The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-02

The trouble was, Tom Weaver
wanted none Of these. He wandered
along, with his coat collar UP, star
Ing and puzzling about what to get
Gyspy. She should have Che
thought) that delicious sIlvery
squirrel coat in the corner shop.
She should have "a glittering string
Of real preals 10 adorn her pretty
throat. And he groaned to himself
for Q stupid fool because he could
not buy her these things. For there
was the rent to be thought Of. and
the monthly bills. and the first of
January staring you in the face.
Christmas oh. 1t would be a
glorious thing II man could go
out with his hand In his pocket
and buy what he saw--this and
this and this--without ever asking
the cost or counting II afterward!
Only the trouble was. some OF us
have to consider the landlord and
the grocer and the tailor. Wed
love to make grand gesture. Tom
told himself. only we're worms and
wage slaves and we haven't brains
enough TO corral enough money to
do II.
He was disconnected. Christmas
ought to be a time to make folks
happy. but II didn't affect Tom that
way. When he had been younger
and the sum OF happiness had been
bound up in a pair of skates or n
train of cars or boot with a Boy
Scout knife thrown In, then life
had been simpler. Now he was
grown, he had a young and lovely
wife, and he was too poor to get
her the sort OF gift her youth and
beauty deserved.
So he trudged along, staring
modify into first this window and
then that one. Christmas was only
four days away and still he had
nothing for Gyspy. Ten dollars
Internationally was the very
most be could spend. He felt cheap
and mean. He considered perfume,
but the bottle he wanted was too
small. He went into shop after
shop, getting. in his male fashion,
more and more depressed and be-
wildered Women--it was funny.
---sAemed 10 love the business of
shopping. They eibowed and push
ed and reached around other peo-
pies shoulders. snatching ''spe-
ciaiS' from the bargain counters.
OF scent-mimosa 1T was--and
book she had been wanting and
pair OF gloves, long. sleek, white
ones. Christmas morning he would
add roses and her favorfte candy.
But he was still dissa tisfied. His
mood OF announcement hung over
him. 1t was half day ut the office.
lie had nothing further to do and
Gyspy herself was shopping. But
he was not conscious Of the Christ
mas spirit. He was Disguised with
himself for not being "A captain OF
finance--Ilke Mako Brou4fton.
Meantime, GYPSY went briskly
about her purchasing. She had
things for NUNS and Daddy and
the twins. She had resplendent
rose crepe kimona for Clytie. But
Tom? He was last on her Hist, be-
cause closest and best beloved. He
needed--oh. everything. Socks and
ties and shirts and gloves. But what
prosaic things, though Gypsy. hui.
morously. 10 put on the altar of
the loved one.
What she wanted, really. was to
buy him one of those wafer-thin
platinum watches. He carried his
fathers heavy old one and 1t stuck
when you tried TO open 1t. She
wanted to buy him an opulent blue
satin dressing gown. 80 that he
might look like Il second-act hero.
fjhe wanted to buy him top hat.
because he would look 30 well In
one. and Derek Bliss owned one.
But how?
After u while she got dreadfully
tired. During the curly part Of the
afternoon the crowds had given her
sense of mild exhllaration. But
now that feeling had dwindled and
she was conscious mainly Of an