The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-03

feet. This, he told himself rather
drearily, wasn't Christmas. Why
as a kid, back home in Vermont, h,
had loved all the panoply of thu
season: the tree, smelling spicy ant
tantalizing; the carols in the snow
the candle-Nghted windows--every
thing about 1t. He had even CHI
smiled to think of 1t now liked II
tgo to church on Christmas day. Tn,
little old meeting house had had ;
special holiday odor, compounded
Of fir boughs and resin and wood
smoke. Well, no one he knew now
adays went to church. On Christ
mas they behaved much the same
as any other day Of the year. The,
had cocktails, told the same ole
jokes.
"It,s a deadly life. I hate It,
grumbled the young man to him.
self, shaving before the crystal
mirror in his nnodernistic dressing
room. And yet he knew, In his
heart Of hearts, that he would 60
on with 1t. There was nothing else
to do. Lila--bless her heart for an
angel and beauty!--was used to
this sort Of existence.
It'll bet those Weaver kids are
having fan," he told himself, with
a CLEAN of hun1or. II bet they've
got a toy tree with silver balls and
all the rest Of it." He liked Gypsy,
He thought her "a good sport
Tom seemed a nice chap, too. What
a game they had made of the little
supper at their house that Sunday
night! T. He had thoroughly enjoyed
himself. Lila hadn't, though. Fun
ny how women were about the So
cial racket. Now, he'd been brought
up very simply, himself. His
father had been the village doctor
and there had been no frills about
his boyhood. Lila was different.
real lace on the fingerbowl doilies.
she said afterward.s Not that she
but we must have them over
here.s she had decided. "They just
can't do any entertaining in that
surd to try" g.
Derek had opened his mouth to
protest but had stopped. Just in
time. He was learning things about
Lila. She hated to be disagreed
with. Not that she hadn't a won
derful disposition, said Derek. loyal
ly, but she was just spirited {.
imperious. Rather nervous, too,
these days. He rather thought she
smoked too much, though he didn't
like to suggest that.
He had worked himself into o
more cheerful frame of mind by
the time he'd finished shaving. A
glance out Of the high windows
assured him Of the fact that it was
showing again. Good enough! That,
at any rate, insured the Kris Krin-
gle touch. Derek slipped into his
waistcoat, whistling softly. This
time next year. maybe, they'd have
a child to celebrate Christmas with
thcE. Or IL not next Christmas,
why the following one, then. A pity
Lila wasn't more enthusiastic about
kids. But of course she would be-
all that would be changed when
I she'd had one of her own.
Lila was beautiful in the soft
brown fur. What lucky chap he
was to have her! He'd been a>fool
to think he could keep her all to
himself this afternoon. She was
far too lovely to stay hidden.
The party at Marko's was in full
swing when they arrived. Mar
ko had the entire top floor Of an
exclusive apartment hotel in the
east sixties. A man servant with
an impressive face let them in. He
was a new one. Derek had never
seen him before. The noise struck
him like a blow, when the door
swung inward. Noise of radio
music, of heightened human voices
of slipping feet. People were dane
ing. Mako had a crowd, as usual
No mere eight or ten persons in for
dinner would satisfy him. He
called 80 a small party.
Lila was in her element. She
called Greetings to half a dozen
people in the foyer as she passed
through. Derek felt a nervous
twitching in his cheek. Well, after
a drink or two he wouldn't mind
the racket 80 much. That was one
comfort.
/ His lost greeted him. Mario was
in high feather. He was bubbline
with gaiety. Had Derek seen the
tree? All, he hadn't? But he mus
lat once. Someone take Mr. Bliss
to the dining room. Lila, whispered
Mako in the younger mans ear
lhad chosen the decorations for him
lCharming! Everyone admired them
so.
Derek, in, the wake of a blond
youth he remembered seeing In
Marko's private office the week be.
fore, found the tree no familiar af-
fair OF laden fir boughs and tinsel,
hut an artificial one, a modernIstic
tree IN silver, all angles. Blue
stars appeared at intervals In its
ira vested branches. Dcrek stared
but there was no admiration In
his eyes. Was this Lila's idea OF q
lChristmas tree? Almost he shud-
dered, but remembered himself elm
time.
"Clever, isn't it?"
Ito recalled himself. and nodded
10 tho youth beside him.
Tho evening wore on. Dinner, y
many.eoursed affair, was served,
teyed with. ended. Derek noticed
plate after plate carried away un.
ftouched. Tho glnBhes were filled
and emptied. The red roses dropped
IN their silver vases. Down the
table, Lila CLEANED ilko 10 pearl.
perek could hear her laughter
Well, Il wnB q good thing, he
thought gnyaeoIy. that ono OF them
via enjoying thu evening. The
wine only doopenod his depreahi0n.
Mario was taking tllonl oil 70 u
Fevlie. oliA OF Me nnyeHt. Thnl Do
feh and iAia had hNdn Il mare than
OnGc. rui iifnn fIuna. III fnHf.mdid not