPITALIZED

VETERAN I

They Gave, Wéll You‘?

MAS GIFTS for all War Veteran Hospildlited Patients from

STORE ANYVIII-IERE, but MUST IE PLACED UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE located at MOORE I MacLEOD LTD.

MAKE IT YOURSELF!

NOTE-Pleas do not pa! more than UNI 0m l; s“); " |‘"°"'- ll" If Ill". and your bane anemones

CHARLOTTETOWN, P. I. I.

The City Brunch of the Canadian Legion, assishd by the Conquer CM; "J Overseas Nursing Sisters Associoiior, Ia sponsoring an appeal to provide CHRI51’.

to do is PURCHASE OR MAKE the article. Purchases may be mode in ANY

200 Gifts Are Needed HERE ARE SOME §UGGESTIONS Time Are Articles Suitable For and Desired by , These Hospitalized Veterans . CIGARETTES HANDKERCHIEFS TOILET ARTICLES ' PLAYING cup; SOCKS CANDY AND FRUIT . SWEATERS - morq "mg; . zgséns ﬁlPPikS ' AGAZIN! SUBSCRIPTIONS SHAVING KITS WRITING PAPER RAZOR BLADES _ ADULT GAMES ZIPPER BILLFOLDS PIPES AND TOIACCO ., cums: nouns rocxrr NOVELS. - a V ; PLEASE REMEMBER!

BUY IT ANYWHERE! But. Place If Under Christmas Tree at Moore 6 McLeod’!

provided with a Card at Moore I Mashed’: on which you slum] m1 1|. Q. "new"

MGDRE B IYFLEOD £

longed to cry out, but ahe instead. smiled and said that it was Just too marvelous, wondering meanwhile if lVlr. Johnson would let her have an extra day off. Ralph had only to go to Philadel- phia, two hours away, while sh: had no one within 500 miles! Now she was ready, bag in hand, for the midnight train. A: she waited for the taxicab. Sh‘! smoothed her black tailored wool- en frock over her slim hips. I! New York hadn't been particularly kind to her. it had at least taught her how to dress!

She couldn't sleep on the train Closing her eyes, she saw the clut- tered desk which she had left at Howell's advertising agency, and Mr. Johnston's kindly lace when he had told her to g0 home for Christmas. She saw Ralph's desk in the manager's office. Ralph dancing in Philadelphia. Ralph op- ening Christmas gifts-and Just Ralph. with whom she would never again share good times.

There was a three-hour wait for the local train at Pittsburgh. but Margaret was too tired and depressed to leave the station. After buying a. magazine featur- ing an article on men. ind un astrological delineation of her birthsign. she settled herself into the practical task of trying to de~ termine her futuiein this most unpredictable world. Several hours

more weary. she stood on the porch of a white lrame house.

The door opened and Margaret blinked.

"I win!" shouted Ralph trium- phantly. "She came on the mid- night train!"

Mrs. Brown rushed out‘ to the hallway and enfoided her daughter in an ample,’ motherly embrace. "Margaret! Why child, you're a

coal." Margaret withdrew herself from

it isn't asking too much. Just what is this? _ Not a. weekend in Philadelphia. I believe!" Ralph took her bag and maga- zine and helped her out of her coat. "Don't be like that, Mar- garet! I bet your mother a box of candy against a mince pie that you'd come down on the midnight train." "And what, exactly. are you doing here?" "Margaret!" chided her mother. “I invited myself. A surprise for you. and then I wanted to talk to your Dad about something. .." Ralph ms awkwardly turning the magazine in his bands. “Jumping ﬁshes!" he exclaimed. "Look at the little red book!" He opened it to a center page. and read: "The natives o! this sign are more than likely to have short temp- era." "Give 1t to me!" Ralph held it tantalisingly out of reach and Margaret stamped her loot. "Ralph Wells." she said. "I come home for a rest and the. first thing you do is make fun of me. If I have a complete break- down it's your lault. cive me that book!" "There. there," comforted‘ her mother. "You go upstairs and get washed. You'll feel better." Margaret started up the stairs. then turned in sudden remem- brance. "Are you staying over Christmas?" she asked Ralph.

(Continued on page 7)

THE (TU ARDTAN.

hallway gf .

<

tub and stood it against the shed to drain, signing her thanks that il she must wash clothes on Christmas Day the job was at least over and done with by noon. Sine had Just returned to the kitchen when a knock came at the door.

iesou, decked out in her finest.

"Aren't you the one," Hattie ex- claimed. "washing clothes on Christmas Day!"

Mary conceded it wasn't the best way to pass the day. but added that it must be clone.

"1 wonder if you'd do me a ia- vour?" Hattie asked. "John and Fanny have asked us to come w town for Christmas dinner and th: tree tonight. You know, times were a little tough for Henry and me this year, so I took those two little Stnteorphans to board. Now. I don't want to leave them at home alone, and Fanny wouidnt want them to come mingle with her youngsters." she sighed faint- ly. "Wouid you let them come

later, not much wiser but much ltay with you for the evening?"

“Why, oi course," Mary replied. smiling. "lt will make Christmas [or me, who was spendin‘ it alone What time will they come?"

"Fanny's sending tile cor for us about five o'clock, and we'll drop them oft her on the way."

ed that she didn't suppose the Lord thought Fanny's children too goal to mingle with these two orphans.

sight! Your lace is as black as but alter a moment she realized

there was much to be done. By five o'clock she had xivalkcd to

her mother's arms and looked at the store and spent her few penl the two of them coolly. "Well, I1 nies on two tiny pair of red mi;

tens, which were now hanging on the little spruce tree Mary had cut in the back yard. And in the kit- chen a hot, hearty supper Who waiting.

Mary sat in the living room. washing today, so I feel justified waiting. “Lucky I did that extra

"All tall and brighter and-and beautiful."

spending those pennies on the youngsters. Those children must have a Christmas, and maybe—' she sighed-"I shan't have a home another year!"

Waiting there in the old rocker. her head dropped slowly. and Mary Crane leh asleep. . .

b O O O

"One thing I'd like to do before dinner." rich old Andrew Craig said to his wile. "S'pose there's time? You remember Mary Crane had some tough luck a. few years back. She borrowed money from _the bank on her-house and couldn't keep up the payments. Well. the directors decided not to give her any more time.

"I couldn't help remembering our lean years, Sue. when Mary was our neighbor and worked day and night to pull you through pneumonia. So I just gathered in that debt-it was only a few hun- dreds-and had some papers made out to Mary. I'd kind of like to take them out to her on Christmas night."

Sue pulled his head down and kissed him. "It will take just l0 minutes to pack a basket for you

P. E. I. All you need

CANADIAN LEGION

parcel. lea will be I

'prised. Some folks might say It

cnsi i2 cnis to hnnrlle a five-cont cheque sent hv Kelowna city to Mrs. Dorothy Christie of Montreal to cover a tax refund. Revenue stamp was three cantl. mailing to Montreal. four cents. and Mrs.

to take along." she recokned swiftly. “ll you drive there and back in half an hour, you can do it. Remember, we have guests coming!"

It was snowing when Andrew alightcd from the cur. A lamp showed him Mary's kitchen through the window, the cheery Gee, and the sleeping old lady. lie ' tip-toed in and placed his bas<et latching o! the door aroused Mary. on the table. papers on top. Th: Her small guests rushed in a few

Mary Crane emptied the ias‘; . .1‘

It was her neighbor, Hattie Jam~ ‘

Alter Hattie mm left, Mary mus- '

_ CHARLOTTETOWN

"1 .

PAGE FIVE

i. r I | n»: ‘ I " 4

p: I

r.

e BATES BEDSPREIIDS . SATIN BEDSPREAIIS o DRDGAIIE BEDSPREAIIS

For n charming bedroom choose one of these colorful Bedspreuds and Draperies.

_ Pretty as they ore practical. Washqbh I _ and long wearing!

t | 1

ing the papers to her heart. hcv face alight with joy.

"Marry Christmas. Mary." cried the little girl. "There was n man on your steps when we came down the lune. We saw him plain as could be!“

"You're right." said Mary. "lAn drew Craig is a man .if ever there was one."

"Not the man in the fur coat,"

minutes me.- to find Mary hoid~ .

insisted the child. "It was another just behind him. All tall and bright and-and beautiful."

"Well." said Mary. "I'm not surf

was shadows and lamnliizht an snowflakes“buV-tapping the na pers—“\vherever there's things like this goln‘ on Christmas night, I'm persuaded He's there!"

EXTENSIVE CHEQUE KELO A. '13. C. - (C?! - Y!

Christie returned it. ‘using a three- cent stamp. so the city had to

ay another two rents posts]; ue.

' Thirsty Bath Towels

Wcndertul vuIue! Big, handsome obi sorbeni towels-just the thing for c tingling rub-down! Closely woven for

longer weer, quicker drying.

S. A.

Lace Runners

Madeira Bridge Cloths

Organdie Runners

Chair Back Sets Satin Cushions- Blankets

Couch Covers Towels

Towel Sets Pillow Slips

Lace Tablecloths

Bright Lunch Cloths

Pretty for every day-and '”compony.' Cotton lunch cloths-large size. Flor- uIs, stripes, tablecloths rho! help make such on attractive table! They're mode of sturdy, colorfcst cottons that wash beautifully . . . ore priced budge! low.