Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-05-06
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

White OF HerN page. DIG WV"
writing since lunch time and now
it was late afternoon.
1t was February and twilight
came early.
A soft ball Of snow struck the
window beside her and she looked
UP, a slight frown on her brow. She
had hoped to finish the short story
she was working on and get it In
the evening mail. It was her first
Offering to a magazine. Phil had
urged her not to try short stories
for while, but Phil did not under
stand her inpatience. She could
make as much for a short story in
a magazine as she was getting
from some Of her syndicates for an
entire novel.
Another ball Of snow dissolved
against the window pane and she
heard the tinkle Of Jessica's laugh
ter.
She went to the window.
Jessica, dissolved in laughter,
was making a show Of pulling her
father on a sled. It was Phil who
had thrown the snowballs.
'"Time to call a haiti" he shouted
at her. "It's Sunday, Nell"
She went back to her desk.
After a few minutes Phil came
to the door. There was ruddy color
in his cheeks and he had gained a
little weight. "You look like a
country SQUIRE" she told him.
tits after five," he said hest
family. "You know we promised
the Holbrooks we'd go over for
cocktail before supper. IF we get
there at seven, we won't be back
here before our company comes"
Eleanor's brows were knit over
a paragraph that bothered her.
why don't you go along, Phil? I
won't be finished for another hour.
You can send one of the Holbrook
boys back in the car for me-"
The car. Yes, the Parishes had
q car. 1T would be nice if we
could pick up little secondhand
car, Nell. You wouldn't have to
walk mile to the village for your
marketing. Also, you might meet
my train"
Like a good little suburban
wife," she had leased him, and
said no more about it.
But, on Christmas morning, she'd
led him to what had been an empty
garage attached to the house.
There the car stood. A shining lit
tie coupe with a great card tied to
the wheel. It said: "From Nom
mie and Jessica to Daddy"
At first the old expression had
come into Phil's face, but it had
faded as Eleanor pointed out the
features Of the car.
Phil had bought her q violet
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
JESSICA SLID down the BAN
mister and landed in her fathers
arms. . She put a finger to her
mouth. "Sshh!" she cautioned,
"Mommie's asleep. We're going to
have our supper in the kitchen"
How was the party?" he asked
In a stage whisper.
'It was a pretty good haul. An
ME says" the five-year-old in
formed him.
The living room was Uttered
with bits Of tissue paper and pieces
Of blue and pink satin ribbons.
Rouge-tipped cigarets filled the ash
trays beside empty bon-bon dishes.
"Sure it wasn't a hurricane that
struck here?" Phil asked his
daughter.
'.Wait until you see the dining
roonn." she said wisely. Daddy,
Mommie told Annie to leave the
table for you to see. It, was Won
derful. I had three pieces Of ice
cream"
The dining room table was COW
cred with a white lace cloth and
decorated with centerpiece Of
flowers from which PAPER mache
stork rose.
1T must have been some party"
he said.
1T was wonderful, daddy. Nom
mic got so many presents. You
could hear them talking mile
away" 3.
Her father smiled. 81
Everybody had good times4
Even Morlmie."
Phil gave his daughter a startled
glance. Her perception often
amazed him. -
did I have stork shower be-
for was born. Daddy?"
Phil remembered those days in
the apartment on Blame street. He
remembered Eleanor's persistent
attitude that Jessica's arrival was
merely a biological business which
called for no undue excitement.
"Sure," he said, knowing that small
girls attach much Importance to
such matters.
''Was I a pretty baby? Were
you glad to have me 2"
Beautiful" he said, believing it
to be true. "And your mother said
that you were going to grow up |
and marry the Prince Of Wales"
Il don't want to, Daddy. want
to marry newspapernan."
God forbidw he said piously.
why are you newspaperman,
Daddy?"
$50 that can take care OF my
little girl" he answered. Immedi- |
ately he. could not. meet her wide
eyes. What he had said was not
strictly true. It was Eleanor's
money that paid for the nurse
maid that took her to the school