The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-25

ones self occasionally, so bring forth the
needlul.
Like old King Cole call for the
| bowl, and-er-the sugar and the eggs.
Garter and l will concoct Il, alone and
| unaided."
But Larry, think OF your father.
What Prohibitionist he is. How he op.
poses such things"
Nonsense, little woman. NY father
knows am man and in my own house.
The dear old pater is all right, especially
as We will not tell himl You and Miss
| Madge shall sec what Jolly egg-beaten
Carter and are. Just throw something
over this little table here and wen have d
regular lark. Reminds us OF our college
days, eh, Nelson?"
So after sundry trims to the pantry the
| little table presented an incongruous col
lection Of bowls and plattcrs, comfort.
able looking flask mounting guard over
the whole, Nellie, Madge and Dr. Bell
constituting themselves a committee OF
suggestion
In the midst OF the clatter, and the
/ laughter, the gate was heard TO click, and
/ running TO the window Nellie gave one
/ glance, turned startled face to the group,
and exclaimed IN tragic tone, "Oh, Larry
Your father"
Quick rs a flash Lawrence lifted his
bowl, gave wild sweep which took in the
portly flask and sugar dish, and, exclaim-
ing, IL could make ii all right with the
pater, boys, OF course, but it's just Us well
TO spare his feelings Follow your leader,
Nelson!" darted across the room, deposited
their burden behind sofa, snatched the
white cover spread over the table aud
threw II after and by the time Judge
Carleton, stately old gentleman OF being.
nant aspect, had laid of his ovcrcoat in
the hall and entered an eminently proper
group rose TO greet him, albeit there were
dancing eyes and twitchng lips.
| Your mother felt she could not enjoy
her Christmas dinner until assured that
yours is n success, Nellie" said the Judge,
beaming on his pretty daughtor.in-law.
'As TO that, father, the proof Of the
pudding is in the eating, but I'm hope.
lul, " was the saucy reply, Though, Miss
Heath and | have made everything 80
lovely that these men will be consolcd in
any event"
Don't you think IT," said Carleton. in
50 dismal tone, and with such an agunized
glance toward the distant corner where
his beautiful eggnog was slowly but surely
growing fiat and unproiiiabie," that
Madge Heath flew 10 the piano and
dashed into brilliant polka To cover her
irrcpressible laughter.
She was promptly Joined by Nelson
Carter, and turning her lovely eyes upon
him, she said merrily:
1T reminds YOU mofc than over Of col.
lego larks, don't It, Mr.. Carter. with tho
Judge TO pcrsUnatc a stern prpit-ssof?"
Yes" responded Carter gloomily,
pulling his blonde muslache, "its quite
too depressing TO think OF all that good
heating going TO waste Don't you
think" insinuatingly I'VE might get the
things Out2 l could move that tail
screen 10 shut off the draught. you know,
and You could stand just outside the door
while | hand them ioyou."
"But where should We carry them?' in
terrupicd Madgc. "To put them out in
the hall would surely not mend matters,
and you don't expect me 20 go wandering
round the house, up stairs and down
stairs and in my lady's chamber You
can't Ia It, knowl' This last with kill.
ing English accent and an equally killing
glance that quite, rs he himself declared,
"did the job" for Nelson. "llut how in
tcnscly funny Il is; only look at Mr. Garlic
toms lugubrious iaccl' Aud here a wild
burst OF III concealed laughter from the
graccless couple caused the Judge to turn
a mildly inquiring andsomewhat rcbuking
glance in ihcir direction.
An awful silence cnsucd, and feeling
that he must say something Carter cx-
claimed, in q hilarious tone, a. Il Just wind
ing up good story:
Fact, | assure you. Miss Heath; fun.
nicst thing ever knew In my life. felt
sure you would be amused. An old Joke
Of larry's," hc added, gnilclossly, beam.
ing upon the inysiilcd Judge.
This was too much ior Nellie. and muir
muring something about bringing baby TO
see gIandpapa, size fled from the room, to
return In few minutes, bringing q lovely
baby girl, barely n year old, who was
passed around aud admired immensely.
All this was most pleasing 10 the Judge,
who quite adotcd her ladyship, especially
was he delighted by the intense apprccia-
ton displayed by al Tor her unny baby
ucks-littlc dreaming, innocent man, that
laugh they must-or buul Later, when
h. rose to depart, one delegation accom-
panied him 20 the door, while another
IufUfl 10 lhHIlofl tHc tsgf.
"Ruincd, utterly ruined, said Carleton,
wrathiuily while Mr.. Carter. striking nn
attitude exclaimed In loucsoi deep patho,:
"Oi nli al worls ~ tongue ~ p.n,
The adlat urc thCc-it might have bcrnl'
Then they looked at each other, these
foolish young people, and laughed and
laughed until the digniicd waiter who
came 20 announce dinner felt sure they
were oil Cuzy-or drunk
Artful Nellie who saw which way
things were tending, joined Mr.. Carter
aud Madgc together, appropriated Dr..
Bell, and LEFT Mr. Carleton TO devote him.
self 10 the carving. "Thc turkey would
require all Of his attention." she
explained swcctly, when he grumbled
over his solitary condition.
Wheroupon he insnualcd that "sho
always was a jealous creature, couldn't
bear 10 have him talk 10 pretty girl"
And II the cggnog had been u failure
the dinner was not Such q turkey, Just
done TO turn, such sauces and salads,
such creams and jelips. Al, me, the
memory Of that dinner ingcrelh vet.
That night rs Mr.. Carter said good.
night on the college steps. after seeing Miss
Heath home, II was with the understand.
ing that he should call In few DAYS.
Need Il be said that this was but tho