The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-12-18
HER BIRTHDAY
BY CHRISTINE HAYES.

5656dbJeG29S4e9R99g9gg9ee99RR99
f6), 1920 by Mcciur. N.wsnaper sv,d,,a,.
Mrs. kilcane ambed up the next
door neighbours path. sank painting
into the green rocker and appropri-
ated palm leaf fan from the table at
her elbow. Most people in Landsend
were seeking relief from the Angus.
heat on theiT own vine-covered porches
or in the seclusion Of their coolest
rooms with The blinds closed. Not Mrs.
kilcane. No weather so extreme that
social hour was not worth to her
the effort involved In reaching n place
where 1t might be had No sun too
scorching or drift too deep.
My, That's pretty waist you're
wearng" she declared with her first
fully recovered breath.
John gave 1t to me for my birth
day smiled the next door ncighbor.
Land snkesl wish Luther was
more like him. I've been married TO
Luther 30 years, and every one of
EN- he's given me something for my
birthday that ! had about as much
use for as that old brindle COW has
for an orange sweater like Lydia Bas-
CONS.
THE first year 1t was q white lace
kimono to eat breakfast in. Luther
liked hearty breakfasts then just as
well as he does now, and when I
thought Of the figure I'd cut frying
chops In n white lace kmono-but
Luther's so sensitive have to pretend
to like EN-, and he's so absent-minded
he never thinks of 'em again
Eyes, Of course hint about what
I'd like, but land! It's no use. The
year / limited the hardest for plaid
silk waist he brought home plaid
parasol that l wouldn't be seen on the
street with.
What say? Oh. I'd exchange them
I'm a minute, but Luther's queer that
way. He just won't tell where he got
he hates to tell so bad
"One year he brought home a big
purple china dog. 1T wasn't SO easy to
get rid of that because he liked II him
self and picked out a place for 1t to
set, and spoke of 1t often. Yes, I know
lots O. folks have 'em. but you never
saw one like this one-ugly, my stars
l used to have nightmare about the
thing. And l couldn't think of any
reasonable sounding way Of its getting
broken, till one day Mis- Hnckett came
to call with the twins-regular little
imps. they were. And right away she
thought Of scheme
'Thc dog was In the hall. so we put
away everything else that was break
able, locked the doors that led into the
other rooms left one Of the big smooth
stones I use for doorsteps within
reach. and went out into the garden
leaving the twins In the hall. When
we came back there was pile OF
purple chips where the china dog had
been before, and most of the glass was
out Of the window. We had made a
miscalculation and stayed too long. But
l put up with the broken window
cheerfully, and besides 1t bore up my
story when Luther came in.
"He was most as broken up as the
dog and the window. so my conscience
troubled me quite a lot, and I cooked
his favorite dishes for long time. !
didn't go quite scot-free either, for
the pesky purple creature had ghost,
and / used often to see 1t sitting
back In she shadows grinning It's pur-
pie grin.
Thanks; there's nothing like or
angeade In hot weather. ).
"And this year-my birthdays
week from today know just as well
what he's going to give me. He's talked
so much about my wearing my skirts
shorter, not having 'em trail so, and
the other night I saw him looking at
the fashion page of a magazine, and l
feel in my bones he's going to give me
one Of those disgraceful knee-high,
waist-low evening dresses. and like as
not he'll remember to notice whether
wear II, the same as he did the pur-
pie dog. IF had II filed in and length
ened It would hurt his feelings and I'm
that upset about It."
Ten days later the next-door neigh
Dor returned the call.
"Tm so madi" snapped Mrs. XII
caine in greeting. Luther never give
me thingw