The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

to consider so nearly akin to taking II over, that Mrs. Price began to believe 1t herself as he hopefully departed.
 She thought 1t over' sufficiently to go to Sacramento and excuse herself to her to talk it over" to the infinite delight of those Baltimore girls, who thought this extravaganza of Spindler's "so Califor- nian and eccentric!' So that it was not strange that presently the news came back to Rough and Ready, and his old associates learned for the first time that he had never seen his relatives and that they would be doubly strangers This did not increase his popularity; neither, gr1eve to say, did the intelligence that his relatives were probably poor and that the Rev. Mir. Saltover had approved of his course, and had likened 1t to the rich mans feast to which the halt and blind were invited. Indeed, the allusion was supposed to add hypocrisy and bid for popularity to Spindlers defection, for it was argued that he might have feasted Wa1l-eyed Joe" or "Tangle-foot Billy who had once been "chawed" by a bear while prospecting-if he had been sin cere Howbeit, Spindlers faith was ob- livious to these criticisms in his joy at MT. Saltover's adhesion to his plans and the loan of Mrs. Price as a hostess. In fact, he proposed to her that the invita- tions should also convey that information of the Rev. MT. SaltGver," as guarantee of good faith-but the widow would have none of 1t; The invitations were duly written and dispatched.
 Suppose" suggested Spindler, with a sudden lugubrious apprehension. "sup- pose they shouldn't come?"
 Have no fear of that said Mrs. Price, with a frank laugh.
 'or of they was deadY' continued Spindler.
 They couldn't all be dead" said the widow, cheerfully.
 I've written to another cousin by mar rtage, said Spindler dubiously lin case because he was rich.'
 And have you ever seen him, either. MT. Spindler?" asked the widow, with a slight mischievousness
 "Lordy! No!" he responded with unaf fected concern.
 Only one mistake was made by Mrs. She had noticed-what the simple-minded Spindler could never have conceived- 6aeofts the feeling toward him held by his old qSsqcta'es, qSsf e ana had tacttully suggested tended to them in the evening.
 You can have refreshments, you know, too. after the dinner, and games
 But" said the unsophisticated host. won't the boys think I'm playin' 1t rather low down on them-so to speak 1t was the tailings after a striker
 Nonsense, said Mrs. Price. with de- stsi1n Ed It's quite fashi99nable in San To this decision Spindler, in his blind faith in the widows management, weakly yielded An announcement in the Week Y Banner" that "On Christmas evening Richard Spindler, Esq, proposed to en- certain his friends and fellow-cltizens at an At Home in his own residence" not only widened the breach between him and the boys, but awakened an active re- sentiment that only waited for an outlet It was understood that they were all com ing; but that they should have some fun out of it." which might not coincide with Spindler's nor his relatives sense of hu- nor, seemed a foregone conclusion.
 Unfortunately, too, subsequent events lent themselves to this irony of the situ- alton. A few mornings after the invita- tions were dispatched Spindler at one of his daily conferences with Mrs. Price took a newspaper from his pocket. "It seems" he said, looking at her with an to take one O them names off that list the name O Sam Spindler-and kalkilate upon only six relations coming" then you have had an answer and he has Not that exactly" said spindler slow ly, but from remarks in this yer paper he was hung last week by the Vigilance Committee of Yolo."
 Mrs. Price opened her eyes on Spin S ba5s 5aee fS she sbe 5Sos sad the RsReT 0m may all be a mistake-some other Spin dler. Ton know, you say you've never seen themi"
 "I reckon it's no mistake" said Spin dler. with patient gravity. for the com mittee, sent me back my. invitation with the kinder dsparagin' remark that they've sent him where 1t ain't bin the habit to keep Christmasn
 Mrs. Price gasped. but a glance at Spindler's patient, wistful, inquiring eyes brought back her old courage. Well" she said cheerfully. perhaps it's just as well he didn't come"
 Are ye sure of that, Mrs. Price?" said Spindler, with a slightly troubled ex- pression. Seems to me now that he was the sort might hev bin gathered in at the feast-and kinder snatched like a brand from the burnin', accordin' to Scripture. But ye know best"
 Mir Spindler" said Mrs. Price. sud- denly, with a slight snap in her black eyes. "are yupr--are the others like this? Or''-here her eyes sOftened again and her -''is this kind of thing likely to happen ''I think we're pretty sartin O. hevin' six to dinner, returned Spindler simply. Then. as if noticing some other signifi- canoe in her speech he added wistfully, But you won't go back on me, Mrs. Price, ef things ain't pannin out exackly as ] reck0ned. You see l never really knew theFe yer relations"
 lie was so obviously sincere in his in- tens. and above all. seemed Go place such pathetic reliance un her judgment that she hesitated to lct him know the shock bis revelation had given her And what mirht hts other relations prove Co be! gnnd I.nrdi Net. oddly enough she was so rrenossesscd be him. and so fascinated tv hlf ytTg QuiNptism. that it was per haps rem thefg complex reasons that she NIN N MNII" HINlNa
 "orr 0f these cousins . sec is a lady ai.d tntn there's your niece. Do sou kilow rFtf'nE ahtai them. Mr Sr.ndler7' fiia farr EfHn serious An more than | krow of fhs others hn said. apoiuget- trnNf. Aftrr a mHufnfH hesitation he uFnf nn %HN fUu speak 70 lt it Hrfms fr wf lss heard fhat mF niece aas di- tnrTea ifaf he added. l-rhirrinE ur IfF Hrafl tHaf HNf vac rsrufaT" MfN lflHr NaIr HH.ff laugh aua Haa .ifHf fHs ffN mHmFHfF .lfu fhIs suhs a1e lft.f HNrnIn looked af hin What Es nIEHf asf. H fH aEf FfHf eaH unFa fffHf Ht Hf sITr she safs mans frIf fH fsf f.H fHf.ush tHa ffIrE- Hrf faa nllnH tHf NaHf ffn raE ars- fEIHa a'NsN tNH ka HUrr Come rlfIffs Ilsstsf q. aUt fasr AUF about
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