The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-12
A PATH TAPARADISE|
 -ty CaAiss.y N-W DAWSON
DAWSON

the weekend with Santas parents on Cape Cod.
 We've too much to think about Give dismissed the invitation. 1 In the taxi, racing uptown, San- "a thrust her friendly arm through his.
 Its a bit horrid to land back into so much uncertainty. But heaps of glorious things lie ahead. I'm sure" r He wasn't. She seemed to him another Nelson, raising the tele- telescope to her wilfully blind eye. Nevertheless, her confidence was re-asserting. She had the knack of reducing his mountains to mole thilIs.
 She continued to talk, making sunny remarks He responded had pal scant attention. The con- trol c. his life was slipping from him. All kinds of insidious n- fluences were reviving. He must put up a fight before the memory of their recent equality quit escaped her. While he was decid- ing how to tackle her the perched greenness of Central Park grew up A few minutes later the taxi iwas halting.
 AS they gazed across the thresh- old of their apartment he recalled how his parting wish had been that it and all that it contained might burn during their absence. Hand-in- they made a tour of inspection. Save for dust that had gathered, everything was pre- clsely as they had left it. With lout warning, Santa swung round and hugged him. Its, good to be home."' i He recognized the familiar in- tonation; she was expecting him to be grateful That had been all right once But since then they had spoken frankly; she knew how he detested the home of her providing.
 Were back-if that's what you mean" he grinned "The dreams ended"
 But, old down = in-the- dumps ' she flashed, dreams begin again"
 Do we sleep here? What are our plans" he asked abruptly.
 Cues so" She patted her hair. Won't take long to make a bed. We'll have heaps of fun camping. Monday I'll engage a maid and we'll settle properly" | So that was the program! It was news to. him. He wished he'd discussed with her their future on the voyage. The strong thing to do would be to brush aside her pretenses-to treat her with the lcold logic of lawyer interrogat- ing a witness. especial y that night in Paris-she'd been |genuinely conscience-stricken in re- calling the humiliation she'd caus- ed him by compelling him to live in uncongenial surroundings. All he had to do was to kick over the traces.
 But he couldn't be brutal. He was in love with her.
 Evening faded from gold to rose. from rose to twilight Suddenly she rejoined him. She'd changed from head to heel. In her evening wrap and low-cut gown she looked ir- Irresistible.
 Did it for you darling"
 He seized her small perfumed hands,
 Do you do everything for me. Santa?"
 Everything"
 "Is there anything you wouldn't do?"
 Nothing = provided it was for your good" She peeped up at him slyly.
 You wouldn't make me a bought-and-p -paid-for husband, by any chance, would you?"
 Couldn't,
 Then goodbye to all this" He bowed to the shrouded furniture. I"We'll continue our honeymoon. j
 70, goodie!" She snuggled up against him.
 He was in a mood to celebrate to make gracious gesture. When she discovered that their destina- ton was the Angouleme, she pro- tested.
 "Too expensive"
 He couldn't tell her that he was spending money to convince him. self that he felt really sure of her Over French dishes and bootlegged wine that he ordered, reminis- cent of St. Jean de Luz, she re- preached him.
 You don't need to do all this for me, darling. I'm your wife not a chorus girl"
 Did you expect me to take you fn No{1<J,c o,, -~e