The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-27
SEVENTEEN

clear. AT noon, when rdUleIlIle ooy
mour awoke, the sun had melted the
nights snow and splashed in broae
golden beams into the bedroom where
she lay.
In the first few moments OF wax
ing it seemed like any other day
Then her eye fell on the unopened
packages in their bright Wrapplngs
and she realized that. it was Christ
mas and she was all alone. Be
cause she had never before been
sorry for herself, she did not rec
ognize the emotion that anne over
her.
Scampering across the floor to
gather up those parcels and bring
she had little interest for what she
was doing. Even the sight Of the
handsome gifts - frocks from Ger
trude in Paris, gloves and lingerie
from the same source with the twins
names childishly scrawled on cards
from Switzerland, a brocade evening
bag from Dick, and a litter of small
gifts from friends in New York -
could not lift her from her depres.
sion.
She ordered breakfast and
dressed hastily, trying on the
frocks. One was a lovely thing, a
roth of tulle the same pale gold
as her hair. She was taking it off
49, 49, ta1o4Lo~e ror~ tLo fret
time.
Darling, it's Camilla" the voice
said. "Whatever are you doing in
New York; -, and without wait
at midnight mass and I took a chance
on calling you. We're having
a small party tonight. I want you
to come in"
Fabienne looked at the golden
gown and her spirits went up. I'D
love to-" she said promptly.
DO you want to come alone? Or
will 1 have Ken Hemingway call for
your
"Ill come alone" Fabienne said.
The party wasn't until late evening
and the whole blank day stretched
ahead Of her, but now it didn't seem
interminable.
The telephone rang again. It was
ner.
Fabienne hesitated, thought of
the things she wanted to remember
from the night before, and declined
with thanks. It would be better to
be alone.
But what does a girl do when she
is all alone on Christmas day?
Fabienne dressed in her smartest
suit, slipped a silver fox cape over
it, tilted a dashing hat over her
brow, pinned on the corsage that
Uncle Mark had wired to her, and
ordered her car.
She was going to Willoughby
house.
She parked the car a block away
and let herself in the big front door,
Contrary to what she had expected,
no voices echoed through the halls
There was only Miss Porter there
and two very old men, who dozed in
the reading o
All the world stayed at home On
Christmas Day.
Fabienne went up to the office
where she had left her work. Work
was a panacea for loneliness.
She took off her hat and threw
it on a chair with her fur cape. Then
she sat down at her desk and took
a folder Of papers from the drawer.
The letter from Anita Cheeseborough,
which announced that she planned
a gift Of fifteen hundred dollars to
the settlement house, lay on top OF
nj the rest.
Fabienne put it aside. Ellen had
told her that it's use would rest in
Fabienne's hands. She had plenty
of time today to consider it and she
meant to.
Hello, Miss SEYMOUR
Surprised, Fabienne looked up tt
see little Rose Riccio standing ir
the ofr1ce doorway.
Hello, Rose. Merry Christmas
And what are you doing here to
day."
Roses eyes were trimmed with
red. 1.-THE old mans raising hell, 81
I got out" she said with simple
candor.
"oh!" Shocked, Fabienne wa.
unable to offer any comfort.
$50 if there's anything I can d.
to helr you, I'd be glad to. 1 aim
got anything else to do"
Acting on impulse, Fabienne
said, you can keep me company
Rose. Have o had your Christ.
ma dinner?"
Fose gave her an eloquent glance
and shook her head.
Would you like to have it will
me?"
"But-but-" Rose turned brieh.
pink with pleasure.
Come on, Rose. Get your hat
Well go to a movie and then wei
have a real dinner with turkey ant
plum pudding and and con.
versation."
The movie and the dinner, hand
somely served in Fabienne's apart.
ment, were a great success. Con
versation was not so easily
achieved, however. Rose, in the
presence Of unfamiliar surroundings
was stricken dumb with admiration