Show affie mar i thomas no one in the world had bad more friends than sally snow friends of all kinds irom from the boy who shouted his newspapers in front of her apartment to the pollee policeman tuan on the beat beal nigh high friends and low friends had sally but christmas eve found her alone she left the office early there was no particular reason to however all AH her gifts were tied up and mailed no one was waiting for her at home there the slightest pressure or hurry about anything and christmas eve thought sally without bustle anil and fuss and jostling and merry confusion n christmas eve at all slie she walked up fifth avenue she vaguely hoped that some of the hollday holiday spirit of the crowds of new york 1 enter her veins and thrill her heart she felt sorry for herself and cross and utterly out of sorts her pleasant plans had bad all gone awry no one could spare time from their families to celebrate with her and sally lived too many thousand miles away from home borne to get there for christmas she had been too proud to accept the generous invitations of some of the other girls in the office they asked her to go home with them but r she k knew n e w she alie would feel out of things try as she might to be jolly oh well she might scrape some one up to go to a play or concert she walked until sit she was tired and then took a bus once in the crush P of people at a street corner she caught her breath there was a sudden hint of broad ST is shoulders she used affa 1 gg g to know A certain high carriage of the head a quick decisiveness of manner then the man was lost to view she shook herself for a silly billy tool fool she thought she had crowded all that nonsense out of her mind long ago besides reddy had bad gone on one of those idiotic expeditions to mongolia to hunt up ridiculous bones ot of prehistoric animals accounts of his expedition had been in the papers oft off and on for three years stilly sally found her artmont part art ment warm and cozy she was more tired than she realized A slow languor spread over her she decided to stay at home not even going out for dinner she had a good book or two and there was always the radio after a nap she chirped up amazingly she decided she grouch any longer A little of excitement wriggled up her neck no reason at all but she felt it and lau laughed glied she supped cupped gayly on a homemade salad bread and butter and a piece of leftover left over cake doing up the few dishes she felt positively merry the old time childish excitement about everything concerning christmas began singing la in her heart she laughed aloud 1 I wont even look up the concerts tonight over the radio she announced noun ced ill just tune la in at random and see what happens with a little flutter of happiness she manipulated the dials on her small set A harsh rasping the clapping of many hands bands continued appl applause ausel she listened keyed lip bp to a high pitch of suspense probably some ordinary singer walling out sentimental tunes then sll si lonce nce quite a long silence then a voice sally stiffened in her chair color drained Iral ned out of her face she se scarcely arcely breathed you are kind said the voice to give a weary worn traveler such a welcome home I 1 have been in fai places there was an interval when sallys el clear ear brain blurred she lost the next few sentences then she regained her poise and sat intent on every word back ot of what she heard beard with her ears eara was wag the unfolding boot of memory page after page fluttered through tier her consciousness that terrific row she and reddy keddy had over nothing at all how he had left in a white fury how he had said he would go to the end of the world and never come bade back they were young and impetuous she hud had not seen him for seven years in the meantime lie he had madr mado a name came for himself in science anil three ahree years ago he be went on this famous expedition there had been a formal letter or two between them that was all now he was back back to in new york on christmas eve addressing a large audience I 1 sally took off the earphones she sat a minute longer then la a whirl of impulse threw on her coat and hat end went firing out the loor like lr t a hammering pulse three words battered against her brain I 1 must bust see sea him I 1 I 1 must see him I 1 somehow she squeezed into the big hall somehow she stayed still and listened until it was all over somehow afterward she moved to the front of the room near the platform she walked fl as ina in a dream she must I 1 she most A power other than her own sent her feet steadily to the place where reddy stood thinner he be was vas a lean and brown AH tsa neavy heavy lines in his ail face mouth al 11 fi B most grim eil but nig his eyes eye just jn the some same quizzical and laughing sally was next now in the waiting group who were congratulate inq ing the successful explorer her throat guiv quivered ere d she could scarcely lift her eyes then suddenly her voice came clear con trolled strolled and ria natural tural merry christmas daddy I 1 IN 0 they went out to dinner som somewhere ethere reddy tucked sally under his arm they talked and laughed and chatted both at once they made abject apologies for their stupid behavior to each other seven years ago they tried to cram a thousand questions and answers into every minute never had bad the head waiter seen a happier couple they were unashamed of their joy they care which la Is the way the world over when you really care slid and your heart Is humming like a celestial let ial harp in heaven 1 I knew your voice instantly said sally at least a dozen times do you think you could marry me by new Year sl persisted reddy dont be ridiculous you absurd boy then ill scoot off tor for another seven ayearst years 1 the threat brought her down come to my apartment for a moment and say bay merry christmas to the radio she bhe begged and reddy did 0 1928 1926 western newspaper 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