South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-19
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.

letting me alone as you express it. J"
There YOU go-fiying of the handle
every time Cf.rrie's name is mentioned.
You're always quarreling with her
about something"
Why. Warren. YOU know 1 never
quarreled with her in my life" more
Indignantly.
Airing a Grievance.
"Oh. well, you've got some sort Of
a grievance and you air il whenever
YOU get 6 chance"
Helen flushed. but she picked up the
paper again and said quietly:
Lets look through here and see
if we can't find something for her"
She drew her low chair closer 20
Warren's and adjusted the drop light
so that he might look over her shout
der
Suppose YOU want TO give her
something thatll make a show" with
a cynical shrug.
II don't want 10 give her anything
that looks cheap. YoI know. she gave
us that sterling silver cheese knife
last year. I'd like TO get something
as good as that"
That's a fine Christmas spirit"
sneered Warren. You don't like
Carrie and she doesn't like you. yet
you want TO give her something 10
make show. something as good as
she gave you. BY jove, if that isn't
a sOrdid-"
But Helen. who was again studying
the advertisements. interrupted this
| TRADE with a hurried:
'Oh. wouldn't this be nice for Car
| cit 'Womans morocco mun or en-
velope purse. silk lined, fitted with
change purse and mirror. regular price
So now $3.50 DO you think that
would do2"
How do I know? Go down town
= and see what looks the most for your
money. That's what you want. isn't
it, contemptuCusly, as he turned back
| TO his magazine.
oh. aren't you going To help me
| with the others2'' pleaded Helen hold
ing mp a long list Of names.
What's that? You don't mean to
say you're going to give presents to
| all those people,"
why yes. dear. They'll all give us
| something. I've gone over it again
and again. and there isn't one / can
/ cross Off"
We'll, can Give it here" He
| scowled over the list for several mo-
ments. Mrs Kimball" hslding his
! pencil ready TO draw through the
name. What have you got her down
! for?"
why dear. she gave me that lovely
center piece last Christmas II must
have cost at least five or six dollars.
and I know she'll give us something
] else this year"
Ugh with deepening scowl. but
not crossing out the name. What
! about Katherine Gregg? No reason
under the sun why you've got 10 get
anything for her"
| Why yes. dear. she gave us that
| book rest. Don't YOU remember"
oh, hang it all" throwing down
the list. Get what you've got to get.
but for heavens sake don't bother me
| about it. I'm sick of the whole
| thing"
He got up. stretched. and shook
/ down his trousers. I'm going out 10
| get some cigars and talks a walk
around the block. Haven't had any
exercise today"
Paying Obligations.
When he had gone, Helen still sat
| brooding over her Christmas list. She
too, had a feeling of revulsion for it
all. Warren was right. her standpoint
was sOrdid-the giving Of presents
only 10 return the obligation of those
given you. But was not that the
] standpoint of almost everyone else?
Had not Christmas giving come 10 be
merely the payment for presents re-
CeiVed or expected?
Reluctantly she drew the list toward
| her There were still the rest of his
fanily her own, and more than a
dozen friends Yet. with the excep-
ton of a few children. there was hard
| ~ name on the list 10 whom the
giving of the Christmas present would
mean anything more than a duty or
obligation. And, although she would
not admit il even to herself-to over
half of that list she would give be
grudgingly. resentful of the time and
money spent
If Christmas might only mean one
day of rest and relaxation instead of
weeks OF added work. worry and ex-
pense.