The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-26
SIXTEEN

the avenue very still about them.
She half expected to hear the an
gels sing.
Like it?" Bill said.
Eyes" She couldn't say any more
about it. She'd say something silly
or irrelevant to cover up what n
was feeling. Later she could tell
Mark about it. She might nave been
able later to talk to Bill about it,
If things were different. To Nicky,
never.
Bill tucked her arm under his left
one. Ellen was at his right. Taxi"
he whistled.
Fabienne said, Twill you come
back with me? 1t isn't very Christ
masy, but III have supper sent up"
A cab pulled up beside the curb.
Lets go back to my place. It's
a mess, but there's a tree to trim,"
Ellen urged.
Fabienne found herself in the cab
in spite of her protests that were
not exactly feeble. In the mood she
was in, she definitely did not want
to go back with Bill and Ellen. But
they would not listen to her pro-
tests.
The tree was a small one, but 1t
took an inordinate amount of con-
sideration to find the proper place
to put it. The big table wouldn't
do. Nor would the small one. What
about the wide window ledge? No,
it was better on the small table.
They tied silver and gold balls on
it, hung candy canes and popcorn
balls. They tied red ribbons on the
green wreaths and lighted candles
in the window.
Ellen made coffee and something
with chicken and cream in a chat
ing dish. Bill got out his pipe and
for a little while Fabienne forgot
that Bill was Ellen's Bill.
At three o'clock, Fabienne said,
Good heavens, is it as late as that?
This has been a wonderful Christ
mas Eve. 1 had no idea. 80"
I'll take you home" Bill said.
He kissed Ellen. Fabienne had
turned away and SO she only knew
that he had kissed her. She did not
know it was not a lovers kiss. Mice
work, Ellen" he said.
The stars were gone when they
came out into the street and a light
snow was filtering from the skies,
powdery and dry and somehow
warm.
Hope we can get a cab. Don't
seem to be any around" Bill said,
turning up the collar of Fabienne's
coat.
Gould you stand a walk?"
81 could" he said promptly.
"What about you? You've had a
long day"
So she had, and a long, long walk
before. But she felt NO fatigue.
Years seemed to have passed since
the early evening and she was re-
freshed, light. Her feet had wings
on them. I'D prefer to walk" she
told him.
They were silent for a little time,
walking with matching footsteps on
the clean white sidewalks in the still,
white night.
"Tell me what you were going to
do before the bad news came" Bill
said.
Nothing important" 1t didn't
seem a bit important then. If she
had told him how disappointed she
was because she was not going to
the Christmas ball at the Hunt club,
she wouldn't have done it well, be-
cause now she couldn't remember
why she had been disappointed. II
would have done what I've always
done. Given and exchanged pres
ents. Gone to parties"
"And they're no longer impor.
tant?" he asked, not converse.
tionally, but az if her answer
meant something important to him.
Sat the moment they seem too
remote to consider their value. But
you, Bill? What do you usually do
on Christmas Day." That was i'm.
portant to her.
drop in at the hospital. Wait
for calls"
"It sounds dreary."
IT thought it might - to you. ]
find it pretty interesting"
"Of course" she said contritely
"But I thought oh, Christmas
one likes to spend with people one
loves"
Does one?" he said, smiling at
her, amused.
She said, "I'd like a cigaret ii
you've got one.".
"Sorry, I haven't. You smoke toe
much anyway"
If anyone else had said that tt
her, she'd have given him a COO
look and mentioned politely thai
that was her business. But because
Bill said it, she felt a small glow
He had noticed her. He was giving
her orders. Not professional orders
but nice friendly ones, as if he fel
a right to give them.
She said, IT prefer a pipe. Blu
1t takes a strong, silent man to gel
away with it. Are you a strong, 81
lent man, Bill?"
He shook his head. II zap all thu
time, am afraid of mice, blondes ant
efficient nurses. Do I disappoin
you?"
eyes," she said, you do"
He said, IT do, huh?"
II wish you had an Adams apple
two feet less of height and a voic'