"UNA'S LUCK"

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 8

"UNA'S LUCK"

A GOOD-NIGHT TALE It was Christmas Eve. Eleven-year-old Una gazed wistfully at a lovely wax doll in the toy shop window. “ Oh, I wish she was mine,” she murmured. “ I would call her Rosemary.” “Oh, would you now?” said the harsh voice of Mrs Gregg. “ Get along with that basket!” With a sigh the little girl walked on, thinking of the doll. As Una was clearing away the tea dishes she heard the xauoous tones of Mrs Gregg coming from the kitchen. “I do wish Una’s relations could be traced. That child’s a nuisance.” Tears welled into Una’s.blue feyes, and she quietly 'slipped out into the street and made her way to town. “ I wish I had someone. But Dad’s sisters

wouldn’t want me. They didn’t lik® Mum, and they wouldn’t like me.” She found some consolation in looking at the toyshop. The wax doll was still there, -with her golden ringlets and brown eyes, and dressed in a pink, frilly frock. “I had a dress just like that,” Una remembered. But Mrs Gregg had sold, it at a jumble sale. Una turned away from the window as a grand motor car drew up, and an aristocratic young woman stepped out. “You can drive back to the flat with the luggage, James,” she told the chauffeur. She didn’t notice how Una stared at her as she entered a shop. It was 8 o’clock, so Una decided to return home. As she passed a jeweller’s, the lady who had attracted her attention came out with some parcels. She had gone before Una noticed that she had dropped a packet. Picking it up, she saw an address on it. “ I must return it,” Una said to herself, so she threaded her way through the crowd to a block of flats. Una knocked at flat No. 8, and was answered by a trim maid. “Please, ■ she began, a the lady dropped this. • The young lady herself came to tho door. “ Come in, child. I’m so glad it’s not lost.” Then she glanced at Una. “ Goodness!” she gasped, “you must come in.” A little bewildered, Una sat down while Miss Margaret Travers stood looking at her. “ What is your name? ” she askedj “Una Travers,” answered the child timidly. , “ Have you a photo in that locket about your neck? ” asked Miss Margaret. “ Yes, it’s my father,” and Una showed the photo of a man whose living image she was. “ I thought so,” said Miss Margaret, and sat down opposite her little visitor. “ Would you be surprised if I claimed relationship with you, Una? “ Wei}, no,” said Una. You wouldn’t, anyway. _ My aunties aren’t nice. They don’t like me, and I_don’t like them.” There was defiance in he* tone.

“ Oh, don’t you? You’ll soon like me, though,” Miss Margaret informed her.

“Are you nice? ” came the unexpected question. “ De-lightful,” laughed Miss Margaret Travers. “ But to convince you that I really am your Dad’s youngest sister. look at this photo.” Una needed only one glance at the photo to prove that it was her “Ohl ’’ she cried joyfully. She looked at . her pretty aunty. “ You are nice, after all.” ' y “I’ve been looking for you for months,” said Miss Margaret, after Una had related all that had happened since her father’s death, and also about old Mrs Gregg._ “ Now, kiddie,” said Aunty Margaret, “ yon hop off to bed, while I go and interview Mrs Gregg.” “ What would you like in your stocking to-morrow? ” she asked Una before leaving the flat. “Oh, please, that lovely wax doll in the big toy sho". and and—a tea set! ” Una said happily. “It shall be done,” replied-t her aunty gaily. And that Christmas saw the beginning of Una’s happy-life.