Evening star., 1940-12-31


have wondered why vi excused her
self so abruptly and disappeared
into the washroom. But when she
came back a few minutes later he
couldn't tell there'd been tears IN
her eyes, or anything. All he could
tell was that she seemed even fuller
of excitement and pleasure over
Christmas than he was himself.
The Christmas present vi had
told Gale she'd got him was a
handsome blue velvet jacket with
ribbed silk lapels. When he put 1t
on and tied the belt in a necktie
knot, according to Wis directions,
he said he felt like royalty, at least
economic royalty.
"It won't seem right to put that
on to smoke cigarettes" vi laughed.
"You should take up expensive
cigars. Corona-Coronas or some
thing"
"You mean you didn't get me a
supply?" Gale said incredulously.
Plumb forgot all about it. But I
got you some tobacco for your pipe
and a carton of your favorite Gig
arettes."
"Aw. vi, yod shouldn't have done
all that"
vi pretended bashful confusion
1T wasn't anything, really"
Say, what about that dress I got
you?" Gale suddenly remembered.
How about letting me see it? Got
it here?"
vi cleared her throat nervously
I'm sorry, Gale" she said. THEY
they had to make some alterations
and they couldn't get it ready in
time for Christmas. I didn't think
you'd mind-I don't need it until
the 9th E"
oh" Gale said, sounding little
Debated. "Oh, no, that's perfectly
all right. I don't mind. How's it
going to be. though? DO you like
it real well?"
Il love it, Gale. It's really dar-
ling"
They went out for dinner a little
while later and they made it an
evening of gay celebration. Along
about 10:30, feeling warm and good
from the fine food and few drinks
they got into Gales little coupe and
drove out along the lake shore
where the wind was blowing a cold
white spray from the ridges of the
icy blue waves.
Christmas Is Quiet.
There was snow in the air like
powdered sugar and when it touched
the windshield it shivered down the
glass without sticking, it was so
cold and fine and dry. But it was
warm inside with the car heater,
and vi, with her legs wrapped in
woody blanket, rested her head
against Gales shoulder and smiled
Gale took her hand in his as they
rode and there didn't seem any need
for conversation.
A few minutes before midnight
they were passing a little church
and there was a crowd of people
on the stairs. Through the stained
glass windows they could see the
warm, glowy light of candles, and
with inspiration that came to them
both at the same time they stopped
and parked the car and joined the
group of worshipers.
There was a choir of young boys
and there was organ music and
there was a somber and beautiful
ceremony that went on at the altar
that made Christmas seem suddenly
very holy thing. And when they
left the church an hour later vi
said what they both were thinking:
1T really is Christ's birthday this
year, isn't it? I've never had such
feeling of quiet happiness and
cleanness and-and security before. I"
Gale nodded and put his arm
around her as they walked to the
car. and he held her tight.
Christmas Day came and went
quietly. Not as an anticlimax but
as a day Of easy restfulness. They
slept late and then had dinner by
themselves in the apartment along
about in the afternoon. They had
wine and nuts after dinner and sat
in the living room and smoked and
took it easy.
Gale Is Disappointed.
The 26th Gale worked all day. He
saw Mrs Smith for few moments
in the afternoon, and when he came
home that evening he settled down
to read the paper just as he'd done
ever since he and vi had been mar
ried. Christmas already seemed
gone and almost forgotten.
The next day was the day of the
party for Doug and Brenda. 1t was
the first time Gale saw Wis dress,
for which he'd given her SIS. She
seemed to hold of putting 1t on
until the very last minute, and she
was slipping into her wrap when
Gale noticed it.
"Hey!" he called from the living
room. wait a minute. Let's see
the gown"
"Oh, almost forgot" vi said un-
certainly. She laid the wrap on the
bed and came out for Gales inspec-
ton. She held her arms out grace
fully and turned around on her
heel, and the full skirt of the long
black dress f1uttered in wide, bill
lowy circle. But there wasn't any
thing especially attractive about the
dress. Gale thought he had seen
hundreds almost exactly like it, and
he knew he'd seen many that were
far prettier.
tits nice, Vi" he said. But I
thought for that money you'd be
able tn oct something a little more