Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-12-30
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New Year
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-LEANO RICHARDSON
~ looked across the festively
I decorated restaurant table
IrHA at her husband, who was
CS[N&% consuming indlfferently his
"a sS0 frozen, nut-sprinkled des-
SeT sert.
III. 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
It well enough, but tonight, some
how, It seems-stale."
81 SUPPOSE" returned her hus-
band, placidly, shat the people who
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 roosters
crow. The rest of us are used to it."
BY making reservations long IN adj
vance the Richardson's had been able
IL secure 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 ut the moment were twisting
and gesticulating Hawaiian beauties
In very tropical costumes, which
seemed absurdly inappropriate con-
sidering that 1t was New Years eve.
Elernor cupped her chin in white,
extensively ringed hands. perhaps
IT is the reaction from the season or
perhaps I'm merely bored. but ! feel
out of sorts. AS l look back on our
ter 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 Eleanor's habits. "What's
the matter, old grip" he asked with
unusual sollcitude. "Shall we leave
this joint and go the rounds? There
won't ne much in the way of excite
nent anywhere until midnight"
But | tell you, Fred, TN not look
ing for excitement tonight" exclaimed
Eleanor impatiently; strange as 1t
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 warts to marry her offhand on his
ridlculously small salary. OF course
Beth, after living with me all these
years, asked my advice, and l en-
rEaticaily advised against il. Told her
to wait until they had laid by enough
10 put them beyond the chance Of
worry"
well, that was sensible enough ad-
vice nowadays, | guess" acqulesced
her husband, good-naturedly, clicking
the ashes from his cigar.
Eleanor looked at him keenly. Time
was when he would Have 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: "Oh, WE'LL" she exclaimed,
struggling her shoulders; II should
worry about that now. Jim was to
get his answer this evening, and
imagine BY now Beth has turned him
down quite definitely"
At that moment shower Of con-
fetti and colVred streamers shot from
the balconies and meZzanlne, turning
The interior of the restaurant into q
veritable rainbow-tinted blizzard, de-
scend!ng In confusion on the bril-
liantly dressed women and their com
panlons seated below.
Eleanor rose, drawing on her long
white gloves. Lets go home. Fred"
she said. Moved by one of the many
odd impulses which had been stir
ring within her, she tucked into her
huge muff the evening favor-a frail
papler mache representation of old
Father Time bearing In his arms q
very pink. very undressed baby. pre-
sumably significant OF the old year
bringing in the new.
As Eleanor and her husband ap-
preached their car. moderately
priced sedan waiting on a Quieter
side street, Fred thought with salts
faction of the neat little sum In the
bank. now almost sufficient for the
purchase Of a very late very COM
pletely equipped, high-powered model.
Resolving also TO acquire n chauf-
feur, he opened the door for his wife
who. skirts held high to avoid the
trampled slush, stepped m. At the
same instant. "Fredf" she cried In