the room prepared for him occupied by the nurse... His sister said, apologizing: There's no use grumbling, darling... they will be well by New Year, and I believe you can arrange sweet company for Christmas Eve.

He said: Quite easily.

But the matter was not easy: no room at the nearby hotel for a bachelor... alone on Christmas Eve... Then chance played its part... In the big bus he had seen a strange girl writing on a card the name of his first love... Dorta had refused to go with him to Rhodesia... and she had not married yet: sweet Dorta, and a flower farm... Was that how she earned her living?... He would find that out for himself — and what a sweet Christmas!

* * *

He was walking up the garden path when she met him... He said quietly: Hello, Dorta. She cried: Mike! Mike!... and every emotion passed over her face as she held out both hands, saying: Mike, how strange this is... Come in. And he went in.

Karen heard the voices and shrugged... It was Cliff, of course... Ten minutes passed, and the kitchen door opened... She started — for what she wore was that shabby old dress... And

he exclaimed: Oh, it's the girl of the Christmas cards! I didn't realize she was...!

And Dorta said slyly: But you... you would have come anyway, Mike... you would have found your way to my address... Then she went on: Karen, he is spending Christmas with us, and I shall ring Cliff to reserve four places for us.

And Karen was thinking... my dress is old, though it is not bad... and he will dance with me — the man I love... No, I will not be a fool; I will go.

But he was looking at her and saying... Come... please... And she could not refuse.

The party was delightful... the brilliant lights and the orchestra

Crisco

The pure vegetable shortening

For all foods and fried dishes

Crisco

FOR CAKES, PASTRY AND FRYING

PURE VEGETABLE SHORTENING

Crisco

• Delicious in taste

• Quick to digest

• Light on the stomach

Crisco, the choice vegetable shortening