hi. i?! l 1

1t was Christmas Eve all the world over-except in George meg- ertonfls office. But that was Just lke George Bickerinn. where other people. divided the seasons into spring, summer autumn and winter. he only-looked upon them in the terms of slump, boom, de- pression and prosperity. No May morning or August heat-wave could tempt George Bickerton from his desk i1 there was a. boom in busi- ness. and as for Christmas, why, that was Just the time that brought prosperity unlmited to the firm of George Bickerton, Limited.

George had outgrown Christmas by sixty years now, but he had not outgaowrl a certain preference for attractive secretaries round about the age of twenty-five.

Nomla Trent was one of them- his private secretary who shared the inner office with. him and un- derstood the business secrets of the firifi. and just how the hos liked hi; tea. made, and what ci'cnts he wou‘d or would not speak to onthe telephone.

There was an orderly mind be- neath Norma Trent's sleekly shin- illg nut-brovrn head, otherwise she would not havebecn in the employ or George Blckerton. She knew it was beyond the bounds of pozslbil- ity tn hope for a few days‘ holiday at Christmas. She also knew that this extra time she was puttirlg in on Chrstmas Eve wou'd bring her that bonus she was so much in need of-even if it did mean her losing the train that would take her nwzly from this dismal north- grn town straight down to where {Jarisimas waited.

‘Oh, well, I shall Just have in do without it this year!"

Norma. shrugged her shoulders and stopped glancing at the clock. What was the use? The south- bound train had left an hour ago.

‘re still had thoe statements to no. The clcctrc light burning in Gcorge Bickertons in- ner cilia-e until close on midnight.

"I mustn't think about it any

.nlcrc." Ncmla told her;e'i sensibly. "7-1 mustn't."

Crash! Clang! Clalvzi Clangl Christmas bells pealed out throuflh the frosty nir. Norma locked her do k and wentovcr to the window. Thrrc were stars and a fu'1 moon. and g, mint clverlct oi frost over the pointed roofs and crooked chimneys, so tllnt even this dull town looked lke a Christmas card.

"Midnight!" muttered Norma t0 herself. "I've nc\':r stayed so late bCfOFO. And I've ant to come bee!!! m Boxing Day". She smiled wear- ily “Wonde- what 0'd Bifikefiflfl would do without me."

“I'm not illdiqlensablc,’ Norm!!- tnld hcr iircd little reflection in the dyp.§5‘l!‘.TZ-l'(if)lll mirror. as she puii- ez! on nor ilrit. "What business 2T1 is nowndmas? There are too many

1w ncntx, and regiments. and I‘.".*.'l|ll('.‘.iL‘-—Dl‘0iGliding to be wrapped up in our careers. yet knowing: all the time that we are being chcatz-d out of the best things in life."

Even though it was aftertwelve,"

the streets WCYG not deserted. Bright lights sii‘! burned in shoP windows A llawkers barrow show- ed a rainbow mixture oi oraniZBS and violets, and toys and candy. Christmas glowing in the bright eyeg of phscr by. Christmas spark- ling down frcnl glittering stirs in a moonlight-blue sky. Christmas plenmnz tenderly from tho Win- dows cf liiile homes-

“I hate Clllrstmas!" she told her- self blttery. ‘Too much fuss and when it's over"-

sn- ha-ied it because she W“ be‘ frag cheated out of it this year, be- cause the glorious Festival of the Child was to mean nothing to he! -—nothing.,

"A Merry Chrstmas!" shouted a merry passer-by. '

Norma's lip curled. and she drew her cheap fur closer about hol‘ shoulders. It was a‘! this "Merry Christmas" stuff that was so stu- pld, 1f people wouldn't prate so much about gai-herinfl fmmd "i9 Yule log, and about kising under the misfletoe. and filling little stockings. then other people wouidn t feel it so badly-othcr people who hadn't a, chance of keeping Chr st- mas, however much they wanted to.

Norma’: orderly mind was 80i- ting a li!t'e confused. hilt 5m knew what she meant. A tear rclled down her cheek, and sho tried to turn a sob into a couflh- Norma hated weakness and sente- mentality. and one-hundred-Pef- cent feminity in a woman- AM- how, it wouldn't have 3on9 do!!! in George Bickert/orfs office.

Home! She let 11918611 111W h" one-roomed fiat and snePPQd ‘m the lghts viciously- An unlilhikfl gas-fire stood coldly in the grate, waiting for a match. m the kit- chenette cupboard was her Christ- nias dinner-two chops "will!!!"

e. p Norma threw herself down in an Uneasy easy chair and opened tho envelope George Bickerwn had fur- ltlively pushezrl“ across her dQbk ear-

er that eve nE- ,

"A little Christmas-box. Miss Trent. This. of course. W937“! overtime work.‘

‘Ihiriq slimmest A crew M" and a brown note fiutfclvd 1mm her hand, and she laughed aloud.

was:

would be -

CHARLOTTE. _

~ a a n. rs --

Thiriy shillings was the price for Well, thank heaven, it was not m

missing Chrsitmas. Funny, wasn't it’! Her laughter grew hard and metallic and mrthless. But tho funniest thing about the wno;e af- fair was that she needed that thir- ty 5h1lll!l_;5—lhd every other thirty shillings she could manage mscrape up; needed them more than she needed sufficient sleep or nourish- ing food or warm clothing. Needed them more than she needed Christmas.

Then the laughter turned sud- denly to sobs, and Nonna Trent, the cafm. decisive business woman. gave way. ,

She felt better after that. Calm. self-contained women generally do. She pulled herself together and made a. cup of cocoa over the un- sympathetic gas-flre, and nibbled a biscuit and tried to think it was Just an ordinary winter day, and tried not to th'nk about this time last year, and tried not to wonder what on earth the future had in store for her.

She picked up the notes. and stuffed them into the inner com- partment of her handbag. Tomor- row-no. Boxing Day-no. the day after, of course, she would chaJiEe them into shillings, and put them in her money-bola, Otherwise, it would be such a. temptation to spend them on new shoes. 0!‘ I macntosh that wouldn't let in the rain, or that little red hat she had seen in Mayes’ window.

Funny, the way she kept her money in that piFar-box safe that nurse had given her one Chris- She must remember to change the notes into shillings. Nurse's mono!" box would only accept shillings. Nurse said that was the way to b9 thl-‘fty-save one coin at a time- Thirty shillings! Tnu-ty-bicvfl-fi -silverl

Norma's poished nails (1118 i-"w the palms oi her hands. she had been cheated out oi Christmas for thirty pieces of silver. reluctantly doled out by George Bickertonflviw had ceased to beleve in Christmas before Norma was born. -

Suddenly she was Empill! WV"; 151W 1n her handbag, pulling °il those coloured scroll-Sh“ I WP“- spreading them c.6108 B!‘ W-

"You are not coins if!“ u“ money-box after all." she cred dra- matically. "Ycu an 803-!!! V’ WY Christmas for mo-if it. s not if; 1am 1 can't afford it, but 1 going to have it-in 5911-9 °1 Every‘ thzirlielre were trains to look up- rniserable, slow trains, crawling through the darkness of early Christmas morninE- CY°55'°°“mry trains. taking their time about it. But sooner or later, with their helP Norma would find Christmas.

Church bells were ringing Wh"! she set out, although the sky W35 not yet red with winter dawn. Be- hind the golden squares o! choir“!!! windows Norma could hear chi- dren's laughter, the bangini! 0! crackers. the music oi toy drums and tip trumpets. Her heart thump-

'— Edr"S00fl—Ohr soont .. ..

Christmas morning wore onJNm the excitement of present-givingat the breakfast table to the nervous anxiety prevailing in the kitchen- Church bells rang out again. and carols were sung by you“! v01”!- And all the time Norma was being taken by cross-country ‘Yams “w” from her business life to when Christmas was waiting.

It. was aitemoon before she ar- rived at her destination-a large. square, barrack-lookin; hfluse-Wuh a bfagg plate oh the door which

read.

"Heathdown Nursery 1191116 1°’ Young Children. Matron, Miss Murchison." '

Norma rang the bell. trembling with excitement. and a M01119"!- later was facing the severe-looking matron. whose eyes expressed more surprise than pleasure as this vis- itation. u

“This is rather an unexpected-

"Qh, please. matron." interrupt- ed Norma timidly, "I've come t0 see if-if I can spend Christin”. or rather what's leit oi it. with

Cynthia! You don't mind. do you? If I collld Just have her to myself _.away from the other children- I-ler voice trailed off.

“You should have let me know earlier." said the matron stcnily. "I could most certainly have made arrangements for you to spend Christmas with your child, al- though the rules do not allow PH!‘- ents to ma-ke use of this Home ex- cept for briei visits during the hours appointed. Still. considering the season, I would have waived that rule. Unfortunately. however

..

"Where is she?" Norma caught at the other woman's arm. “Where is Cynthia? Not-not ill?" Her face was white with lliiifehen5i°n~

"Cynthia has gone away for Christmas." The matron spoke de- liberately.

"Gone away!" sawed Norma.

storing at the matron with horror. “But-how dare you let her go without letting me know? You had no right to do it!" . "There was no time to let 70!! haw," steely-grey oyes were cold and hard. "Ml- Temple only called for her this morning."

"Mr. Temple!" Norma's hand crep to her ashcn lips.

"R0 wanted her Just for the day. I have his-Address." The mliiroh ambled among some papers coho: duk and handed Norma a card. "I-Ia lives not very h: from here. Of course, I would not have a!- lowod her to go any distance with- out your permission.”

Norma gasod tho cord through a mistofteorl. lochewss to be cheated out of Christmas after all!

this soulless Children's Home, with that steely-eyed woman presiding over the festivities. A rma had chosen this place because it was cheap.

"I'm very sorry indeed." The matmns voice broke "l on her thoughts. “Of course, I would have kept the child had I known you were coming to see her."

"It's all right." Norma gave a wry smile. "You did the wisest thing in letting hcr go. I--I couldrft give her‘ a real Christmas myself. I-I hope she enjoys ev- ery minute of this one. Don't- please don't tell her that I came to see her. It might upset her."

The matron sighed with relief.

"May I offer you a cup oi tea before you go? You look very tired."

"No, thank you." Norma shook her head. “I'!l go bar" to the station. Perhaps I can ifl'"d w train to take me north again.‘

Back to the world of George Bickerton, Limitct". Buck to a one-roomed flat and loneliness. Back

‘to files and statements and busi- ness Jargon and too-s""i pay en- velopes. Back to everything ‘that was cold and dreary and depress- ing. Away from soft arms and dancing. sunny curls and dewy eyes. and the feel of a little poppy-bud mouth on her own.

“It seems that Christmas doesn't want me," she thought to herself, and her lips twitched.

It was a good ten minutes’ walk to the station. Norma hurried along because it’ was almost cold enough for snow.

“SeasonableP called or“. man to mother across the road.

"Yes. Real old-fashioned Christ- mas weather, as the laying is." re‘- turned the other slowly. .

Norma drew he’ fur up round her ears. She didn't want to hear that word again.

Thank goodness it only once a. year.

She might have to wait for an- other slow train back north. but that was what waiting-rooms were for. She smothered a little high hysterical laugh. Fancy spending Chris-fancy spending a. winter afternoon in a. waiting-room. ‘

Norma wished people would draw their blinds in the front rooms of little houses along the road. Flick- ering filcllght, the mellow glow of lamps, the white glare of electric- ity, all threw into relief jolly fam- ily parties. Some were at tea, gazing eager-eyed at a monster iced cake in the middle oi the table. Some were gathered round a tree. Some were Just sitting quietly by the fireside. ‘There were decorations in all those rooms — paper streamers, gleaming dark- green ivy, glowing holly berries. mistletoe. l '

Last Christmas there had been flrelight and a tree and a mon- ster iced cake; a. little stocking to fill; and the wonderful glimpse of a child. bright-eyed, in the dawn. There has been mistletoe also...

"There's a train Just going now, miss." The porter beamed at her. “You'll catch the connection atthe Junction and—"

"Never mind." away abruptly. my mind."

There were taxis in the station yard. Norma got into the firstone and gave the address mechanical-

came

Norma turned "‘I—I've changed

"The Gables, Rookvale. Is—is it a long way from here?"

“A matter of twenty miles, miss."

"Ohl "she said faintly. “All right. Please hurry."

‘Twenty miles. A mere giant- stride if you possessed your own car. She simply couldn't afford a twenty-mile drive in a taxi. But she was going to because it was Chris-because it was a special oc- casion. But. ohl the things she would have to go without during the next few months to make up for this.

She leaned back in her seat. pale and frightened. She had burnt her boats this time. but she just wouldn't be cheated out of Christmas any longer. 1f she could Just hold Cynthia's slim lit- tle body in! her arms for a mom- ent. feel the softness of those bright, dancing curls against hcr cheeks, the touch of a litilc mouth on her own, then that would be Christmas indeed.

The bigness of The Gables al- most took away her courage. The

‘ long sweep of marriage drive, ‘glimpse of green lawns. massive trees, glnsshouses. stone steps leading to the porch. All this meant money. It was a country mansion, and no place for a tired business girl stealing a day from George Bickerton. Limited.

For a moment she cowercd. trembling, on the taxi seat. then pulled herself together for the or- deal that faced her.

It was l bravo gesture io dismiss the taxi. Suppose. Nor- a tugged at the bell. she mustn't think of anything but Cynthia.

DQANY TYPES 0F ROLL!

Holly, so popular u a Christ- mas decoration, is most abun- dant olong the bottom lands of outer-n Tens and Southern Ar- kansas. Thorn are about I'll species of holly found through- out tho world, the largest being tho American holly which at- hinl a height of 50 feet. The rod-bottled holly is most com- mfll. although some species bolt Inflow berries and others black.

N. It».

"I wish to see Mr. Temple," she told the manservant who came to the door.

His eyebrows shot up.

"I anl nfrald Mr. Temple is not seeing anybody tilis afternoon, ma- dam. He is engaged.

A pea! oi childish laughter rang out from a room to the right of thc floor. servant and ran through the hall. She flung open the door of alarge. luxuriously-furnished lcungc and paused on the threshold.

"Mummy! Mummy!" A little fly-

ing figure darted across the floor

and into her arms. "Oh. Mummy, how scrumptious! Mummy, I've got such wonderful presents. And there's a most ‘normous tree. and a huge cake. And we're Just going to have tea and pull crackers. 0h. Mummy, darling. I'm dreadfully glad you camel"

It was worth it all to have those little arms round her, that flower- sweet body pressed so tlghtivtoher own. Norma hid her lips in the soft brightness of dancing golden curls.

Over her child's head she looked into the grave brown eyes of a young man.

"I'm glad you are here, Norma." he said quietly. "Cynthia and I came to the conclusion, some hours ago, that it wasn't a. real Christ- mas-without you." \

She flushed a little.

"Thank you. John. I-I'm rath- er late." “Mummy! Mummy! I want to

show you all my lovely presents."

Gently he took the child out of Norma's arms.

"Run into the other room, dar- "n8. and put everything nice for Mummy to see. That dolls’ house is terribly untidy. It wouldn't do for Mummy to see it looking like that. would it?" He gave a little 19-11811- "Mummy will come along in a few minutes."

They both watched the child scamper from the room; then Nor- ma. turned to him.

“I wouldn't have come here—you know that-but I was hungry for a sight of Cynthia."

"50 W85 I.” he replied gently. ‘That's why I fetched her this morning from that dragon. What a ghastly place you left her in. Norma!"

Christmas In Shanghai Just One Of Their Days

When Christmas comes Lg shang- ,

hfli. a cross-section of the world makes holiday. The average china- man fails to get the meaning of it. but such a fun-loving people gay} do well with one more celebration. So the Chlnaman himself adds to the din with firecrackers and gift- glvlng, parties and the making of calls.

There is a. distinct western touch to the observance of the season by this most cosmopolitan city. Shang- hais social registerites" start plans for dinners and dances as early as the middle of November; immediately reservations are check. ed of’! on the calendars of bail- rooms and restaurants. The exact form of observance varies with the nationality divisions of the city. In the Russian section. the day is ob- served as it is on the steppes or in Moscow. The French greet Santa Claus Ln their own way, even though the wax dolls have to be brought far from the Champ Ely. sees. The Japanese prefer to make merry by drinking saki. The Eng- lish must have their plum plldding and holly.

At the mission schools. ulherc boys and girls are taught. in Sfipflln. ate classes Christmas carols around m" 3W9 give modest school girls n chance not only of singing hymns; but of "seeing hims."

In interior China, however. most o! the people prefer to celebrate their ovm Dragon-boat, Mid-Ant,- llmll. and New Your holidays, m. thel" than this "imported" one, They do not even try u» lmdcr- stand these queer ‘foreigners. To them December 25 is Just another

i i

rd val.

Norma brushed past the-

-' A QUlXRPLQN

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"It was all I could afford."

He flushed.

“Haven't. you been receiving my allowances every month?"

Norma's chin went up.

"That is being put by, untouch- cd. for when Cynthia grows up. I want her to enjoy her youth-not slog through it as I have done."

"That you were keen on your career? You always put it first— in the old days."

"I was pathetically young in those days, John."

"We both were. was why we--—"

"John. I think I had better go. I'll slip away when Cynthia isn't noticing." '

"Afraid, Norma?" His hand shot out and grasped her arm.

"Of course not." But she was trembling.

"Don't you realise that we've grown up now?" 1-le spoke in a low voice. We're not the couple of kids who made a. romantic run- away marriage and thought that love and kisses would last us for the rest of our lives. We're man and woman now, Norma. with the thirties not many years ahead. We've got a six-yeara-old child to consider. We can face facts square- ly now. I'm glad we had that break. It's given us time to think things over, to realise what a oou- ple of young fools we were."

"John!" She stared at his am- azed. "I—I thought we had parted -for ever." ‘

He laughed.

Silly baby talk. I've learnt bet- ter since. Haven't you. Norma?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"I’ve been terribly lonely. You're right, John. We were fools. I was a fool to go on with my so-called career instead of making a home for you." She laughed bitterly. "Career! Why, I was only a glori-

Perhaps tlla t

fled typlst calling a weekly wage a.

salary."

"We won't bring that up again. I was a fool. too, to be so Jealous of your business life. Norma. But with Cynthia's help, we're going to forget the past."

Tabby Brought Kittens Into Christmas Manger

The celebration with the Christ- mas tree that touched the ceiling and had a manger beneath it, was over, and a. row of little stockings were hanging for Santa. Claus. Mo- ther had Just tucked the happy

children into bed and by the soft‘

glow of the nursery Christmas tree was singing Christmas carols to them.

Father was about to turn ofI the lights below and lock the door for the evening when he heard a faint "meow" from the cold darkness without. Upon opening the door he saw a foriom. bedraggled itabby cat almost frozen in the Christmas snow.

"Why. ylu poor creature." spoke father tenderly, "come in this very minute!" For some Moments father was busy making tabby comfort- able. He found some milk which he warmed. and plenty oi holiday food. I-le served kitty with gencr- ous portions oi Christmas repast and then provided a soft bed in the corner. with a cushion from his own easy chair. Tabby shulved her appreciation by purring and purring loudcr than father had ever heard a cat purr before.