The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-01

oSV5Stsss y TsSSiss a ssoIea SoSS SS00UOOOSSSS

ANh Atum tue mlIu-oNe from Mary
Cutting-one from the Sure White
laundry at Dayton Chope they found
that corset coverl-one frum-why,
from Jockl From Jock! And he'd
written only two days before. Welll
Sitting there on the edge OF the bed
she regarded the dear scrawl lovingly,
savoring It, as is the way OF a WON
an' Then she took a hairpin from the
knot Of bright hair ialso as ia the way
OF woman) aud slit the envelope with
a quick, sure rip. M-m.m-it wasn't
much as to length. Jus. a scrawled
page. Emma McChesney's eye plunged
into II hungrily, a smile OF anticipation
dimpling her lips. lighting up her face,
Dearest Blonde" It began.
The nerve Of the young inpl!"
He hoped the letter would rssch her
In time. Knew how this weaths-
mussed up her schedule. lie wanted
her honest opinion about something
straight, nowl One OF the frat fellows
was giving a Christmas house party.
Awful swells, by the way. lie was
lucky even to be asked. He'd never
remembered a real Christmas-in a
home, you know, with a tree, and skat.
ing, and regular high links, and a din.
mel that left you feeling like a stuffed
gooseberry. Old Wells says his grand.
mother wears lace cap with lavender
ribbons. Can you beat Il! or course
he felt like a 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
II II he didn't. or course he hated to
think Of her spending Christmas alone
felt like a 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 ayes 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 n start. She
shivered as she became conscious OF
the icy December air pouring into the
little room. She rose, walked to the
window. closed It with a bang. and
opened the door in time to intercept
the third knock.
A waiter ~profered her a 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 II, eying fhe
bed. In her minds eye she had al
ready thrown herself upon II. buried
her face in the nest OF pillows, and
given vent to the food of tears that
WAS beating at her throat. She took
a quick step toward the bed. stopped,
turned abruptly, and walked toward
the mirror.
Emma McChesney," she said aloud
to the oma In the glass, buck up,
old girl! Bad luck comes In punches
Of threes. It's like breaking the first
cup In a G Haviland set. You can
always count on smashing two more.
This is you third. So pick up the
pieces and throw EN- in the ash.can."
Then she fastened her collar, but
toned her shoe, pulled down her shirt.
waist all around. smeared her face
with cold cream, wiped II with a
towel, smoothed her nair, donned her
hat. The next instant the little room
was dark, and Emma McChesney was
marching down the long, red.carpeted
hallway to the elevator, her head high,
her face set.
Downstairs in the lobby-"How
about my trunks" she inquired o. a
porter,
That blueshirted individual rubbed
a hard brown hand over his cheek
worrledly.
They amt come
Amt come!"-surprise d~isregarded
grammar.
Nope. No signs OF EN-. III tell
you what; think prob1y they was
overlooked in the rush, the train be.
ing late from Dayton When you start
ed. Likely they'll be IN on the ten.
thirteen. IT send EN- ND the minute
they get In"
Il wish you would. I've got TO get
my stun out early. I can't keep Gus
toners waiting for me. Late, as Il is."
She approached the clerk once
mor Anything at the theaters?"
We'll. nothing much. Mrs. McChes-
ney, Christmas coming on kind OF
puts a orimp in the show business.
Nice little bill on at the Majestic, n
you like vaudeville"
Crazy about Il. Always get so ex-
cited watching to see II the next act
a w,Fue~ O., hn q a r,Nfrv "a tha IL