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Show OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOO The New Year's By ALICE B. PALMER CXXXXXDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fOR the past six years of Tom's ten of married life he had celebrated New Year's apart from his wife. He ) na(l enjoyed what he called iZZ "the time of his life," but It sy had always ended up in an f hilarious outburst In each yY case now for six years Lau-JHJ Lau-JHJ rel had brought him through each succeeding year it had been the same thing over again. Now another year had rolled around and the boys at the office were joking about New Year resolutions, wild parties, etc. As Tom got to thinking about it, he suddenly realized that he had not played fair with his wife when it came to holiday celebrations. Filled with remorse, he began to plan a "Happy New Year" for the little woman wom-an this year. The boys joked him for being so quiet and thoughtful; but he paid no attenlion to them, for he was deep In thought "What could he do to pay up for his gross neglect?" All these years she had beeo so true and unselfish un-selfish while he had indulged in utter senseless dissipation. "I have It," he suddenly shouted, without realizing the whole office force was looking In his direction. "Come across what It Is, a new joke?" exclaimed Jim, the bill clerk. "Oh no, far from it." said Tom. "I have only just made a New Year's resolution." Whereupon they all laughed heartily; heart-ily; and Joe, the sweeper, who was passing by, chuckled Inwardly .is he thought of . the big partv Z7 , which was "on" ES53 iA that uighf. -.Y Atfrir The day, very -' rirlf suggestive of the ji 'i A'VO holiday spirit. V wus cold and )?! V Ar v--crisp; while W M j$ 5? icicles hung aboui j ?-f iu profusion and (4 V the snow, heavily wlljtrfF packed, sparkled : jf& in the sunlight. $&tfJ Tom begged to f$-g he excused an lvjs' hour earlier an. I loyously bounded -g$lp off on his New fSZ -- i ear s escapade. First he darted ncruss the si reel and purchased two theater tickets, then to the Crystal restaurant, where he reserved a table. Next lie rushed to the florist's shop (to which he had been a strnt.ger for many years) and ordered a corsage hoiKptet of mixed sweet peas, her favorite llmver. Then he found himself enterinc nn exclusive exclu-sive women's apparel shop, just around the corner. He felt sort of wobbly In here and wns just about ready to He? when a pleasant, elderly lady addressed him : "What can I do fur you. sir?" Then he explained to her that he would like to have a complete outfit for his wife for a New Year's party. The efficient saleslady understood perfectly, and ushered him about picking pick-ing cut the finery, lie remembered hearing his wife speak of t lie new-color new-color called "Tyson blue" that blue had been the color of her wedding gown so he decided to have everything every-thing of that delightful shade which he knew would please her. Finally, loaded down with bundles, he truly was a New Year's Santa Claua, er fe't like ot myway, for hla heart was filled with joy. " 'Twas surely more blesses to give than to re-, ceive," thought Tom, as he trudged along toward home. "Now the next aiove on the checkerboard," checker-board," he thought, "is to get these things Into the house without her knowing it." How could he do It? Then tie thought struck him. He could get his sister, who lived around the corner, to call Laurel over by phone. So, stopping at the first available avail-able telephone booth, he did so. Then when the ceast was clear he slipped Into the house and was up to her room where he spread out the adorable outfit out-fit upon her snowy bed. The blue against ' the white spread did look beautiful, even to a man's eyes. Why had he never thought of anything like this before? Why, It was more fun than all the parties he bad ever attended. at-tended. You see, the true holiday spirit had hit Tom. and hit him very, very hard. Suddenly he heard her call: "Oh Tom, Is that you? Supper Is ready and your favorite apple dumplings.' "Yes, dear, I am coming," he hurriedly hur-riedly replied, as he rushed down two steps at a time. But as they sat eating, he noticed 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 within with-in as he thought of his glorious surprise. sur-prise. He was wondering how to proceed. pro-ceed. After praising- the delicious apple dumplings, for which he only received a faint sickly smile (she was not Interested In-terested In such things just now), he arose from the table and began to dress for the evening. When all ready, he kissed her goodby. and said he was going to the club. He hated to do it. for It nearly broke his heart to see her lips tremble as if about to mter a protest. But she cared too much for his happiness to interfere, so she only said : "I hope you have a good time. Tom." He quickly turned away and left her standing there, heartsick ami weary. Other years he had not been able t comprehend ; now when it dawned upon him. he felt like a brute and vowed a secret resolution with his heart alone never to leave her again. Then he rushed around the corner to his sister and disclosed the whole beautiful seciet. She was delighted and gave him a big brotherly hug and kiss. Then she said : "Why, Tom, that is the best tiling you ever did in your life." "Yes, 1 know it. Dot, and 1 am ashamed of myself but never again." Then lie made a dash for home anil the "surprise." His wife had thrown herself upon the overstuffed davenport in despair, to await the awful midnight scene. She arose quickly, as she heard his step in the hallway. "He must have forg'iiten some! hing. pour dear, or he wouldn't be buck so early." thought she. The next moment he rushed in with a loud cry of "Happy New Year. Laurel." She could hardly believe her own ears as she gazed at him stupidly. "Why, what's the trouble. Tom?" "Nothing, my dear. I ouly came to get you to spend New Year's Eve 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 you can. while I glance through the paper.'1 She turned from him. the tears streaming nva her face, as she thought of her only available gown, an ugly gray cashmere. She could tear it Into shreds, she hated it so. On the way upstairs she secretly wished that some disaster had come upon It. so that she would not be obliged to wear It. What a revelation, as she opened the door to her room and beheld the fairy outfit spread out upon her bed. The beaded dress of Tyson bluu -sparkled under the electric light and the dainty satin slippers with the spider-web silk stockings were a perfect per-fect match. Then the bonnet of blue silk chiffon trimmed with tiny forget-me-nots capped the climax. She inatched it up and placed It up- " ! on her head, for- ' yV ilj getting everything else for the mo- .ViS"L hi ment 'Tis strange !l "V' AaV ' what effect sud- ti-J'-i I den happiness has I upon us mortals. I j fc-uYl.' It goes to show PlsSH that all is mental tMfelsl? after all. S-M She was a new f;fl r'M, being as she fran- I'S &Zx7k n tically called Tom gjj JTf?3iS in her bewilder- " d I ment. He came f h bounding up the I fill stairs, his eyes ' , yfe' "pji sparkling and his face wreathed in a "Happy New Year" smile. "Hurry up and put it on and let's see how you louk. We are going to the theater and then to the Crystal restaurant where we shall dine and dance. You are to be tile Cinderella I of the evening and I the happy Tr'nce. Won't that be glorious, dear?" j As the situation began to drawn upon her consciousness, she opened her hazel eyes and her pretty rosebud mouth both Bt once; but the words I would not come they simply refused, so she began to tear off the old cloth ing and get Into the new. She had just finished when they were startled by the loud ringins of the dour bell. Laurel rushed down to answer it. with Tom close at her heels grinning from ear to ear, fur he knew very well what it was. j "Why Tom. how did you ever think of all this?" she asked. For there were the sweet peas fresh from the florist. "Now I truly do feel like a real Cinderella." Cin-derella." as she lovingly pressed the flowers against her soft cheek. "E'Jt Tom, I urn afraid it is on'.v a dream, and that I shall awake and find myself in the ash heap of despair, waiting for your return." WMh a shudder she buried her head upon his sN'Ukler. It was far from a dream, for the next moment the shrill horn of a taxi was calling them from without Thus, arm in aim, they set forth for their j New Years celebration together. , (cX 1S:7. Woeters Newspaper Cia ' |