The Washington times., 1937-12-16

always being shy with a man
around. She smiled up at him.
If you're Grams Bill, you're GER
tainly very much wanted"
The man smiled back. Ihat S
the way it ought to be on CHRIST
mas" He KEEP looking at her;
made no move to 60 on down the
hall.
I've never had a home since I
was a little shaver and holidays
always give me the doletuls down
inside. This morning was plenty
like that. but -"
A cane was being banged and
banged hard on the livlngroom
floor. Carol pulled her brown
eyes away from those clear, hon,
est-looking blue ones. Il guess
Gran wants ompany. she
brought out.
Gran proceeded to have very
good company indeed. Her big
visitor said nothing about having
to go in just a minute. Instead,
he settled down and began being
funny about floundering around
a big lonesome city on Christmas
Day.
Carol actually began to find
Christmas in a big, lonesome city
funny, too. At least, they both
laughed about it. And Gran
chuckled away in cozy content.
She not only chuckled, but she
sampled. She sampled the cakes
and the cookies and the candies
in the great box he'd brought her.
She passed the box to Bill and he
passed it to Carol and everybody
was soon sampling.
Later Granny decided she'd en-
ioy a cup o. tea. Carol went out
into the kitchen to heat the water.
Bib Bill followed at her heels, in
sisting that the Christmas spirit
impelled him to help.
Gran hobbled out after both OF
them and decided to help, too.
The water was spilled and the
cream was spilled and the cream
was spilled, but the whole upset
ting business seemed only to fur.
nish background for the gayest
of tea hours.
The last cup, washed and dried
half dozen times over. was fl.
nally hung on its hook. The last
saucer, its pattern almost polished
away, was finally placed in the
closet.
BEST tea I ever drank" COM
mented Bill.
GAY PARTY
Slowly Carol unpinned the
apron she'd put around him. She'd
just have to offer to go home now,
as she should have offered long
ago.
With Gran so gayly perked up
by her boy who obviously wasn't
taking an afternoon train, there
really wasn't any reason for a
stranger to
"I'll have to be running along
home" She had managed to keep
her voice light when all the rest
of her had turned leaden.
ooh, come now" At the dismaV
in the mans voice, her spirits shot
up like an express elevator. You
wouldn't break up this happy
home life, would you?
Not on a Christmas afternoon.
Come on, Gran needs us for-I
know for what. Still crazy about
checkers, Gran? We're giving you
a game right now"
Carol had never played checkers.
but that seemed to make no differ
ence. Bill hovered above her,
Steadying her hand over the red
disk while he explained or failed
to explain.
1t didn't matter much whether
she moved those red checkers or
just listened to his nonsense, since
it developed that Gran played her
own game which meant moving
both reds and blacks to suit her
self.
The old, old Ia dy sat there
chuckling over her kings and over
Bills jokes and over merry Christ.
mas in general until at last she
began to nod contentedly above
the board.
The other two dropped their
voices. You know" began the
man, straightway turning Sc.
rious, "I've never had much to do
with girls. Somehow never wanted
to.
Maybe it was because such as
I've seen couldn't hold a candle
to you. It's queer how I feel as
if we'd always been close-when ]
don't even know your name, I'd
like to-"
Carol Curtis. I'd like to know
yours, too"
Bill Holiday" Suddenly he
laughed. but this time instead OF
a jolly boom it was a low and in
innate and tender sound. You're
Carol and I'm Holiday. What a
combination for Christmas!
No wonder we get on so. Carol
Holiday! Say, after Aunt EN- gets
back, how about you and me step
ping out for the EVENING""
"But-your train?"
"Um-m-m. I've decided I'm not
just ready to go. I haven't take.
a vacation for five years. The
company sure owes me one. and