Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-01-14

that reached from West 10th stree
to the Fifth avenue shop Of the De.
MARCOS Bros famous silk HOSIERY
chain.
The man violently broke that 81.
lence:
Felicia, darlingl Bet you a poin-
settia plant 1 won't be more than Is
minutes late at your apartment Have
the oysters In hot butter by $40, honey
child"
Dear, I WILL" promised the girl
and went swiftly back to the front
glass case where a customer waited.
Felicia whispered to herself, as she
fetched box Of mOon-dust chiffon
sheers for the gray-mustached buyer.
Mothers friend?" Had Marcia Hus-
ted deliberately brought this to pass?
Had the older woman somehow
learned that for four years her sacred
Christmas ewes with her son had been
cunningly Sandwiched between two
rapturous hours with his Felicia?
1t was possible. 1t was probable.
Or had Philip just made an excuse?
Had he tired Of these furtive joy
snatches? That was possible. And
probable.
Felicia got another box of stockings.
Her customer was fussy, Sun tan,
Cloud gray, Isles Of Dawn, Of Even
ing, Soul Of Smoked Pearl, Rose mist,
Day glow-The mans fingers caressed
the smart expensive colors. But his
eyes we're indecisive.
Fifth avenue was a hurrying white
way. At dawn, sudden storm had
rushed down from the north like 3
madly driven reindeer.
Under her umbrella Mrs. Marcia |
Hustled plodded pleasurably up the [
avenue. Life was good. The season !
was sweet. She had had her trials. (
Except one, they had gone like melt I
Ing snow. And the one exception might I
disappear. In four years, pretty girl I
surely becomes commonplace TO a
young man.
She saw that she was passing the
Oemargos Ave. shop. Her large, rather
kindly face became unkind Her we'll
yloved left hand frightened oddly on
the green-boxed pair Of pigskin gloves
which had been her loving extra
thought for her sons Yule.
The blue and silver lights of the
;hop were on full, against the hlan-
Ieted sky. Past small glittering blue
md silvery trees In the famous show
window, she saw Felicia at the front
ylaSs case.
AS always, hate stirred In the moth
RS soul. That dark-eyed girl had
.aused trouble between her and Philip.
But Marcia Hustled set her rather
uu lips close, with satisfaction. She
lad won't Again, this year, Philip would
pend Christmas eve with her, not with !
hat girl. Straight from his office he'd
ONE home-home to her arms and
Ter tall red candles and tasty dinner.
And why should he not be with his
Id mother on that night, to help her
o endure her memory Since his fire
nan father had died on another
christmas eve, leaving her Frustrated
1dow with a 12-year-old son to sup
ort and educate
She thought that Philip would not I
lind In the end. Felicia was pretty,
Ike q dark-eyed doll. Getting pretty {
Id, though. She must be "a. And In I
MS world IS many pretty dark girls I
5 blue and stlvery ornaments for trees.
A man may have only one mother.
o God decreed. But girls-oh, a hun c
red thousand. In the end, her son
light thank herl r
Beyond the blue and silver window,
elicia did not see Phil's mother In I
le hurrying outside throng. But her
ioughts were running parallel, while I
ie waited on the ay-mustached
Gould not Philip have wriggIed out d
this tooth-crowntng for his mothers Z
oman friends q
Had the older woman won? A mans
other has strange power over him
g has come from her womb. He is "
srt Of her.
Felicia felt weak IN the knees. Some
ing colder than SNOW lay on her u
al. To sit alone all this evening
aitingl v
Four ewes had been hard. She re- Ia
embered her naive pity that first K
ar when he explained why the night a
Is so intolerabie 10 his mother. That "
rs his first year in his own office Al
lttents we're not many. He had closed "a
rly and stopped at Felscla's small
.arsEn&zat, shared with two ether girls, a.
4 an husgr OF kisses and vows. ia