Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-04-07
Chapter 2S
DOES A PRINCESS EAT?

N chidS out of her mind. Marge
wore them often; any one of a num-
Der Of admirers might have sent them
to her. And, anyway, what IL Gar
did, she asked of herself. feeling
very tolerant and understanding.
Christmas occupied her time and
thot.
In a bureau drawer she had hid
den her gift for Gar. 1t was a cray
on sketch of a New York skyline.
Granite Mountains" Kitty had
thot when she first saw il, and the
rising peaks HAD made her think of
the Panther range at dusk. Gar
would think that, too.
She planned how Gar and she would
celebrate this, their first Christmas
together. They'd have a tree, of
course. They'd trim 1t and light 1t
Christmas Eve.
But Gar laughed when she said
they'd have a tree.
we won't be home long enough
to look at it, Kit. Marge is throw
ing a party Christmas Eve, at the
theatre-a sort of christening. And
motherll want us over at the house
on Christmas Day"
Kitty would not be ~dismayed. She
only smiled when Gar called her a
funny little kid.
Cars time was given over more
than ever to the Players. 1t was
necessary for him to go to these
last rehearsals, he explained to Kitty.
Every day he went over to the little
theater: there was always something
or other there 70 demand his atten-
ton. He talked endlessly of one
thing or another, the new drop cur
tain, the lighting effect, the little
coffee room next to the foyer, who
was good and who wasn't in the cast.
Wait until you see Marge! She's
perfect" He confided to Kitty hat
Somerset was a bum. But Marge
! was handling him properlyi And Kit
ty listened, believing she was really
interested because Gar was so in
terested.
Gar had been insisting that she buy
a new evening dress for herself.
Call it my Christmas present, If you
want to Kit" She'd consented, fin
ally, on that understanding. BUT
Car was too busy to go with her to
select it. She bought a filmy white
and silver thing.
Three days before Christmas she
ran into Dorcas in n of the stores
Dorcas' arms were full Of bundles. She
nodded down at her burden. These
are for my family. | always have a
party Christmas Eve. Wish you
could come
They'd talked only for a moment
for Dorcas was in a rush.
Kitty felt a moments envy for the
merriment they'd have in Dorcas'
room. David would be there Of course.
Well, she was glad David wouldn't
be alone.
And she'd have her tree. She'd
bought it; the %ianitor was going to
help her stand It in a corner of the
living room. She'd trim it before
Gar anne home. Shed have an es-
pecially nice supper and they'd eat
IN state. She'd put on the new dress
Car Christmas gift. And then
they'd light their tree
Snow fell steadily the day before
Christmas. AT dusk the city vas
covered with a soft blanket.
She trimmed the little tree, low
ingly, shifting at it's fragrance.
Her supper was ready except for
the switching on Of the oven heat.
She put on the new dress with
considerable excitement. Gar would
like 1t.
The telephone rang. Kit, Tn
down at the theater tied up in knots.
l just can't get away VIII you be
awfully lonesome if | don't get home
until late?"
but, Gar"
THE racket here won't start until
midnight. I'll dash up in time to get
dressed. Have my things ready, will
you? Looks like it was going to be
some Christmas, Kit"
Kitty put down the telephone. Her
lips quivered, tears brimmed in her
eyes. Christmas Eve! She turned
her back on the little tree and went
slowly into the bedroom. If Gar had
sounded more sorry that he was de-
tanned! He hadn't explained what
kept him. Unpleasant suspicious
leaped to her mind.
But she met them defiantly. OF
course something had come up; she
understood how they all turned to
Gar in any emergency, depended on
him. She was proud that they did!
Oh. she understood. She said aloud.
It's all right" 1t would be only a
matter of two hours or so and then
he'd come, he'd dress, they'd go out
to meet their Christmas gayly-
Those two hours or so" doomed
th~reateningly until a saving thot
came to her. Shed go to Dorcas'
apartment, surprise them all in their
merriment. They'd be glad to have
her come. She ordered a taxicab.
'92 Ketchum Street" She sat very
erect in IL, smiling in anticipation Of
bursting in upon them. Shed see
David.
She heard laughter as she entered
the old house. Dorcas' door stood
open flooding the narrow upper hall
with rosy light. Kitty stood in the
door for a moment before anyone
noticed her. With one swift sweep
ing glance her eyes took in the IA
miliar room, the familiar faces, the
little white haired man sitting in the
chair Of honor, the Christmas tree
%twinkling at the further end Of the
room, Dorcas ana Mrs. Gentle and
Mark in the alcove fussing over the
table laden with food, David, his
back to her, standing before the fire.
He turned as If some wordless
creating had rao.had hin, onrocu fha