The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-12-08

She dressed and made her bed
and moved their presents from
chair where the had left them
to a table where she'd put up a
little tree. 1t wa a private affair
between them that this was for
the baby.
Nylon stockings from Andrea to
Beth. A white satin, fioWer-sprig-
ged quilted bed-jdckeL for Andrea
from Beth. Six detective novels
for Andrea and beaitifuuy-boun
copy of The Oxford Book of Eng
lish Verse for Beth-from Dennis.
Notepaper and WOOL, rnittens, a
wooden terrier with a chain to at
tach to lapel, an oiled silk kerr
chief, these were Andrea's gifts
from girls IN the house, who had
given Beth bridge cards, notepa-
per, handke1 chlefs, little pillow
for her bed. other gew-gaws, ash
trays and the like Andrea's shop
had given mel, in lieu OF the money
she had hoped for. handsome
brilliant clip MIR. Slade had pro-
saically presented Beth wit h a
very welcome brand-new $40 bill
1t reposed with her $500 in the
toe of an old slipper on shelf
in her closet.
Il felt very close to JIM An
drea said When they came out of
church, and SO Beth hadn't the
heart to tell her they couldn't af-
ford a taxi to take them to the
Blakes.
Marion and Bert had been told
about the marriage, not about the
baby VINO was coming.
Marion drew Andrea into the
bedroom and tried to say how sor-
~ they were, cut andrea. busy
fluffing her hair out. said, Thank
you, Marion. but don't be sad to-
day. jim wouldn't want me to be,
or Beth. She's the ore who's go
ing to have it hard. I'm afraid.
Let's go on as If it hadn't hap
pened.' -
Visibly relieved, Marion began
70 chatter abour their plans. She
had, she saiG, invited Harry Cole
tc dinner because he was alone
and she hoped Andrea wouldn't
mind.
Mind? I'm delighted, I'm going
10 need Harry for beau again.
jim wanted me to have good
time, you know
Beth powdering her nose, Won
dered how Andrea could talk about
beaux. At least, she thought it was
a good idea that one of them
wasn't feeling 100 low in spirit.
She wished she could be more like
her.
The day was something like that
thanksgiving Day that now SEEM
ed to belong to a remote past.
There were Bert. mixing cocktails,
and Harry, fiddling with the radio,
and Marion, busting from the
kitchen to the living room w n
cooking fork in hand, and Andrea,
sitting on the floor listening to
the carols come over the air.
Something hot burned in Beth's
eyes and would have spilled had
she not got a grip on herself. A
year ago they had been three, An
Grea and Jim and herself. Another
year they would be three too, she
and Andrea and the baby. And
where would they all be then?
Dinner was at four and. because
there was an early winter dusk,
Marion had lighted tall tapers that
flickered over the table. Deep red
roses, like dusky red velvet, mes
tied in moss green leaves. A pa
rade of white waxen angels march
en- in circle around the flower
bowl. Napery and silver cleaned
in five places as Bert took his
place at the head and Marion
carried in the great silver platter
bearing steaming, succulent tur-
key and put it before him.
Remember Thanks 2ivlng?" she
said, realizing too late that she
shouldn't have said it, remember