Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-24

away and try Dach6lOr living IN board
ing house suites or steam-heated flats
than it is for those who stay at home
| indefinitely. At any rate, we can
keep up a farce of solitary home life
and be thoroughly independent.
There's some individuality about that
method, and if you steer straight
course through the perilOus shoals #
Bohemianism you're a sight bett9r
off than the bachelor who arrives st
an age when his nature demands a
{ home Of his own, but who must live
in someone's else without so much as
a bookshelf to call his. But that isn't
what l started out to say"
''NO-O-O," said the man, I've noticed
that it seldom is. But it only makes
it more interesting"
Phyllis tipped the urn and gazed
meditatively at the tiny steam Of
steaming, fragrant coffee that trickled
into the gold lined cup she held under.
the lip. The man lighted another
cigar and poked the pillows under
his head into a yet more comfortable
mass Of sillE-cOvered down.
Il might just as we'll confess" said
Phyllis finally, extending the cup TO
tne man and pouring out another Tor
herself. It's about New Years eve.
You knOw-nO, you don't because I've
only been acquainted with you zen
months"
"More's the pity" murmured The
man.
And" Phyllis went on, scOrning
the interruption, always before Eve
accepted invitations to other peoples
houses or I've Travelled 800 miles to
eat my turkey at home. And I've sat
through a seven-cou1se dinner with a
lump as big as the Cugar bowl in my
throat, because it wasn't I Who was
sitting at the head of the table doing
the hOnors, and I've been made the
subject of minute and critical inspec-
ton by an army Of relatives who feel
sure that my frocks are much too OK
pensive, my way Of living rep
rehensible and my whole life failure
because my card plate remains I'M
no, won't say how many years. I'm
past that point, too just as I've a.
rived at a decision to hereafter ceIe-
brate holidays on an Independent
footing as a free and untrammeled
being until"
''Well?" asked the man, with in
terest.
Never mind" said Phyllis, but
you haven't arrived at that decision
for yourself and l shouldn't be max
ing this confession if you hadn't gone
east just when you ought to have
been around The way a woman
discovers that she is growing fond Of
a man is when he isn't on hand when
she needs him. Don't you dare put
down that cupi I'm just beginning
Christmas was placid enough. l went |
back home only to find out that, some |
way, despite;tall the sentiment, that !
I've been carefully cherishing l don't !
fit any more. It isn't anyOne's special |
fault, that I can see-simply the re-
suit of circumstances. You've gone |
one way and the home people have |
gone anOther-and you are stranger !
where once you were a part Of he |
life itself. You haven't forgotten |
where the cookey jar stands on the !
pantry shelf, and you could make your
way to the apple bin on the darkest
night, but for all that you-what you
are and what you dc and what you
stand for in the big world outside, the
person you have become-is much /
more of stranger than the next door
leightOr who comes in to welcome
you. SO l didn't go home again on
New Years. I celebrated right here"
who with?" asked the man
L supposed you'd ask that.
haven't asked anything about the
person with whom you probably
the century out and I didn't
mean to submit to Interrogation on
hat point myself. But-well it was
Margaret"
Must have been a lively celebra- ;
ion" remarked the man cynically.
Margaret's not--weI, Margaret's not IL,
xactly the sort of a person I should
hoose on such an occasion unless 1
vas going in for watch night prayer {
Meeting" t
That's whe-e you miss in your estf- i
nate OF Margaret said Phyllis. "And {
IS just because you'll like her better, [
eing reasonable sort of a bachelor y
ourself, that I'm going to tell you a
bout it." a
'Oh-ho,' came a satirical voice S
rom behind cloud of smoke. a