“What’s the matter, mamma dear?” asked Betty, her little daughter. “You look so sad--_and this is Christmas eve_.” Agatha did not answer. She could not trust her voice. There was a mist before her eyes. She sat there thinking, thinking, thinking. It was just a year ago tonight that Dave, her husband, had parted from her in anger. Since then no word, no letter--nothing but endless conferences with that hideous lawyer, the unbearable condolences of well-meaning friends, the dull heart-ache, the thought of little Betty.... Betty crept noiselessly down the stairs. “Papa! Oh, papa! My papa!” she cried. “You’ve come home again. Won’t Santa Claus be glad!” Brewster, his eyes suddenly blinded with tears, grabbed the sweet child to his breast and hugged her, oh, so close! And then, bending down, he kissed the brave little woman at his side. _The End._ * * * * * _If you want to read the parts of this story that have been left out to save ink, you will find the whole thing in any issue of any 15 cent magazine. I say any issue, but if you want to make doubly sure, get any Christmas issue._ THE LETTERS AN ALPHABETICAL PROBLEM PLAY AFTER THE MANNER OF PINERO, HENRY ARTHUR JONES, AND OTHER DRAMATISTS OF A BYGONE DAY. FOREWORD: _A season or so ago, Mr. Cyril Maude and Miss Laurette Taylor attracted considerable attention in a one-word play--a play in one act, each line of whose dialogue consisted of a single word. In order to meet the insistent public demand for constantly increased novelty, I submit herewith what is probably the dernier cri in dramatic literature--a play in one letter._ CHARACTERS ZACHERY EBBSMITH: The usual problem play husband. FELICIA EBBSMITH: The usual problem play wife. ROBERT CHARTERIS: The usual problem play lover. JENKINS: The usual problem play butler. SCENE: The drawing-room of Ebbsmith’s house. Any old set will do, provided only there is a portière-hung entrance at R. 2, in which the husband may make his unexpected appearance. TIME: An evening in May. PLACE: New York. _When the curtain rises, Mrs. Ebbsmith (a brunette with an uncanny likeness to Mrs. Patrick Campbell), is discovered in Charteris’ arms._ MRS. E. (_in passionate ecstasy_) O! CHARTERIS (_ditto_) O! (_Zachery Ebbsmith duly appears in doorway at R. 2. The lovers cannot see him as their backs are turned_) MRS. E. (_still in passionate ecstasy_) O! CHARTERIS (_ditto_) O! (_Mrs. Ebbsmith frees herself reluctantly from Charteris’ embrace. She turns and catches sight of Ebbsmith_) MRS. E. (_cowering before her husband’s steady gaze_) U! EBBSMITH (_quietly_) I. CHARTERIS (under his breath) G! MRS. E. (_sinking to her knees before Ebbsmith, seizing his hands in supplication, and looking at him appealingly_) “Z”! EBBSMITH (_angrily withdrawing his hand_) U---- MRS. E. (_in tears, interrupting_) R? EBBSMITH (_violently; between his teeth_) A---- MRS. E.