The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-02-21

Catching Up With Christmas
4 Business Adventure of Emma McChesney

By EDNA FERBER


OK A. Stokes Company
Two from the firm-one from Mary
Cutting-one from the Sure White
laundry at Dayton (hope they found
that corset cover)-one from-why,
from Jock! From Jock! And he'd
written only two days before. Well!
Sitting there on the edge of the bed
she regarded the dear scrawl lovingly,
savoring it, as is the way of wom-
an. Then she took hairpin from the
knot of bright hair (also as is the way
of woman) and slit the envelope with
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" 1t began.
THE nerve of the young imp!w
He hoped the letter would reach her
in time. Knew how this weather
mussed up her schedule He wanted
her 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 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
q hi Iii 10
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
1t 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
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 proffered 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 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
a quick step toward the bed, stopped,
turned abruptly, and walked toward
the mirror
Emma McChesney," she said aloud
to the woman in the glass, buck up,
old girl, Bad luck comes in punches
of threes. It's like breaking the first
cup in a new Haviland set. You can
always count on smashing two more.
This is your third. So pick up the
pieces and throw em 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 1t with
towel, smoothed her hair, 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 of
porter.
That blue-shirted individual rubbed
hard brown hand over his cheek
Worr1edly.
"They amt come"
Amt e!"-surprise disregarded
grammar.
Nope. No signs of en- I'll tell
you what: think prob'ly 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. I'll send 'em up the minute
they get in
Il wish you would. I've got to get
my stuff out early l can't keep GUS
toners waiting for me. Late, as it is"
She approached the clerk once
more. Anything at the theaters?"
well, nothing much, Mrs. McChes-
ney. Christmas coming on kind of
puts crimp in the show business.
Nice little bill on at the Majestic, If
you like vaudeville"
Cray about it, Always get so ex-
cited watching to see If the next act
is going to be as rotten as the last
one. 1t always is"
The night air was grateful to her
hot forehead as late that evening she
walked from the theater to the hotel
Trunks in?" to the porter.
mo sign of 'em, lady. They didn't
come in on the ten. Think they'd bet.
ter wire back to Dayton"