Show P ah V rf yi kathleen norris N aa irwin thic r s 41 1 ju CHAPTER VIL VEL continued christmas falling on a tuesday th they ey all went up to the woods on the saturday afternoon preceding it and came back laden with evergreen scarlet covon berries crisp polished huckleberry branches and p the one great bunch of mist mistletoe letoe that dick climbed high into a dying oak to secure gail frantic to start tying bundles and mixing batters had to spend the wet monday in the library she walked up to at five not only to wait for edith but to help her effectively while she was vas waiting edith was in an exhausted whirl of last christmas sales ariel also was there as one of her christmas assistants si at two dollars a day rain was twinkling and sparkling in the black night as the law bences came wearily excitedly out and started for home ariel was very silent but gall gail and edith were gay christmas eve at library and shop was over and nothing but fun an and holiday ahead edith thought of the tissue paper and ribbons in her lower bureau drawer she would begin wrapping and marking packages right after dinner she had completely ruined herself on presents as usual and she felt the usual joy in her plight gail thought of presents too 1 she wondered if dick would give her a present of course he would she would not care what it was it would be the most valued thing she received dick needed socks and ties and belts and gloves if he went to los angeles next week he would need gloves but she had dared give him none of these books she had two books for him in one with a fast beating heart she bad written dick with love from A L love love from abigail lawrence for dick stebbins perhaps well be marled maried by next christmas thought gailiun gail run ning racing hurrying home in i the the black rainy darkness of christmas eve it seemed to her the most wonderful christmas they had ever had from the hour on christmas eve when she ariel and edith got home wets wet cold and tired to the warm kitchen and to planning and laughter and tea toast and jam and wrapping gifts and surprises until the two dinner on christmas day was safely served there was not a flaw they all got their presents ready and at 11 set the table for breakfast then walked under warm shining stars to church at midnight every one stumbled back utterly exhausted to go to bed heavily and blindly fingers sore from strings and tinsel backs and feet aching hands scented with pine resin hearts filled with happiness and then it was christmas morning and everyone was thanking everyone else and gail was honestly amazed at all the things they got and such beautiful things tables were loaded with boxes and bundles breakfast leisurely and late was wonderful and by 11 the scents of the early afternoon meal were in the spicy warm christmas scented air dick was leaving for los angeles at seven ariel had promised miss lizzie vail with whom she had been sut dying dramatic expression to have supper with lizzle lizzie and her mother but come home early darling for tomorrows your birthday and we have to celebrate all over again oh I 1 will gail ariel was very docile she seemed to her sister to be at her sweetest today van had sent her no present that they knew of but christmas malls mails were always late at two they sat down ravenous to the feast everything was perfection long after three the sex lingered at the table nibbling raisins raising and nuts trying the german honey cakes that had come as a greeting that morning sampling the christmas candy and when finally there was a sur stir it was only after an unanimous decision to abandon all plans for supper phil went off to some point unknown probably to see bee lily sam helped clear the table dick had to walk down to his office to get some papers and ariel herself suggested that she walk with him because she had a present for mary binney and could leave it by the way but please leave the silver and glasses for me to wash please ariel pleaded oh nonsense gail said she and edith made short work of the clearing up the short day ended with them both stretched luxuriously on galls bed reading at intervals talking desultorily waiting for night to bring the other members of the family home how long will dick be in los angeles gail only about two weeks its a ship case A great chance for him 1 I think hes such a dear ive grown awfully fond of him this fall said edith hes a darling ariel put her head in the door ive been asleep she said blinking we looked in and saw you when we came in im im going to miss vails now said bald ariel who was and coated and gloved til be back early dick will be gone when you come back 1 I know it I 1 said goodby good by to him ariel looked very pretty in her dark blue coat and snug blue hat she came in kissed gau gall kissed edith I 1 dont want to go she bhe said with a weary sigh 1 I hate to have you gail said affectionately think of being 18 tomorrow baby mothers poet 18 1821 mothers nothing ariel said bitterly gall gail edith asked when ariel had gonoe did she bhe get anything from van not that she told me it might be delayed in the mail A telegram be 1 I know there was a silence in the big sh shabby abby pretentiously f furnished ed room gail roused herself stiff ifft and d dro drowsily ily 1 I told dick id start packing his bag for the trip she said with an exultant rise at her heart well miss him oh wont we edith yav yarned yawned ned agonizingly gall gail crossed the hall to dicks cold big biff barrack of a room to find him done with his packing and ready for good bys he looked almost handsome or at all events gall gail found the lean big featured face handsome as lie he belted belled his coat and pulled on the new gloves that edith had not been too self conscious to give him if gail had youre about this case edith accused him for he seemed unusually grave no yes im kind of worried dick said A gone to the vails dick and phil back sam la gail called come out and say goodby good by to dick 1 I think we ought to kiss kias h him am goodby good 0 od by on christmas night edith said giddily in a rare mood of daring for answer his bis big coated arm went about her and he kissed her so heartily that she emerged breathless and protesting then it was galls turn the clean shaven hard cheek check was against her own his tremendous grip lifted her held her shoulders tight she felt weak helpless she drank the deliciousness of that first kiss as if it were a draught of heady wine for an instant she was his dazzled and ecstatic then panting laughing she was squarely on her feet again close to him well edith the next time you have a bright idea you might take dick and me into your counsels dont worry about anything that comes up gail dick was saying rather confused and breathless himself very big very much the man til ill be back in a few days everything will come out all right he was gone they heard the engine start in the yard and laughed at each other as they wandered down to the kitchen edith and sam had tea and cold turkey after all but gall gail although she sat with them at the table was feeding on finer food and could not touch their tangible viands her mouth her whole being still pulsated to dicks grave hard definite kiss how he be had kissed her phil came in at nine and they talked idly until the clock amazed them by striking ten then everyone was up at once and gall gail went to the telephone if ariel was waa as late as this phil must go get her poor phil who looked so tired let me run upstairs gall gail edith pleaded and see if she slipped in and gone to bed she cant be at the vails this late edith came downstairs with a letter in her hand and a whitened face it was on her pillow gail what gail whispered without moving her eyes from editha she tore open the sealed envelope ashes gone phil said eloped with van sam suggested read it gail whispered handing the written sheet to phil phil read it slowly aloud gail dearest and AU all of you forgive us we had to do it this way for reasons well write you its always been dick gail I 1 think ede knew months ago knew how bow I 1 felt anyway but I 1 never knew how bow he felt until lately were going to los angeles and well be married there I 1 stand the gossip at home and having no money for clothes or anything ive told everyone that I 1 have an aunt down south its true and that im going goin to try to get into the movies please tell everyone that at least until were married gall if there is any hitch I 1 never can come back but there wont be dick says there wont be well write you everything and where we are and everything dont tell anyone dont tell anyone gail just tell them im trying to get a job in the movies and let it go at that it if I 1 dont make good dickie bring me home expect a telegram tomorrow I 1 do love you gail and im sorry it was signed ariel my G d dick stebbins phil said in a long silence gail dont look so edith said trembling crying ashes safe with dick maybe maybe its the best thing that could have happened gail moved her lips as if she were about to speak swallowed shook her head she got up and went to the sink and took a glass of water her back turned toward the room when she turned about her face seemed oddly changed it was white it was older somehow and infinitely weary her hand wet with the cold water she crushed her hair feverishly from her forehead her lips were wet with water too as she spoke well she said quietly in a conversational tone her heavy brows in a frown well that it that to be continued |