The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-04-01
Anne's
Anniversary
By JOSEPH PETERS
G Associated Newspapers.
WNU Service.

p!Idi ule very nfSt thing she did
when she entered the living-room
was to tear off the little daily sheet
calendar which hung above the
spinet desk.
The few days in the hospital had
passed uneventfully save that the
holes where her tonsils had once
been burned occasionally until the
nurse put an aspirin tablet on the
back of her tongue. Thursday, Mon
day, Sunday-they were all one in
the hospital. Quiet, soft-voiced
nurses coming into her room now
and again with a dish of cracked
ice, milk, thermometers-Anne Jen-
klns had enjoyed the few days bet
ter than vacation. A day or two
would have been sufficient, but as
long as Harry was to be out of town
anyhow he had urged her to stay
there rather than come home to the
lonely apartment.
With her hand yet appraised Anne
started. Thursday the fourteenth!
Their wedding anniversary! Why,
she had completely forgotten it. She
had intended to return home sooner,
but telegram from Harry had adj
vlsed her to remain away from
home little longer
This morning on the way home
he had not mentioned anything
about its being their anniversary
day. Perhaps he was planning
some lovely surprise, she thought
with a joy that was almost little
girl in fairy tale-like in its glee.
Yes, that must be it! Well, Harry
shouldn't be the only one planning
surprises!
Anne flew about the house, tele-
phoning for a chicken, hunting up
the long satin ribbons she had saved
from the wedding decorations for
! just such days as these, hunting
through the radio programs for the
evening to see what would be most
appropriate to have playing when
Harry came home at six o'clock.
Although it was strictly against
the rules of the building to keep a
dog in the house overnight, Just be-
fore six o'clock Anne went to the
garage down the alley and brought
back Cop, Harry's police dog.
In the center of the dining table,
where Harry could anticipate it,
Anne set huge butterscotch cake.
The chicken was dropped into the
frying fat, the potatoes were
mashed and whipped to a creamy
foam when she heard Harry.
She leaped to the door expectant-
ly.
Hello, old grill" he greeted her.
"Well, Cop-all dressed up, aren't
you? In honor of the return of the
missus, eh."
Anne stiffened. In homer of the
return of the missus! Harry pulled
the dogs ears, started for the living
room and then stopped. I'D better
take the cur back to the garage, Ell,
Anne?" he said. Its raining now
and coming heavier every minute.
After dinner l won't feel like trek
king down there with him."
IL thought we'd let him stay
up here all night" Anne said. "Just
because it's" She bit her lip.
1t came to her now that Harry
must have forgotten the anniver-
sary. Well, he could forget if he
wanted to She'd bite out her
tongue before she'd mention it to
him, she decided.
"Yeh and maybe lose the fiat!"
he jibed. You're fine dog, OF
pup, but it's back to the fivver
house for you'll"
She heard him whistling as he
went down the slippery alley. Hast
lily she tore down the satin ribbons
that had decorated the dining-room.
Tears of self-pity welled unbidden to
her eyes. The neglected wife, the
forgotten anniversary - oh, the
whole business unrolled itself before
her eyes like bolt of ribbon.
Whistling, Harry came upstairs
again, washed his hands and came
dripping out of the bathroom.
81 don't dare use a company
towel, even if it is the first night
you're home" he said cheerfully.
AS he spoke he pulled open the
towel drawer into which Anne had
stuffed the satin ribbons. "Eh?
What's all the ribbon for? Looks
like wedding" he muttered, dig
ging deeper for an everyday towel.
1t was too much! Even then he
did not remember, Anne saw. Drop
ping into the nearest chair, her head
on her arms, Anne wept.
well, for the love Of" began
Harry. "Whassa matter, honey
girl?"
'You never remembered our we'd
ding day!" she stormed, forgetful of
her self-made promise to bite out
her tongue before she would men
ton the anniversary to him.
"Well, why celebrate it a day
early?" he asked mildly. "This is
Wednesday, the thirteenth, my bril-
liant, college-trained wife!"
cts the fourteenth" she wept.
$50 be it, then" he agreed, reach
ing into his pocket for a jewel-case,
which he handed to her. "Hey!
George!" he yelled at the janitor
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