Show HOLIDAY 7 CM 4 t ts s Elizabeth Elizabeth Blessing B HE plum pudding was ripening ripening ripen ripen- ing and the guest room was prettier with the yel yellow yellow yel- yel ellow el low drapes than I had ever dreamed it could be and even the mistletoe hung rung in all the doorways doorways all I all there was left to do downs was to put the guest towels in the bathroom As I was taking two of my rny daintiest hand embroidered towels from the linen chest It occurred to tome me me to ask my husband Just how his sister Willa VIlla looked since I had never neverseen neverseen neverseen seen her and was going to all the trouble of arranging theater bridge and dancIng parties for her during her Christmas visit with us Well Charles had hesitated I told you once that she was a home girl and old But nut that's very indefinite I had replied How flow tall Is she Oh a sites she's about five feet six six six- about your height and has long red redhair redhair hair hair hair- I suppose its it's still long iong and she's raU rattier er fat and and Fat I had gasped your sister fat tat And then I had visions of Raymond Raymond naymond Ray nay mond Garfield's expression when he ho should see standing under the mistletoe mistletoe toe this old-fashioned old fat red headed girl who was to be bo his partner at all of the parties Surely Charles you dont don't remember remember remember ber well Yes ics she Is fat Charles went on and although she has money from four years of teaching sh she always wears a faded blue serge suit with a abelt abelt belt and and It The doorbells doorbell's ringing Interrupted him bim Ill answer It I said A A tele- tele telegram gram crain J i and tearing It open I read Meet me at 2 15 at the Union depot Villa Willa It would be a two-hour two trip so I picked up Sf some me Christmas cards and my gold fountain pen n with my Initials MW V W. W on it I could spend part of the time on the train addressing cards I couldn't possibly miss her the her the fat rod headed school hool teacher in faded blue serge with serge with a belt I thought as I settled In my scat seat I stepped from the train conscious of the tho patr patronizing attitude I had assumed assumed as as- sum ed but nowhere could I see anyone anyone any any- one answering VIllas Villa's description It was nearly five o'clock when I reached the last store where I had 00 ao charge charee nc account but where PlY s- s y check would be accepted I felt for formy formy formy my fountain pen It was gone gane I J Frantically I searched my pockets lorIt for lor forIt forit It careless carelessly y laying my purchases on the counter Stepaside Step aside please Madam you are holding up the line politely requested request request- ed the cashier as a stylish tall blonde took my place and before my dismayed dismayed dismayed dis dis- eyes took out a pen exactly like e mine I remembered Charles had once told me rue that often thieves were better dressed nowadays than others She uShe easily could have baye picked my ray pocket while we were standing In Inline inline line I reasoned Hence convinced that she had my pen I demanded that the cashier examine the pen and see If It had my monogram W V W on onit it It had bad I uI will let the lady off easy I thought as I noticed the costly serge of her modish suit because she is whose whose- probably a kleptomaniac There is some mistake a clear sweet voice Interrupted my thoughts I I Q J L Ij r I Thought as I 1 Settled In 4 S U my 11 y Q eat a This is my own pen and W IW W W. W stands for my name Willa Villa Woodrow Willa Woodrow I gasped This girl 1 Then hiding hiding- my true thoughts I hastened to greet her explaining Im Wilma VIlma Woodrow Charles' Charles wife I wrote my check while Willa Villa put things back into my pockets and we wo walked walled from the store together But nut Willa- Willa Villa Willa dear I exclaimed aft er cr we were vere on on the tho car Charles said red hair ball and fat rind And I added mentally faded blue serge Exactly dear look dear look at me V Willa a commanded Im looking I smiled but what I see Is fluffy golden gelden hair crowning a plump but not too plump and pInk and white face from which shine two magic blue eyes and and u Then I remembered the holiday parties parties parties par par- ties I had planned for Charles' Charles homelike homelike homelike home like old fashioned sister Bister and I pictured plc- plc Lured the fascinated gleam which h would come Into Raymond Garfield's eyes when he ho saw VIlla Willa standing under un um der the mistletoe A 1927 Western N Newspaper r Union |