Show A Uy fly PATRICIA SINCLAIR AVIS stood tood Inside the spacious hall hail of ot the Carron home with her small overnight bag at her feet teet and nd greeted the slim sUm girl gid approaching ap preaching her fier Merry Christmas Barbara I Oh-h Oh its it's snowing beautifully beau outside She looked down at the Ute snow on the toes of at her small white boots I hate to track it In she said Dont worry about that Im I'm so happy you came Barbara Darbara smiled and helped Avis remove her snow snow- covered garments Oh I 1 wouldn't have missed corn com coming ing tag for or all the world Avis said and meant It It now that she was act act- actually there Her ner dark eyes swept the attractive decorated home and the Inviting fire Ore that roared t tAvis rt tt Avis laughed and her eyes glowed as they lifted to meet Steves 0 about huge logs toes in an immense fireplace In the room beyond I I 1 hope you'll you 5 j enjoy y yourself Avis Barbara said My guests have not nil all arrived Would you I like to go up to your room first and and 4 i j Take the shine from my Yes thanks so much Avis responded responded responded re re- eagerly knowing that she needed a few repairing touches I after the long trip out to the Carron Canon I home by bus I As she ascended the stairs she I I thought how right Barbara Darbara had been when shed she'd told her the other day after atter inviting her to her home for tor the week end and a Christmas party You cant can't stay In your apartment alone on Christmas You cant can't become a recluse just because because be be- cause some some fellow preferred another another an an- other girl to you You should start all aU over again Barbara was like that At times Umes Avis coult couI couldn't nt help envying Barbaras Barbara's Barbaras Barbaras Barbara's Bar Bar- baras bara's carefree unstable attitude toward men Barbara would never know the sting sUng of ot loneliness the bitter yearning for someone someone who had become the purpose of ot life it It sell self Avis hadn't told Barbara nor not anyone everything about her ac- ac e with Steve Ross She hadn't even told Barbara his name There was no point In going into detail and revealing I crossed three states just to get away from the sight of ot him constantly with the new blonde who came to town Avis could hear bear Barbaras Barbara's response response response re re- to such a revelation No battle was ever won by an an- army of cowards I But Avis wasn't built that way She had pride and from observation observation tion shed she'd learned that sided one-sided marriages never panned out As she ran a comb through her short hort dark darl hair she thought of Steve It had been two months since she left the little town of t tAllen Allen Glen Ha lIe and Ann were mar mar- married married ried reed now of at course They'd spend their first Christmas together Her lIer eyes filmed fUmed but she quickly brushed aside the threat of tears and hurried hurried from the room to Join Barbara Darbara and her guests below betow She was glad shed she'd come She wouldn't have a chance to think of at Steve Avis started down the stairs' stairs but stopped midway when she saw Steve Ross floss smiling up at her from the hall haU below lie He said Im not a B ghost Avis Avis' I Merry Christmas and and well well arent aren't you glad to see aee ref me mel lie He looked j uncertain U wf I I Avis Ails moved down the stairs ButI But Dut I didn't know you iou knew Barbara Barbara- I Steve reached for her bander Our dad dad were acquaintances acquaintance I awa away back he ha said Was It quite fair air for tor you to skip town Avis and 1 not say a word about where you I were going I l I I didn't think chunk you'd miss me j I Avis t stammered I Miss 1 you you He lie pressed her lands hands Avis A what's what that old say say- sayIng Ing about Absence makes make the heart hent grow row fonder fooder Anyway Ive I've had a terrible time Ume tracking you down thought of at Barbara t Barbara n never lever ver said aid a word Avis Adis said still tW amazed Steve chuckled She I a regular I t cupid She told me to come com tonight I end nd explain more fully about the I run runaway away w y girl I t was trying to find end I Then Thep after fter I got here she he told mato me ma meo meto to o wait walt In the ball hall there'd be a Christmas gilt gift appear on the stairs tars I 1 suspected w then of course COUll Avis wll laughed end and her eyes 1 lowed glowed i a ua as the they lifted to meet Steves gift gilt indeed the she h said fila L |