Glacier County chief., 1939-12-22


tana State university, recently gave
his first recital before an enthusiastic
university audience. Wendt is a gradu-
ate of the Eastman School of Music,
Rochester, N. Y, and also studied at
the famous Julliard school in New
York city.
will be in a few hours This seems a
logical time" she hesitated. I'm
sorry I broke the she'll always loved
80 did l." said Arthur. do you
suppose we could have it mended?''
course" Clarissa nodded, but the sea
sound would be gone. 1t wouldn't be
enchanted any more"
NO" agreed Arthur. He rose from
the floor and walked over to the table
and deposited his fragments in "a
heap: After moment Clarissa fol-
lowed suit.
There was a moment of silence. ST.
lence that was so heavy it ached. Clar-
issa tried frantically to make CONVEX
sation.
Then it was you who started the
fire.. she said, and it's your coat
hanging in the closet?"
YES" nodded Arthur, Its my coat"
Clarissa told him, Il was kidding
myself that it was something we'd
overlooked-years ago"
II don't think" said Arthur SOM
berly, that we overlooked anything,
cessful. Clarissa."
"Tolerably," nodded Clarissa. And
yes" Arthur told her. He said. ut
was your car by the gate? 1 Won
dered'
Il got here just a few moments ago."
Clarissa admitted. It's my car
Nice job" said Arthur. I'VE came
down by train"
1t was the I'VE" that brought Clar-
issa UP sharp. We! She stared at Ar
thur His face was older than even
the ten years should have made it
there were deep lines etched on either
side of his mouth, and the wrinkles
around his eyes hadn't been caused by
laughter, and his thick hair was
powdered with gray. We" she said
quietly. II wish you hadn't brought her
down here, Arthur-not for the holi-
day; And I wish you wouldn't call her
Buttonface."
Arthur said, What the" and then
all at once he smiled. Il didn't dream
it would matter" he said. ito you.
Having me bring someone down here
having me call someone Buttonface"
Arthur went on. And besides" he
told Clarissa, there's that fellow
that Billy Ellsworth. Dan Walker said
last week that you and he were" He
broke Off
Clarissa took up the litany 1t
amounted to that. almost. "Billys a
lamb" she murmured. Il considered"
this was stark lie-"bringing him
with me"
Arthur was glaring at her. I've seen
Ellsworth around town. he said. He'd
be a gigolo if he weren't rich. After
all, Clarissa-well, I can't understand
you. You used to be so sensitive
"Sensitive?" queried Clarissa.
think that you'd even consider bring
ing chap like Ellsworth down here,
to our house. makes me see red. After
all, some things are sacred"
Torn between laughter and tears
and with the tears apt to come in first,
Clarissa stared at the man who had
once been her husband.
You're a fine one to talk about
things being sacred" she told him. Il
resisted that impulse-you didn't. Here
this house has been empty for ten
years and the first time come home
Tor Christmas you're here ahead of
me with"
Wait a minute" interrupted Art.
You called it home"
holly. why shouldn't I? I've lived in
apartments on Park avenue and apart
ments on Lakeshore Drive, I've lived
in all the best hotels but they've never
been ANYTHING but-well, just places
to live. This has always been home to
me- me-, and I've always hoped to come
Me. too" said Arthur. He moved
closer to her, and Clarissa backed
away. I'VE used to have good times
here he said, didn't we? Christmas
mornings, especially. You always made
buckWheat cakes and sausages, Christ
buckwheat cakes, Clarissa.''
g! could make them for two"
choked Clarissa, "but I'm darned if I
could make them for threel" All at
once the tears were splitting over.
Where is this girl friend of yours
1 tnat you were expecting to find in the
us?"
Arthur said strangely-"It might be
at that. She's probably upstairs, asleep
Inc trip down was pretty firing. Those
e @ay t eoW sbe are fierce-stopping at
Clarissa sputtered through the tears
You should have given me ring. I'd
nave been glad to run you down in nv
car Aleep upstairs. you say9 In our
DeQrOOm?' 90 % 81.
Arthur said. II wouldn't know. I left
her poking around and she may be
anywhere" He said, Come along and
well find her"
They went upstairs together, Arthur
slightly in the lead. For some reason
they ttptoed. They crossed the square
with welcome" worked into 1t in red
and green. The door to the bedroom