Show i. i 1 c w Dic TJ aP r i J f 1 ir t lay r j s o r k 3 i f 5 K o oThe The New NeVI Years Year's a Spirit III ALICE ALIE B. B B By PALMER II b OR n It the past six years of at ofa a Toms Tom's ten of married married life Ufe he f r had bad ad celebrated New ew Years Year's i apart from his wife H Be He f hR enjoyed w what al lie he call called d. d the tile time of his but It f h had always ended u up p l In an tf 1 hII hilarious Outburst t. t In each each t I c case se se n now w. w for six years Laurel Lau r reI ref rel had brought him through and and had forgiven him Yet e each ch succeeding ye year it lt had been the the same sam same thing over again Now NO another year had roiled rolled aroun around and the b boys ys' ys at at tIle the office were jok Joking ng about New Year Yea r resolutions solutions wild parties etc As Tom Torn to thinking about It he hI suddenly r realized that be he had not played fair fair with his Is wife when it came to holiday celebrations ns Filled with remorse he be began besan to plan a 8 Happy New Year for the little wowan worn wow an this year The boys Joked him for being so quiet an and thoughtful but he paid no attention to them for he was deep In thought What could he do to pay up for his gross neglect 1 All these years she had been so true and unselfish unselfish unselfish un un- un- un selfish while he lie had Indulged In utter senseless dissipation u I 1 have It be he suddenly shouted without realizing the whole office force was looking In his direction Come what across across what It Is a new Joke exclaimed Jim the bill clerk Oh no far from Crom It said TomI TomI TomI Tom I have ha only Just made a New Years Year's resolution Whereupon they all nil laughed heartIly heartily heartily heart heart- ily and Joe the sweeper who was passing by chuckled Inwardly as ashe ashe he t thought hyo hJO u ugh g h t of the big p party a rt y which was on w that night The day dUy very suggestive of oC the holiday s spirit p I 1 r I I t 3 1 was c cold a I d a and nd crisp wh while e Icicles hung about i In profusion and the tie snow heavily packed sparkled r In the sunlight Tom Torn begged to tobe tobe tobe be excused nn an hour earlier eadler and Joyously bounded off oft on his New Years Year's escapade First he darted across the street el and purchased two theater tickets then to the Crystal restaurant wh where r he reserved a table Next ext he rushed to the florists florist's shop to which he had hall been a stranger for many years and ordered a corsage e bouquet of mixed sweet peas her favorite flower Then he found himself entering nn art exclusive exclusive sive she women's apparel shop Just around the corner He felt sort of wobbly In here and was Just about really ready to flee when a a plea elderly lady addressed him What can I x l do for you sir Then he explained to to her that he would like to l have a complete outfit for his wife for a New Y Years Year's ars ar's party The efficient saleslady understood perfectly and ushered him about pickIng pick pick- Ing lag out the finery lIe He remembered hearing his wife speak of the new color called Tyson blue that blue that blue had been the color of her weddIn wedding Rown so own so he be decided to have everything every even thing thIns of that delightful shade which h he knew would please her bel Finally loaded load d down with bundles he truly was a 11 New Years Year's Santa Claim or felt feU like lIko ore H m way nj-way for his J l heart eart was filled with Joy 1 surely more blessed to give than to receive receive receive re re- re- re thought Tom as he trudged along toward home Now v the next grove nove on the checkerboard checkerboard checker he Is these board thought to get things Into the house bouse without her knowing It It it I How could he do It Then the thought struck k him He could get his sister who lived around the corner to call Laurel over by phone So stopping at the first avail available able telephone booth he did so so Then when the c cat ast was clear lear he slipped lIpp d Into Info the house and wa Ya up lIP to her room xo room m where he spread o out t th the nd adorable rable outfit out out- out outfit t- t fit upon her snowy u Bed d The blue blu against the white spread did d look beautiful even en to a mans man's eyes Why had had imd he neye yer thought drought of anything like t this is before I Why Wiry I It was tons more more fun than all the p parties rt s h he had ever ever at at- tended You see se see the true holiday hollday spirit spir t had hit Tom and hit him very very v very rY hard Suddenly he heard her call Oh T Tom m Is that you Supper is ready and y your mr favorite apple dumplings Yes dear I am fm coming he hurriedly hur hur- rep replied as is he rushed down two steps at nt a time But as they sat eating he lie noticed that she was not very hungry and wore ore a sad tired expression She no doubt was thinking of the usual New Years Year's escapade T Tom m chuckled within with with- in as he thought of his glorious sur sur- prise He was wondering how bo boto to pro pro- pro coed After praising the delicious apple dumplings for which h he only received a faint sickly smile she sire was not Interested interested In in- In such things just now he arose aros from the table tahle and began to dress ss for the evening ening When all nil ready he re kissed her good goodby by and said he was going to the club He ne hated to do It for It t nearly broke his heart to see sec her lips tremble as If It about to utter a protest But she site cared d too much for his happiness to Interfere so she only said I hope you have a good time Tom He quickly turned away and lefther lefther left lefther her standing there heartsick and w weary weary ary Other years he had not been able to comprehend now when It dawned upon him he lie felt like a brute and vowed a Ii secret resu resolution with his heart alone never to leave her again Then he rushed around the corner to his sister and disclosed the whole beautiful secret She Site was delighted and gave ga him a n big broth brotherly hug and kiss Then she said Why Wiry Tom Toni that Is the best thing you ever did In your life Y Yes I 1 know It Dot and I am ashamed d of Df rn myself but self but never n again aln Then he made madl a dash for home anti and the surprise His Ills wife wire had thrown herself upon the the- overstuffed davenport daenport In despair to await the awful r midnight scene She arose rose quickly ly as she heard his step In n the hallway He must have hate forgotten something poor dear or he wouldn't be back so early thought she The next moment he rushed In with witha a n loud cry of Happy New Year Laurel She could hardly believe her own ears as she gaze gazed at him stupidly Why what's the trouble Tom 1001 7 Nothing my dear only dearl-only only cane came to get you to spend New Years Year's Eve with me for a change How flow lovely Tom but you forgot that I have no party outfit Never Ne mind mind about that Just dress as quickly as you can while I glance glauce through the paper She turned from flom him the tears streaming down her ter face as she thought of her only available gown an ugly gray ray cashmere She could tear It into shreds she hated It so 10 On the up upstairs she secretly wished that some somo disaster had hud come upon It so that she would not be obliged to wear wehr It What a revelation as ns she opened the tho door to her room and beheld the I fairy fahy outfit spread out upon her bed The beaded dress of at Tyson blue sparkled under the electric light and the dainty satin slippers with the web spider-web silk stockings were a perfect perfect per per- feet match Then the bonnet of blue silk chiffon trimmed with tiny forget- forget nots me-nots capped the climax She snatched it up and placed It upon upon upon up up- on her head bead forgetting forgetting for for- getting everything e else for the moment mo ment strange 9 what effect sudden sudden sudden sud sud- den happiness has hns upon us mortals It goes to show that nil all Is mental t I tafter after all She was a new being as she frantically frantically fran I called aIled Tom I In her bewilder bewilder- ment He came 1 bounding up the stairs his eyes ayes f I sparkling and his face wreathed In a Happy New Year smile Hurry up and put It on and lets let's see how you look We are going to the theater and anti then to the Crystal restaurant where we shall dine and dance You are to be the Cinderella of the evening and I 1 the happy Prince Wont Won't that be glorious dear As the situation began to drawn upon her consciousness she opened her hazel eyes and her tier pretty rosebud mouth both at once but the words would not come they come they simply refused so 80 she began to tear off the old clothIng cloth cloth- In Ing and get Into the new She had Just finished when they were startled by the loud ringing of the bell Laurel rushed down downto to answer answer It with Tom close at her heels grinning from tram ear to ear for he lie knew very well weIl what it was Why Wiry Torn Tom how did you ever think of at all this she f asked For there were the sweet peas fresh from the tine 1 florist I INow Now I truly do feel foel like a real 1 cIn 1 derella as she lovingly pressed the flowers agn against her soft sott cheek check 1 I But nut Tom Torn I 1 am afraid It is only a 11 adream I 1 dream and that I shall awake and I find myself In the ash heap of despair i I waiting for your return With a shudder she burled buried her head upon his s shoulder ml I It was tar fur from a dream for the I next moment the shrill horn twin of a n taxi tail was calling them from without Thus I arm In ann they set forth for their New Years Year celebration together I CZ Q 1921 1927 Western Newspaper A Q |