The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 20, 1931, Page 29

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, SUNDAY, DEC. 20, 1931. 5, Ty Zé“fia”‘ )a:he Ry g!artlsa T WASN'T in the least | like Christmas, Sally stood at the window and road. A upon the “I wouldn't cary lhll\ gh |l ' any old w mally, “if * I unc nd that )n h m to go to | town to meet his cousin Lena. He | ner, “with a little gasoline gravy!" couldn’t decently do anything else, but this is our first Christmas to- gether . . . and it’s sort of lunuome sut here in the country.” Sally was twenty-three. She and d been married a little less ar. For months they had | on the best way to spend together. At first they had decided to go to New York, only 440 miles away, have dinner, go to the theater and then some exciting night club. But gradually they discovered that they were not as interested in celebrating the holiday in this manner. Sally and Eric had been to plenty of dinners, plenty of dances and plenty of night clubs. They were | a bit fed wup. After consider- able argument and trying to | find out what the other really mmted they came to the grand | ¥ conclusion that they would gec 8 thrill out of Christmas at home in their little house in the country. | “No party,” said Eric. “No gue chimed in Sally. othing . but Christmas and us;” They had shaken hands sol-! emnly on this. They had’ talked over the din-| winer, which Sally was to prepure‘ herself (the maid having begged to| ll\ let off ln go to her family for| nn day). had decided on the | kind of Chr 1S tree they want- | ed; Eric had gone out two days ago| and chopped it down. They hud trimmed it with the glitter of mnke— believe icicles and silver-blue llgh!s Then at 2:00 o'clock of the after-| noon the day before Christmns, while Erie was chuckling to him- self over some ridiculous gift hej ~ was wrapping up for Sally, the tele- phone rang. Eric talked very hurriedly into * the transmitter. And in a low tone. Sally could hardly hear what he » said. When he hung up the recelver he announced that he must leave for town at once. “But why?” asked Sally. “Well,” he hesitated, “you see I've got to meet Lena. She's just come.” | a! Who in the world is she?” | y's voice became a bit edgy. + “Oh, er...a sort of cousin, Ter- ribly sorry, old girl, I'll tear over * in the buzz-buggy, and be back in no time.” s+ So, he had gone. And the trees dripped. And the sky grew dark. And Sally cried a little and decided | this Christmas eve was the horrid- est she'd ever spent. She tried to remember If she had ever heard Fric speak of Lena before. “A wretchmd name,” she said v aloud, “and probably a perfect nite 2 wit of a girl. One of his odious rela: ti [ bhe waited and waited. Christmas eve was going to be spoiled. She could tell that. Why hadn’t they gone to New York like everyone else? Then this Lena pest would never have roped in Eric, At 6:30 the telephone jingled. Sal- 1y flew to answer it. “Sally, darizg, e I'm a bit delayed. Just called up to v tell \uu not to worry. Traffic heavy “Oh yes,” said Sally In a cool po- + lite voice. “I'm bringing Lena home, dear, I know you'll like her. Expect us about quarter past seven.” Sally was in a rage. How dare he spoil their cherished Christmas by bringing home a stranger? How cruel. . . how thoughtless! ® At quarter past seven she heard 9 the car rush into the drive before the door. Her heart hardened. She went to the kitchen and looked into a closet. The front door banged. “Hey, Sally! Hey! ‘Where are you? Come here and meet Lena!” She heard foot- steps in the din- ing room, The swinging door pushed open. Then before she could catch her Sally blinked. Tears of rage dried in her eyes. “Lena?” she mur- mured in a foolish little volce, “Eric . . . done?” A small, smart car stood by the steps. Light from the house flowed along its polished sides. | “Meet the wife, Lzna,” said Eric, and made an elaborate gesture of [ introduction. “Whose?" demanded Sally. “Yours, woman! Christmas pres- ent! Delayed in dellvery! Had to | go in to get her. Thought I'd give you & whirl. Like the looks of the | { dear girl?” v Erle s . . dripping | yoy wonderful boy!" The trees dripped. The fog closed .| in. The country road became sog- | gier than ever . . . declared it was perfect Christmas | | weather. “I feel I really ought to offer her | ' a piece of turkey,” said Eric at din- | — e | Housewife in Australia Breaks Bicycle Record “Oh, State Worth More As Forest INDIANAPOLIS.—The state of Indiana was worth more the way the Indians had it than it is to- what have you she’s superb. but Sally | 931 MELBOURNE, Dec. Ethel Carter, mother of two child- ren, has broken the world's record 19. — Mrs. day, says Richard Lieber, state | for women cyclists. She peddled 100 | director of conservation. plains: Property on the tax dupli- seconds. cate today is $5,350,000,000; the state’s 18,500,000 acres of hardwood timber, would be worth $7,000,000,000. now He ex- |miles in 5 hours, 20 minutes, 522-5 “I had plenty of energy to spare,” she said, and after a cup of tea nearly exhausted |and a sandwich went home to her housework. - breath, Eric had # her by the hand. He Iliterally dragged her into the dining room, # through the living room to the froamt ,edoor. “Got to meet Lena right away,” he laughed. He thrust her . 0ut of the door on to the tiny porch. “Lena!” shouted Eric. “God bless er—there she stands.” ALL OF US wish ALL OF YOU the merriest of Merry Christmases and the Happiest of HAPPY NEW YEARS H. 1. LUCAS OFFICE EQUIPMENT CO. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a Happy, Prosperous NEW YEAR ---is our greeting SANITARY GROCERY GUNNAR BLOMGREN, Prop. CHRISTM AS May they be both Bright and Glad, the Best of All You've Ever Had NEW YEAR’S, TOO Juneau Radio Service GEO. J. MAKI WE EXTEND | HEARTY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS and s ; SINCERE GOOD WISHES ' FOR THE NEW YEAR INC. s ananananaaad 1111111 TTTTTETTTTITITCINI NN AT On the Air! Wishing one and all the Greetings of the Season ALLEN SHATTUCK, Inc. INSURANCE SINCE 1898 JUST A FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS GREETING 1 AND A WISH FOR A & HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SABIN’S