Something has gone to my head, or perhaps it s
my heart. But I know very well what I m
doing. There s one thing more. I forgot to
tell you. I have a little friend who has done
a good deal for me. I want to get her a pres
ent or two some clothes and things that girls
like. Your size, I think, would fit her. I d
like"
"Is she rich or poor?"
Van Landing hesitated. "She is rich. She
has a wonderful imagination and can see all
sorts of things that others don t see, and her
friends are "
"Kings and queens, and fairies and imps, and
ghosts and devils. I know. I ve had friends
like that. Does she like pink or blue?"
HOW IT HAPPENED
"I think she likes blue." Again Van Land
ing hesitated. Silks and satins might be Car-
mencita s choice. Silks and satins would not
do. "I don t mean she has money, and I be
lieve she d rather have practical things."
"No, she wouldn t! Girls hate practical
things." The long, loose, shabby coat was
touched lightly. "This is practical. Couldn t
she have one pair of shiny slippers, just one,
with buckles on them? Maybe she s as Cin-
derellary as I am. I d rather stick my foot out
with a diamond-buckle slipper on it than eat.
I do when my princess friends call, and they
always say: Oh, Carmencita, what a charming
foot you have! And that s it. That/" And
Carmencita s foot with it s coarse and half-
worn shoe was held out at full length. "But
we ve got to hurry, or we won t be at the Green
Tea-pot by two o clock. Come on."
With amazing discrimination Carmencita
made her purchases, and only once or twice did
she overstep the limitations of practicality and
insist upon a present that could be of little use
to its recipient. For the giving of joy the
selection of a pair of shining slippers, a blue
satin sash, and a string of amber beads were
eminently suitable, however, and, watching,
136
HOW IT HAPPENED
Van Landing saw her eyes gleam over the pre
cious possessions she was supposedly buying for
some one else, a child of her own age, and he
made no objection to the selections made.
"Even if she don t wear them she will have
them." And Carmencita drew a long, deep
sigh of satisfaction. "It s so nice to know you
have got something you can peep at every now
and then. It s like eating when you re hungry.
Oh, I do hope she ll like them! Is it two, Mr.
Van?"
It was ten minutes to two, and, putting Car
mencita into the bundle-packed cab, Van Land
ing ordered the latter to the Green Tea-pot,
then, getting in, leaned back, took off his hat,
and wiped his forehead. Tension seemed sud
denly to relax and his heart for a moment beat
thickly; then with a jerk he sat upright. Car
mencita was again absorbed in watching the
crowds upon the streets, and, when the cab
stopped, jumped as if awakened from a dream.
"Are we here already? Oh, my goodness!
There she is!"
Miss B arbour was going in the doorway, and
as Van Landing saw the straight, slender figure,
caught the turn of the head, held in the way
that was hers alone, the years that were gone
HOW IT HAPPENED
slipped out of memory and she was his again.
His With a swift movement he was out of
the cab and on the street and about to follow
her when Carmencita touched him on the arm.
"Let me go first. She doesn t know you re
coming. We ll get a table near the door."
The crowd separated them, but through it
Carmencita wriggled her way quickly and dis
appeared. Waiting, Van Landing saw her rush
up to Miss B arbour, then slip in a chair at a
table whose occupants were leaving, and motion
Frances to do the same. As the tired little
waitress, after taking off the soiled cloth and
putting on a fresh one, went away for neces
sary equipment Van Landing opened the door
and walked in and to the table and held out
his hand.
"You would not let me thank you this morn
ing. May I thank you now for "
"Finding him?" Carmencita leaned half
way over the table, and her big blue eyes looked
anxiously at first one and then the other. He
was looking for you, Miss Frances; he d been
looking all day and all night because he d just
heard you were somewhere down here, and he s
come to have lunch with us, and Oh, it s
Christmas, Miss Frances, and please tell him
138
YOU WOULD NOT LET ME THANK YOU THIS MORNING. MAY I THANK
YOU NOW FOR "
HOW IT HAPPENED
say something, do something! He s been
waiting three years, and he can t wait another
minute. Gracious! that smells good!"
The savory dish that passed caused a turn
in Carmencita s head, and Frances Barbour,
looking into the eyes that were looking into hers,
held out her hand. At sight of Van Landing
her face had colored richly, then the color had
left it, leaving it white, and in her eyes was
that he had never seen before.
"There is nothing for which to thank me."
Her voice with its freshness and sweetness
stirred as of old, but it was low. She smiled
slightly. "I am very glad you are all right
this morning. I did not know you knew our
part of the town." Her hand was laid on
Carmencita s.
"I didn t until I met your little friend. I
had never been in it before. I know it now very
well."
"And he was so fighting mad because he
couldn t see you when I sent the note that he
went out, not knowing where he was or how to
get back, and when his senses came on again
and he tried to find out he couldn t find, and
he walked most all night and was lost like peo
ple in a desert who go round and round. And
HOW IT HAPPENED
the next day he walked all day long and most
froze, and he d passed Mother McNeil s house
a dozen times and didn t know it; and he was
chasing Noodles and just leaning against that
railing when the cop came and you came. Oh,
Miss Frances, it s Christmas! Won t you
please make up and When are we going to
eat?"
Miss B arbour s hand closed over Carmen-
cita s twisting ones, and into her face again
sprang color; then she laughed. "We are very
hungry, Mr. Van Landing. Would you mind
sitting down so we can have lunch?"
An hour later Carmencita leaned back in her
chair, hands in her lap and eyes closed. Pres
ently one hand went out. "Don t ask me any
thing for a minute, will you? I ve got to think
about something. When you re ready to go
let me know."
Through the meal Carmencita s flow of words
and flow of spirits had saved the silences that
fell, in spite of effort, between Van Landing and
Miss B arbour, and under the quiet poise so
characteristic of her he had seen her breath
come unsteadily. Could he make her care for
him again? With eyes no longer guarded he
looked at her, leaned forward.
140
HOW IT HAPPENED
"From here," he said, "where are you
going?"
"Home. I mean to Mother McNeil s. Car-
mencita says you and she have done my shop
ping." She smiled slightly and lifted a glass
of water to her lips. "The tree is to be dressed
this afternoon, and to-night the children come."
"And I when can I come?"
"You?" She glanced at Carmencita, who
was now sitting with her chin on the back of
her chair, arms clasping the latter, watching
the strange and fascinating scene of people
ordering what they wanted to eat and eating
as much of it as they wanted. "I don t know.
I am very busy. After Christmas, perhaps."
"You mean for me there is to be no Christ
mas ? Am I to be for ever kept outside, Frances ?"
"Outside?" She looked up and away. "I
have no home. We are both outside. To
have no home at Christmas is " Quickly she
got up. "We must go. It is getting late, and
there is much to do."
For one swift moment she let his eyes hold
hers, and in his burned all the hunger of the
years of loss; then, taking up her muff, she
went toward the door. On the street she hesi
tated, then held out her hand. "Good-by, Mr.
141
HOW IT HAPPENED
Van Landing. I hope you will have a happy
Christmas."
"Do you?" Van Landing opened the cab
door. "Get in, please. I will come in another
cab." Stooping, he pushed aside some boxes
and bundles and made room for Carmencita.
"I ll be around at four to help dress the tree.
Wait until I come." He nodded to the cab
man; then, lifting his hat, he closed the door
with a click and, turning, walked away.
"Carmencita! oh, Carmencita!" Into the
child s eyes the beautiful ones of her friend
looked with sudden appeal, and the usually
steady hands held those of Carmencita with
frightened force. "What have you done?
What have you done?"
"Done?" Carmencita s fingers twisted into
those of her beloved, and her laugh was joyous.
"Done! Not much yet. I ve just begun.
Did did you know you were to have a grand
Christmas present, Miss Frances? You are.
It s it s alive!"
CHAPTER XV
HE time intervening before his return
to help with the tree was spent by
Van Landing in a certain establish
ment where jewels were kept and in
telephoning Peterkin; and the orders
to Peterkin were many. At four
o clock he was back at Mother McNeil s.
In the double parlor of the old-fashioned
house, once the home of wealth and power, the
tree was already in place, and around it, in
crowded confusion, were boxes and barrels, and
bundles and toys, and clothes and shoes, and
articles of unknown name and purpose, and for
a moment he hesitated. Hands in his pockets,
he looked first at Mother McNeil and then at
a little lame boy on the floor beside an open
trunk, out of which he was taking gaily-colored
ornaments and untangling yards of tinsel;
and then he looked at Frances, who, with a big
apron over her black dress, with its soft white
collar open at the throat, was holding a pile of
empty stockings in her hands.
HOW IT HAPPENED
"You are just in time, my son." Mother
McNeil beamed warmly at the uninvited visi
tor. "When a man can be of service, it s let
him serve, I say, and if you will get that step-
ladder over there and fix this angel on the top
of the tree it will save time. Jenkins has
gone for more tinsel and more bread. We
didn t intend at first to have sandwiches and
chocolate just candy and nuts and things like
that but it s so cold and snowy Frances
thought something good and hot would taste
well. You can slice the bread, Mr. Van Land
ing. Four sandwiches apiece for the boys and
three for the girls are what we allow." She
looked around. Hand him that angel, Frances,
and show him where to put it. I ve got to see
about the cakes."
Never having fastened an angel to the top of
a tree, for a half-moment Van Landing was un
certain how to go about it, fearing exposure of
ignorance and awkwardness; then with a quick
movement he was up the ladder and looking
down at the girl who was handing him a huge
paper doll dressed in the garments supposedly
worn by the dwellers of mansions in the sky,
and as he took it he laughed.
"This is a very worldly-looking angel. She
144
HOW IT HAPPENED
apparently enjoys the blowing of her trumpet.
Stand off, will you, and see if that s right?"
Van Landing fastened the doll firmly to the
top of the tree. "Does she show well down
there?"
It was perfectly natural that he should be
here and helping. True, he had never heard of
Mother McNeil and her home until two nights
before, never had dressed a Christmas tree be
fore, or before gone where he was not asked,
but things of that sort no longer mattered.
What mattered was that he had found Frances,
that it was the Christmas season, and he was at
last learning the secret of its hold on human
hearts and sympathies. There was no time to
talk, but as he looked he watched, with eyes
that missed no movement that she made, the
fine, fair face that to him was like no other
on earth, and, watching, he wondered if she,
too, wondered at the naturalness of it all.
The years that had passed since he had seen
her had left their imprint. She had known great
sorrow, also she had traveled much, and, though
about her were the grace and courage of old,
there was something else, something of name
less and compelling appeal, and he knew that
she, too, knew the loneliness of life.
US
HOW IT HAPPENED
Quickly they worked, and greater and greater
grew the confusion of the continually appearing
boxes and bundles, and, knee-deep, Mother
McNeil surveyed them, hands on her hips, and
once or twice she brushed her eyes.
"It s always the way, my son. If you trust
people they will not fail you. When we learn
how to understand there will be less hate and
more help in the world. Jenkins, bring that
barrel of apples and box of oranges over here
and get a knife for Mr. Van Landing to cut the
bread for the sandwiches. It s time to make
them. Matilda, call Abraham in. He can
slice the ham and cheese. There must be
plenty. Boys are hollow. Frances, have you
seen my scissors?"
Out of what seemed hopeless confusion and
chaotic jumbling, out of excited coming and
going, and unanswered questions, and slamming
of doors, and hurried searchings, order at last
evolved, and, feeling very much as if he d been
in a football match, Van Landing surveyed the
rooms with a sense of personal pride in their
completeness. Around the tree, placed between
the two front windows, were piled countless
packages, each marked, and from the mantel
piece hung a row of bulging stockings, reinforced
146
HOW IT HAPPENED
by huge mounds of the same on the floor,
guarded already by old Fetch-It. Holly and
cedar gave color and fragrance, and at the un
curtained windows wreaths, hung by crimson
ribbons, sent a welcome to the waiting crowd
outside.
If he were not here he would be alone, with
nothing to do. And Christmas eve alone ! He
drew in his breath and looked at Frances. In
her face was warm, rich color, and her eyes
were gay and bright, but she was tired. She
would deny it if asked. He did not have to
ask. If only he could take her away and let
her rest!
She was going up-stairs to change her dress.
Half-way up the steps he called her, and, leaning
against the rail of the banisters, he looked up
at her.
"When you come down I must see you,
Frances and alone. I shall wait here for you."
"I cannot see you alone. There will be no
time."
Then we must make time. I tell you I must
see you." Something in her eyes made him
hesitate. He must try another way. "Listen,
Frances. I want you to do me a favor. There s
a young girl in my office, my stenographer, who
147
HOW IT HAPPENED
is to be married to-morrow to my head clerk.
She is from a little town very far from here and
has no relatives, no intimate friends near
enough to go to. She lives in a boarding-house,
and she can t afford to go home to be married.
I have asked Herrick to bring her to my apart
ment to-morrow and marry her there. I would
like her to have Carmencita and her father
are coming, and I want you to come, too. It
would make things nicer for her. Will you
come you and Mother McNeil?"
Over the banisters the beautiful eyes looked
down into Van Landing s. Out of them had
gone guarding. In them was that which sent
the blood in hot surge through his heart. "I
would love to come, but I am going out of town
to-morrow going
"Home?" In Van Landing s voice was
unconcealed dismay. The glow of Christmas,
new and warm and sweet, died sharply, leav
ing him cold and full of fear. "Are you going
home?"
She shook her head. "I have no home.
That is why I am going away to-morrow.
Mother McNeil will have her family here, and
I d be I d be an outsider. It s everybody s
home day and when you haven t a home ="
148
HOW IT HAPPENED
She turned and went a few steps farther on
to where the stairs curved, then suddenly she
sat down and crumpled up and turned her face
to the wall. With leaps that took the steps
two at a time Van Landing was beside her.
"Frances!" he said, "Frances!" and in his
arms he held her close. "You ve found out,
too! Thank God, you ve found out, too!"
Below, a door opened and some one was in
the hall. Quickly Frances was on her feet.
"You must not, must not, Stephen not here!"
Goodness gracious ! they ve done made up . "
At the foot of the steps Carmencita, as if
paralyzed with delight, stood for a moment,
then, shutting tight her eyes, ran back whence
she came; at the door she stopped.
"Carmencita! Carmencita!" It was Van
Landing s voice. She turned her head. "Come
here, Carmencita. I have something to tell
you."
Eyes awed and shining, Carmencita came
slowly up the steps. Reaching them, with a
spring she threw her arms around her dear
friend s neck and kissed her lips again and
again and again, then held out her hands to
the man beside her. "Is is it to be to
morrow, Mr. Van?"
11 149
HOW IT HAPPENED
"It is to be to-morrow, Carmencita."
For a half-moment there was quivering si
lence; then Van Landing spoke again. "There
are some things I must attend to to-night.
Early to-morrow I will come for you, Frances,
and in Dr. Pierson s church we will be married.
Herrick and Miss Davis are coming at one
o clock, and my wife must be there to receive
them. And you, too, Carmencita you and
your father. We are going to have Van
Landing s voice was unsteady. "We are going
to have Christmas at home, Frances. Christ
mas at home!"
CHAPTER XVI
IFTING herself on her elbow, Car-
mencita listened. There was no sound
save the ticking of the little clock on
the mantel. For a moment she wait
ed, then with a swift movement of
her hand threw back the covering
on the cot, slipped from it, and stood, bare
footed, in her nightgown, in the middle of the
floor. Head on the side, one hand to her mouth,
the other outstretched as if for silence from
some one unseen, she raised herself on tiptoe
and softly, lightly, crossed the room to the
door opening into the smaller room wherein her
father slept. Hand on the knob, she listened,
and, the soft breathing assuring her he was
asleep, she closed the door, gave a deep
sigh of satisfaction, and hurried back to the
cot, close to which she sat down, put on her
stockings, and tied on her feet a pair of worn
woolen slippers, once the property of her pru
dent and practical friend, Miss Cattie Burns.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Slipping on her big coat over her gown, she
tiptoed to the mantel, lighted the candle upon
it, and looked at the clock.
"Half past twelve," she said, "and Father s
stocking not filled yet!"
As she got down from the chair on which she
had stood to see the hour her foot caught in
the ripped hem of her coat. She tripped, and
would have fallen had she not steadied herself
against the table close to the stove, and as she
did so she laughed under her breath.
"Really this kimono is much too long." She
looked down on the loosened hem. "And I
oughtn t to wear my best accordion-pleated pale-
blue cre*pe de Chine and shadow lace when I
am so busy. But dark-gray things are so un
becoming, and, besides, I may have a good deal
of company to-night. The King of Love and
the Queen of Hearts may drop in, and I wouldn t
have time to change. Miss Lucrecia Beck says
I m going to write a book when I m big, I m
so fond of making up and of love-things. She
don t know I ve written one already. If he
hadn t happened to be standing on that corner
looking so so I don t know what, exactly, but
so something I couldn t help running down and
asking him to come up I never would have
152
HOW IT HAPPENED
had the day I ve had to-day and am going to
have to-morrow."
Stooping, she pinned the hem of her coat
carefully, then, stretching out her arms, stood
on her tiptoes and spun noiselessly round and
round. "Can t help it!" she said, as if to some
one who objected. "I m so glad I m living,
so glad I spoke to him, and know him, that I m
bound to let it out. Father says I mustn t
speak to strangers; but I d have to be dead
not to talk, and I didn t think about his being
a man. He looked so lonely."
With quick movements a big gingham apron
was tied over the bulky coat, and, putting the
candle on the table in the middle of the room,
Carmencita began to move swiftly from cot to
cupboard, from chairs to book-shelves, and
from behind and under each bundles and boxes
of varying sizes were brought forth and arrayed
in rows on the little table near the stove. As
the pile grew bigger so did her eyes, and in her
cheeks, usually without color, two spots burned
deep and red. Presently she stood off and sur
veyed her work and, hands clasped behind, be
gan to count, her head nodding with each num
ber.
"Thirteen big ones and nineteen little ones,"
HOW IT HAPPENED
she said, "and I don t know a thing that s in
one of them. Gracious! this is a nice world
to live in! I wonder what makes people so
good to me? Mrs. Robinsky brought up those
six biggest ones to-night." Lightly her finger
was laid on each. "She said they were left
with her to be sent up to-morrow morning, but
there wouldn t be a thing to send if she waited,
as the children kept pinching and poking so to
see what was in them. I d like to punch my
self. Noodles gave me that." Her head nodded
at a queer-shaped package wrapped in brown
paper and tied with green cord. He paid nine
teen cents for it. He told me so. I didn t pay
but five for what I gave him. He won t brush
his teeth or clean his finger-nails, and I told
him I wasn t going to give him a thing if he
didn t, but I haven t a bit of hold-out-ness at
Christmas. I wonder what s in that?"
Cautiously her hand was laid on a box wrap
ped in white tissue-paper and tied with red rib
bons. "I ll hate to open it and see, it looks so
lovely and Christmasy, but if I don t see soon
I ll die from wanting to know. It rattled a
little when I put it on the table. It s Miss
Frances s present, and I know it isn t practical.
She s like I am. She don t think Christmas is
HOW IT HAPPENED
for plain and useful things. She thinks it s for
pleasure and pretty ones. I wonder " Her
hands were pressed to her breast, and on tip
toes she leaned quiveringly toward the table.
"I wonder if it could be a new tambourine with
silver bells on it! If it is I ll die for joy, I ll
be so glad ! I broke mine to-night. I shook it
so hard when I was dancing after I got home
from the tree that Good gracious! I ve
caught my foot again! These diamond buckles
on my satin slippers are always catching the
chiffon ruffles on my petticoats. I oughtn t to
wear my best things when I m busy, but I
can t stand ugly ones, even to work in. Mercy!
it s one o clock, and the things for Father s
stocking aren t out yet."
Out of the bottorn drawer of the old-fashioned
chest at the end of the room a box was taken and
laid on the floor near the stove, into which a
small stick of wood was put noiselessly, and
carefully Carmencita sat down beside it. Tak
ing off the top of the box, she lifted first a large-
size stocking and held it up.
"I wish I was one hundred children s mother
at Christmas and had a hundred stockings to
fill! I mean, if I had things to fill them with.
But as I m not a mother, just a daughter, I m
HOW IT HAPPENED
thankful glad I ve got a father to fill a stocking
for. He s the only child I ve got. If he could
just see how beautiful and red this apple is, and
how yellow this orange, and what a darling
little candy harp this is, I d be thankfuler still.
But he won t ever see. The doctor said so
said I must be his eyes."
One by one the articles were taken out of
the box and laid on the floor; and carefully,
critically, each was examined.
This cravat is an awful color. " Carmencita s
voice made an effort to be polite and failed.
"Mr. Robinsky bought it for father himself
and asked me to put it in his stocking, but I
hate to put. I ll have to do it, of course, and
father won t know the colors, but what on
earth made him get a green-and-red plaid?
Now listen at me! I m doing just what Miss
Lucrecia does to everything that s sent her.
The only pleasure she gets out of her presents
is making fun of them and snapping at the
people who send them. She s an awful snap
per. The Damanarkist sent these cigars. They
smell good. He don t believe in Christmas,
but he sent Father and me both a present. I
hope he ll like the picture-frame I made for
his mother s picture. His mother s dead, but
156
HOW IT HAPPENED
he believed in her. She was the only thing he
did believe in. A man who don t believe in
his mother Oh, my precious mother!"
With a trembling movement the little locket
was taken from the box and opened and the
picture in it kissed passionately; then, without
warning, the child crumpled up and hot tears
fell fast over the quivering face. "I do want
you, my mother! Everybody wants a mother
at Christmas, and I haven t had one since I was
seven. Father tries to fill my stocking, but it
isn t a mother-stocking, and I just ache and