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Show i CCOCXXXXXXXXX)COOOCOCCOOOC j The New Year's s Spirit a By ALICE B. PALMER DOOCOCOCODOOOOOCOOCOOCOOOO Fi lit the past six years of Tom's ten of married life he had celebrated New Year's apart from bis wife lie - -y, j bad enjoyed hat be called "'he time of bis life." hut It bad always ended up in an ! hilarious outburst. In each : f. y case now for six years l.au .rel bad brought him Ihrouirh I I and bail forgiven f i tit Vet ' each sui-eei'ding year il had been the same thing oer again Now another year had rolled Hroiind and the hoys at the otlice were o!.lng about New Year resolutions, wild parties, etc. As Tom got to thinking about it. lie suddenly realized thai he bad not played fair with his wife when It came to holiday celebrations. Filled with remorse, be began to phi n a "Happy New Year" for the little worn an this year. The boys joked Idiii for being so quiet and thoughtful; but he paid no attention to them, for he was deep in thought. " hal could be do to pay up for bis gross neglect?" All these years she had been so true and nn selfish while lit bad indulged in urtei senseless dissipation "I have It." be suddenly shouted without realizing the whole oi:ii-e force was looking in bis direction "Come across wlial il Is. u new 1 Joke?" exclaimed Jim. Hie bill clerk "Oh no, far from it." said Tom "I have only Just made a ,Y Year's resolution " Whereupon they all laughed heart lly ; and Joe. the sweeper, w ho was passing h, chuckled loward'v is he I li o ii i; li I ot the big pari v v hich was "on" that night. The day. or Mlilgestho ot the holiday spirit aim c old h n d crisp; while icicles hunt: iihoiil In profusion nml I he snow, heavily packed, sparkled in the sunlight. Tom begged to be excused no hour earlier ami loyously boitnlcd olT on bis New Years escapade. mm At : Si First hi' daried across the stn-ci and purchased luo Ihealcr tickets then to the Crystal restaurant, where he reserved H table Net lie i n .bed to the llorlst's shop (to which he hail been ii stranger for many years) and orib'icd a eoisage bouquet of mixed sweet peas, her favorite -How or. Then he found himself entering nn exclusive exclu-sive women's apparel shop. Just around the corner. lie felt sort of wobbly In here and was Jusl about ready to Ibv when a pleasant, elderly lady addressed him ; "What can I do for yon. sir?" Then be explained lo her thai he would like to have a complete out IK for Ids wife for a New Year's party The elliclent saleslady understood perfectly, and ushered him about pick lug i ul the llnery, I e remembered 'curing his wife speak of the new-color new-color called "Tyson blne" ihal blue had I n the color of her wedding gow n - so be decided to have every I hin- of that ilcllghlful shade which he I, new would please her. V tially. loaded down with bunillei, lie truly was a New Year's Santa Clans, or felt lll.e one linkway, for Ida heart was filled with Joy. " Twas surely more blessed to give than to receive," re-ceive," thought Tom, as he trudged along toward home. "Now the next move on the checkerboard." checker-board." he thought, "is to get these thitiL's Into the house without her knowing It." 1 low could he do It ? Then the thought struck him. He could get bis sister, who lived around the corner, to call Laurel over by phone. So. stopping at the first available avail-able telephone booth, be did so. Then when the coast was clear he slipped Into the house and was up to her nwim where be spread out the adorable outfit out-fit upon her snowy bed. The blue against the white spread did hok bountiful, even lo a man's eyes Why had be never thought of anything like this before? Why. It was more fun than all the parties be hart ever at tended. You see. the true holiday spirit had bit Tom. and hit him very very laid Suddenly be beard her call: "till T Is I hat you? Supper Is ready and your favorite apple dumplings." "Vcs dear. I am coming." he bur riedlv replied, as lie rushed down two steps at a time But as they sat eating, be notb-el that she was not very hungry and wore a sad. tired expression. She. no doubt, was thinking of the usual New Year's escapade. Tom chuckled wilh in as be thought of bis glorious surprise. sur-prise. He was wondering how to proceed. pro-ceed. .f:er praising the delicious apple dumplings, for which be only received a faint sickly smile (she was not in (crested in such things Just now), be arose from the table and began to dross for the even'ng When all ready. he kissed her g iby. and said tie was going to the club lie baled ( do It. for It nearly broke Ids heart to see her lips tremble as if about to inter a protest. IV.it she cared loo much for his happiness to Iulerft re. so she only said: "I hope you have a good lime. To n " lie quhl.lv turned away and 'eft her standing there, heartsick mm weary. Hilnr years he bad not been able lo comprehend ; now when it dawned upon him. lie felt like a brute and vowed a secret resolution with Ids heart alone never to leave her again. Then he rushed around the cornel to his sister and disclosed the whole beautiful seciet. She was delighted and gave hint a big brothel ly hug and k Iss Then she said : j "Why. Tom. that Is the best thing von, ever did In your life." "Yes. I know II, Pol. anil I am ashamed of myself-hut never again." then be made a dash for home and the "surprise." Ills wife bad thrown herself upon Ihc ovcistullcd davenport In despair, to await the awful midnight scene She arose quickly, as she beard his step In the hallway, "lie must have forgotten something, poor dear, or he wouldn'l be back so early," (bought she. The next moment he rushed In with a loud cry of "Happy New Year, l.aui el," She could hardly believe her own cars as she ga.ed al III id stupidly. "Why. what's the trouble. Tom?" "Nothing, my dear. I only came to gel yon (o spend New Year's I've with me. for a change." "How lovely, Tom, but you forgot that I have no party outfit." "Never mind about that. Just dress as quickly as yon can. while I glance through the paper." She liiined from him, tin- tears streaming down her face, as shr Ihoiiglii or her only available gown, an ugly gray cashmere. She could lour II Into shreds, she bated It so (ill the way upstairs she sc.ietl.v wished that some disaster bad come upon It. so that she would not be obliged to wear It What a revelation. n she on the door lo her room and beheld Ihc |