The Washington times., 1937-12-16

giving instead OF CnIlSILldS' oIlC
could manage to work up a bit OF
spirit for the occasion.
She could be thankful that She
had a salary at least steady IN ap-
pearance even if only stenographlc
in size: thankful that mild. share
the.profits bonus had bought the
good-looking outfit in that closet
even if there was never any occa-
sion demanding good looks;
thankful that she hadn't yet Mt
thirty and was nice TO look at'
even though nobody ever really
looked: thankful-Wen, that her
maiden landlady in the apartment
next door liked her well enough
to issue a Thanksgiving supper IN
vitation. even though it turned out
to mean colored Katy hadn t
showed up and somebody was
wanted to stay with Granny;
thankful-oh, well-that there
was something for even a shy, un-
pushing person to see or do in a
big city. even if only a Broadway
balloon parade from behind other
folks backs ..
LONELY GIRL
Yes, a body could manage to be
reasonably thankful. But merry!
No, that was too much to expect
much too much . Carol tumoIed
down on the Soueaky cot.
Christmas! If only she could
sleep right through it-but that
would probably be a long ana
lonely nightmare!
At 3 O'Clock the next afternoon
Carol, all dressed up and certainly
with no place to go, once more
stood in the center of the small
room. Movies? A walk?
She lust wouldn't wouldn't turn
into a weeping woman. Better get
right out. Anywhere. She tipped
the small brown bonus hat over a
big brown eye and started.
AS she passed the next apart
ment on her way to the elevator,
she saw her landlady tldgetlng IN
the open doorway.
"Hows Granny this morning."
asked Carol just to make sure she
wouldn't be talking entirely TO
herself all day.
"Fretting." Miss Emily Jones
sighed as the elevator went on up
without stopping. Il was sure
that would be Katy coming. I'm
all ready to go and-oh, yes, you
asked about Granny.
my SiSter-she's bee deao
many a year-well, her boy was
here from California on business
and he said he'd drop in before
starting back on that afternoon
train-such heathenish way TO
spend the day, say 1.
But he didn't come and Gran
was that disappointed d She
wouldn't eat her dinner. And now
TN miss afternoon service with
nobody to stay with her because
it certainly looks as if that Katys
not coming =" Again Miss
Jones sighed and looked at her
watch.
Carol had a sudden idea. Why
not lust forget about herself and
help somebody else to what she
wanted Christmas Day. III stay
with Granny while you're at
church." she volunteered.
Miss Jones looked pleased, then
doubtful. Grams fretting," she
repeated obviously. Il don't know
as I ought to let you bother again
especially Christmas Day"
"That's all right. Get your nat
and run along"
GOOD DEED
Miss Jones became suddenly
cheerful. Il must say that's real
kind. I'll make it up to YOU I've
been thinking about having your
mattress Resulted some day and
declare III do it next week.
"I'd better hurry now-if you're
sure you don't mind. If Gran getS
too fretty, maybe you'd better 1lS
her a cup of tea" She graooeo
hat. gloves, bag, and departed. :,
Granny couldn't hear extra wei;
and couldn't see extra well anc
couldn't walk extra well. And IN
addition to these miserles, her ooS
hadn't come to say good-oy ano
she was indeed fretty. NO. sne
didn't want tea.
,. No, she didn't want the paper
read. She wanted to see her boy
again before he went back to thai
wild California where ne was sc
busy building roads over big noun
tains that he didn't have time u
come see his Granny.
There was never boy like Bill
understand. Always the smarteSt
always the best hearted, always X
be depended on-except this once
when he didn't come to say good
by. Always one to give an olc
body laugh, too.
And didn't he send his Cram!
$50 every month, and he only 3.
and steady as-but he hadn t COM
to tell her good.by and so tn
Christmas dinner didn't taste goot
and she wanted to see her Bill ant
never was there such a boy and &.
Carol tried to be comforting il
such moments as Gran stoppet
for/breath but yelling coincidence
proved taxing and not particular;
helpful at that.
The ringing of the door bell wa
a more than welcome interruption
Maybe black Katy could do bette
by Gran. Carol hustled down tn
dark hall to open the door.
BILL ARRIVES
"Hello there, Aunt EN-" boone,
a big, friendly voice. How
TRAMP Tim nlentv sorry 7 coI1dn