The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18
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eashful and yet three days had passed since he had made up his mind to propose to Helen James, and he hadn't even intimated to her the fact that he was smit- ten. He had met her at a dance the Monday before Christmas, played cards with her Tuesday, skated with her Wednesday, danc- ed again with her Thursday. Then came the Christmas Eve dance, when he had fully intended to tell her he loved her, and the dance was over and he hadn't even be- gun his preliminaries.
 Two days after Christmas Rod- Eeys vacation would be over and he would be on his way back to the big city hundreds of miles away
 It took some maneuvers For Rod ney to get a chance on Christmas morning to telephone to Helen when he would not be overheard by any of his numerous cousins, whost mother he was visiting T am leaving the 27th," Rodney told Helen hurriedly. T really must see you again before I go. My aunt has made plans for tomor- how morning and afternoon. May I come in the evening""
 "I'd love to have you" Helen answered quite impersonally but you see we are giving the big party out in Babylon that night. I'd love to have you come if you think you'd care to. So perhaps you'd better drive over here and trail us out there.'
 Helen, heavily swathed in furs met Rodney at the door next even- ing. She shook hands hurriedly and pointed to two hampers stand ing in the hall and asked him if he could take them in his car. There are two baskets of dishes i'll the dining room you can take besides, if you have room. We arc all ready to start"
 Rodney could see two cars ahead Of him and he could vaguely dis tinguish the figures of MT. and Mrs. Johns and others whom he took to be be maids from the Johns household, also Helens younger sister and brother, all carrying baskets or hampers as they piled into the cars.
 Finally when the cars ahead stopped at the end of a frozen dirt road in bleak stretch of farmland, Rodney saw what seem ed to be a small schoolhouse with yellow lights streaming through small windows. Bewildered Rod ney got from his car and seeing that the Johnses were carrying their baskets and hampers into the schoolhouse he proceeded to car ry his cargo in also.
 Now please get the battery out of your car," Helen told Rodney as she slipped out of her furs, revealing a simple little sports frock underneath Our chauffeur will help you if you don't know how. He's out taking them out of our cars. We need them for the Christmas tree lights. Candles are so dangerous"
 50 this is Babylon" he said to Helen as he returned and laid the heavy battery at Helens side as she directed.
 Helen laughed. Didn't you know about Babylon?" she asked surprised Babylon is fathers pet diversion. You see, all there is to Babylon is this one-horse district school-and about twenty five scattered farm houses-poor struggling people who used to try to get up some sort of Christmas entertainment for their children here. Somehow father heard of lL-anQ TOT i've years now we have been giving the Christmas party for them'
 It was midnight when the lights were finally turned out in the little Babylon schoolhouse and Rod rey had got his battery back into lis car, and waved farewell to the Y~lx c. H. | trail them back to town again. And then as he took his place before the wheel he noticed that Helen was at his side.
 T want to drive back with you," she said. T want to tell you how wonderful you have been. You worked harder than all the rest of us put together. It is the first