The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1920-12-31

@LEANOR RICHARDSON
~ looked across the festively
I decorated restaurant table
ENh J at her husband, who was
ESlAA% consuming indifferently his
"a 81 frozen, nut-sprinkled deS-
sert.
IRE He certainly was not grow
ing any younger, while she-well, only
Eleanor herself knew the exact num-
Der of gray hairs in her carefully ar
ranged couture and realized the I'M
equal battle being waged between the
cold cream of her masseuse and the
insidious crows wrinkles at the cor
ners of her dark-fringed eyes.
"Do you know, Fred, this doesn't
interest me a bit?" she said, with e
casual glance at the gay scene about
her. "Other years have enjoyed
1t we'll enough, but tonight. some
how, it seems-stale."
II suppose" returned her hus-
band, placidly, that the people who
get the most fun out Of this sort of
thing, after all, are those who come
here from the backwoods where they
douse the kerosene lamp at 8 p. m.
and light it again when the ROSTERS
crow. The rest of us are used to it."
By making reservations long in ad-
vance the Richardson's had been able
TO secure a place in the most desir-
able location in the dining room
not too near the palm-embowered
orchestra loudly dispensing jazz, not
too far from the tinsel-draped stage,
where at the moment were twisting
and gesticulating Hawaiian beauties
in very tropical costumes, which
seemed absurdly inappropriate con-
sidering that it was New Years eve.
Eleanor cupped her chin in white,
extensively ringed hands. Perhaps
1t is the reaction from the season or
perhaps I'm merely bored, but feel
out of sorts. AS look back on our
ten years of married life they seem
happy enough, and yet to look for
ward in the future to the same sort
of ten years doesn't seem worth
while"
Fred Richardson looked at her in
surprise. Retrospection had never
been one of EIeanor's habits. whats
the matter, old girl?" he asked with
unusual solicitude. "Shall we leave
this joint and go the rounds? There
won't ne much in the way of excite
ment anywhere until midnight"
"But l tell you, Fred, I'm not look
ing for excitement tonight" exclaimed
Eleanor impatiently; strange as it
may seem. For one thing, I'm worried
as to whether I've done the right thing
by Beth. You know that Jim Goddard
has been wild about her for some time,
and wants to marry her offhand on his
ridiculousIy small salary. OF course
Beth, after living with me all these
years. asked my advice, and en-
rhatically advised against it. Told her
to wait until they had laid by enough
to put them beyond the chance of
worry"
swell, that was sensible enough ad-
vice nowadays, l guess" acquiaSced
her husband, good-naturedly, Ticking
the ashes from his cigar.
Eleanor looked at him keenly. Time
was when he would 1ave spurned such
counsel as savoring of too worldly a
wisdom. Ten years of money-making
In the big city had wrought their
changes in him, too. She sighed.
Then: ooh. well,' she exclaimed,
struggling her shoulders; Il should
worry about that now. Jim was to
get his answer this evening, and l
imagine by now Beth has turned him
down quite definitely"
At that moment shower OF con-
fetti and colored streamers shot from
the balconies and mezzanine, turning
the interior of the restaurant into