How It Happened

on her tiptoes and anxiously peered into her father's face for sign of dawning memory. "If I hadn't been so Christmas-crazy

ld, Carmencita. I don't hear well of late and I

I'd have called his name right from the first, and we wouldn't have lost him. I could have found him to-day if I'd known what to look for in the telephone-book, or if Miss Frances ha

mencita. You must be careful, child.

a lady who didn't want to find her lost lover if he was looking for her? That's what he is. And she wants to find him, if she don't know it e

rkist is going to take me. As soon as Miss Frances tells me Mr. Van's name I'll telephone him to come quick, but I won't tell her that. She might go away again. In that slushy book I read the girl ought to have been shook. She was dying dead in love with her sweetheart and treated him like he

ng up the collar of her coat, Carmencita put her hands in her pockets and made effort to walk rapidly through the thick snow into which her feet sank with each step. For some minutes conversati

ay, Mr. Leimberg-p

ed with smothered scorn. "Pray! Why should I pray? I

he arm of her disillusioned friend. "Sometimes you're just bound to pray. It's like breathing-you can't

a's hand farther through his arm, and his lips twisted in contemptuous pity. "You

it. I've been praying for months and months about my temper and stamping my foot when I get mad, and if I remember in time and hold down the up-comings my prayers are always answered; but when I let go and forget-" Carmencita whistled a long,

protection and propitiated what to them were gods." The Damanarkist spit upon the ground as if to spew contempt of pretense and cupidity. "I've

dark, thin face, embittered by the losing battle of life

not say what I think about people, and not hate my ugly clothes so, and despise the smell of onions and cabbage and soap-suds, I might get more answers, but you can't get answers just by praying. You've got to work like the mischief, and be a regular policeman over yourself and nab the bad things the minute they poke their heads out. If I'd prayed differently yesterday I wouldn't have been looking for-for somebody all to-day, and be a jumping-jack to-night

into color by the bitter wind; and with a rush forward the hands of

nces! Mis

e curly brown head was buried on her breast and words refused to com

s? He was found and now is lost, and I

kissed it. "What's the matter, Carmencita? You look

ere isn't a soul to make Christmas for him, and he hasn't anybody to buy things for, and he's as lo

ich she had taken her seat, and her face white

ch had suddenly grown nerveless. "I'm talking about your sweetheart, Miss Frances. I found him for you, and then I lost him. I'll tell you how

rged into the face turned from the child's eager eyes. "What are

ow if he doesn't find you. He came to our house, and I wrote you a note to come, too, and when you didn't do it he looked as if he'd been hit in the face and couldn't breathe good, and he stumbled down the steps like a blind man, and we

re talking I will tell you whether

the Van part. Don't you know the name of the per

its top drawer. "You are asking questions that in any one else I

o know all of Mr. Van's name, and if you

, I'll think it's all just make-believe and put on, your coming and doing for people you don't really and truly know, and doing nothing for those you do, and letting the ones you love best be lonely and

n Van L

th hands that trembled she turned the pages of the book she was holding upside down, then with disgust at her stupidity she righted it and ran her finger down the long

s he home? He-he-isn't home!" The words came in a little wail. "Oh, he must be home! Are you sure-sure? Where can I get him? Where is he? You don't know-hasn't been at the office all day and hasn't telephoned? He's looking-I mean I guess he's, trying to find somebody. Who is this talking? It's-it's a

n her face sobered. The strain and tension of the day gave way, and the high hopes of th

! And I got mad, and was impertinent, and talked li

their sudden quivering, and the picture

g tears rolled down her cheeks and fell