Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-04-14
HER BIRTHDAY
BY CHRISTINE HAYES.


O0CO00O0O00OO GG000G0O 0O0Cc
o. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Mrs Kilcaine ambled up the next
door neighbours path, sank painting
into the green rocker, and apprOpri-
ated o palm leaf fan from the table al
her elbow. Most people in Landsend
we're seeking relief from the August
heat on their own uncovered porches
or In the seclusion of their coolest
rooms with the blinds closed. Not Mrs.
/ Kilcaine. No weather so extreme that
a social hour was not worth to her
the effort involved in reaching place
where 1t might be had. No sun too
scorching or drift too deep.
"BIy! That's pretty waist you're
wearingl" she declared with her first
fully recovered breath.
"John gave It to me for my birth
day." smiled the next door neighbor.
Land sakes! | wish Luther was
more like him. I've been married to
Luther 80 years, and every one Of
'em he's given me something for my
birthday that I had about as much
use for as that old brindle COW has
for an orange sweater like Lydia Bas-
CONS.
"The first year It was white lace
kimono to eat breakfast In. Luther
liked hearty breakfasts then just as
we'll as he does now, and when !
thought Of the figure I'd cut frying
chops in a white lace kimonO-brt
Luther's so sensitive I have to pretend
to Ike 'em, and he's so absent-minded
he never thinks Of 'etn again.
ayes. of course / hint about what
I'd like, but land! It's no use. The
year I limited the hardest for plaid
silk waist he brought home plaid
parasOI that wouldn't be seen on the
street with.
"What say? Oh. I'd exchange them
in a minute, but Luther's queer that
way. He just won't tell where he got
them. You'd almost think he stole 'em,
he hates to tell so bad.
"One year he brought home big
purple china dog. 1t wasn't so easy TO
get rid Of that because he liked it him
self and picked out a place for it to
set, and spoke of 1t often. Yes. I know
lots o. folks have EN-. but you never
saw one like this one-ugly, my stars !
/ used to have nightmare about the
thing. And I couldn't think Of any
reasonable sounding way Of its getting
broken, till one day Mis- Hackett came
to. call with the twins-remlar little
imps. they were. And right away she
thought Of a 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 a pile Of
purple chips where the china dog had
been before, and most Of the glass was
out of the window. We had made
miscalculation and stayed too long. But
put up with the broken window
cheerfully, and besides it bore up my
story when Luther came in.
"He was. most rs broken up as the
dog and the window, so my conscience
troubled me quite lot, and I cooked
his favorire dishes for a long time.
didn't go quite scot-free either, FOR
the pesky purple creature had a ghost,
and l used often to see it sitting
back in The shadows grinning its pur-
pie grin.
Thanks; there's nothing like or
angeade in hot weather
"And this year-my birthdays a
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 l saw him looking at
the fashion page Of magazine, and I
feel in my bones he's going to give me
one Of those disgFaeefUl knee-high
waist-low evening dresses. and like as
not he'll remember to notice whether
1 wear 1t, the same as he did the pur,
pie dog. # had it filed in and length
ened it would hurt his feelings and I'm
that upset about II"
Ten days later the next-door neigh
Dor returned the call.
"Pm so mad" snapped Mrs. XIII
caine in greeting. Luther never give
me a thing!"