The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1914-12-18

i Two from the firm-one from Mar.
+ Cutting-one from the Sure Whit,
:. laundry at Dayton (hope they fount
+ that corset cover)-one from-why
4 from jock From Jock, And he't
written only two days before. Well!
Sitting there on the edge of the bee
she regarded the dear scrawl lovingly
; savoring it. as is the way of a WON
an. Then she took hairpin from the
knot of bright hair (also as is the way
: of woman and slit the envelope with
, a quick sure rip. M-m-m-it wasn't
much as to length Just a scrawled
, page. Emma McChesney's eye plunged
, into it hungrily, smile of anticipation
dimpling her lips. lighting up her face
Dearest Blonde" it began.
THE nerve of the young imp,l"
He hoped the letter would reach her
in time. Knew how this weather
mussed up her schedule. He wanted
ther honest opinion about something
straight. now. One of the frat fellows
was giving a Christmas house party.
Awful swells, by the way. He was
lucky even to be asked. He'd never
remembered a real Christmas-in a
home, you know, with tree, and skat-
ing, and regular high jinks, and din
ner that left you feeling like stuffed
gooseberry. Old Wells says his grand
mother wears lace caps with lavender
ribbons. Can you beat it, Of course
he felt like hog, even thinking of
wanting to stay away from her at
Christmas. Still, Christmas in a New
York hotel! But the fellows had
nagged him to write. Said they'd do
it if he didn't. Of course he hated to
think of her spending Christmas alone
felt like bloody villain
Little by little the smile that had
wreathed her lips faded and was gone.
She sat there, at the edge of the
bed, staring DULY until the black
scrawls danced ON the white page.
With the letter before her she raised
her hand slowly and wiped away a
hot, binding mist of tears with her
open palm. Then she read it again, |
DULY, as though every selfish word of |
it had not already stamped itself on
her brain and heart.
After the second reading she still |
sat there, her eyes staring down at
her lap.
A tentative knock at the door. The
figure on the bed did not stir. An
other knock, louder this time Emma
McChesney sat up with a start. She
shivered as she became conscious of T
the icy December air pouring into the
little room. She rose, walked to the
window, closed it with bang, and
opened the door in time to intercept
the third knock.
A waiter proffered her long card.
Dinner, madame?"
"Oh!" She shook her head. Sorry.
I've changed my mind. II shan't
want any dinner"
She shut the door again and stood
with her back against it, eying the
bed. In her minds eye she had al
ready thrown herself upon it, buried
her face in the nest Of pillows, and
given vent to the flood of tears that
was beating at her throat. She took
1 quick step toward the bed, stopped,
.urned abruptly, and walked toward
he mirror.
Emma McChesney," she said aloud
% the woman in the glass, buck up,
I'D girl! Bad luck comes in punches
# threes. It's like breaking the first
up in new Haviland set. You can
lways count on smashing two more.
his is your third So pick up the
ieces and throw EN- in the ash-can."
Then she fastened her collar, but
oned her shoe, pulled down her shirt
raist all around, smeared her face
nth cold cream, wiped it with a =.
owel, smoothed her hair, donned her
at. The next instant the little room
as dark, and Emma McChesney was NJ
larching down the long, red-carpeted III
allway to the elevator, her head high,
er face set Sc
Downstairs in the lobby-"How m
bout my trunks?" she inquired of A
,rter CT
That blue-shirted individual rubbed
hard brown hand over his cheek yo
M
"They amt COME tn
Amt come!"-surprise disregarded
amman M,
Nope. No signs of EN-. I'll tell he
u what: think prob1y they was BIZ
CROOKED in the rush, the train be- MI
late from Dayton when you start
Likely they'll be in on The ten.
rteen. I'll send 'em up the minute va
,y get in" the
1 wish you would. Tve,g to get ute
stun out early. I can't keep Gus.
ners waiting for me. Late, as it is on
She approached the clerk once
re. Anything at the theaters? ers
Well, nothing much, Mrs. McChes- g
:. Christmas coming on kind of Mr.
s a crimp in the show business. ID
.e little bill on at the Majestic, If XIII
| like vaudeville" viii
Crazy about it. Always get so ex- tall
ID watching to see if the next act abo
going to be as rotten as the last NAL
. 1t always is. n
he night air was grateful to her in
forehead 6 late that ayap;pg che dor