Show D p 1 By MARY NELSON HAPPY APPY new year vear I 1 The cry echoed and echoed reechoed down the street as Penny made her herway herway herway way toward the bus stop Everywhere Everywhere Everywhere Every Every- where about her people were lighthearted lighthearted lighthearted light- light hearted and gay and busily wishing their friends good fortune for the coming year She buttoned her coat at the neck and turned up the collar It was a bitterly cold day and she told herself she would be happy to reach home and stay in for the night Let those with pioneer pioneer pio plo neer blood go out and stand in the raw wind down at Dayton Circle just to blow a silly horn at midnight ostensibly ostensibly os os- os- os to usher in the new year Penny had always been known at home as a sensible girl with good common sense She was proud of that reputation and now that she lived in the city alone she was more determined than ever to live up to it She didn't want to become a sophisticated worldly wise city girl Thus she summed up mentally it was just as well wen she didn't go outGoing outGoing out Going out tonight Penny The words interrupted her thoughts and she turned to greet Ruby a fellow worker who was al always always always al- al ways going out with someone she called Beanie You could always tell the status of Rubys Ruby's romance by her mood if she was exuberant to the point of being giddy she was going to see Beanie that night if she was quiet and petulant she hadn't heard from him and if she was downright rude with a sarcastic twist to every remark she made then they had quarreled Penny smiled No uNo Im I'm not Ruby she replied Odd that she should feel such emptiness within her as she said the words She noted noted noted not not- ed Rubys Ruby's quick glance of sympathy and it irritated her I uI dont don't know r 9 I r 1 5 v vI vII IJ I II II I t t But her foot missed and came down on a sheet of ice anyone here she defended herself Then added curtly And anyway I wouldn't dream of going out in such ghastly weather Ruby shrugged Oh well wel if you feel that way about it happy new year Penny She hurried away before the wretched girl could make any response Now why did didI I act so nasty she asked under her breath Ruby hadn't meant any offense she offense she was simply so wrapped up in her own little world that she felt sorry for anyone who had no Beanie to which to cling She was essentially a generous person and now Penny had deliberately hurt her AS A A S SHE stood in the middle of the sidewalk angry and discouraged discouraged discouraged aged she saw her bus speeding recklessly recklessly recklessly reck reck- lessly down the street and without another thought to anything else she hurried toward the corner Want Wait oh wait she called running breath breath- le lessly sly No one else was waiting however and he careened sharply off the curb hurrying on his way Oh Ohn dear dearl She burst into tears at this new disappointment and reached blindly for the curb But her foot missed and came down on a sheet of ice sending her into an astonished heap in the street For a moment she was too stunned to move She heard footsteps ps hurrying hur hur- hurrying hurrying past her and managed to sit up dazedly A man knelt down beside beside beside be be- side her but his face was a blur of features Take it easy he admonished admonished admonished admon admon- placing an arm across her back She tried to focus her eyes upon him and hadn't quite succeeded succeed succeed- ed when he cried Penny I Why Penny Lindsay What in the world are you doing out here And then everything cleared and she saw the handsome handsome- blond features features features fea fea- tures of a former school friend Oh Alan Tears tumbled over each other in hasty exit He helped her to her feet Gee its it's good to see someone from the old home town Ive I've been so doggone lonely he told her manipulating the handkerchief handkerchief handkerchief hand hand- kerchief skillfully around her nose and eyes Im lonely too she gasped Ive only been here a month I Say What are you doing tonight tonight tonight to to- night Anything N nothing Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation Then why dont don't t we go gb go somewhere and talk over old times Gee Im I'm dying to hear some gossip about the Turners and the Mitchells and all the rest Will Vill you Penny And Penny smiled happily this time Yes Alan Even this ghastly ghast ghast- ly weather couldn't stop me from LI talking over old times time with you |