The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

pOntment in Rough and Ready when it was known that Dick Spindler in \ tended to give Family" Christmas party at his own house That he should take an early opportunity to cele- brate his good fortune and show hospital ity was only expected from the man who had just made a handsome strike" on his claim, but that it should assume so conservative, old-fashioned and respect able a form was quite unlocked for by Rough and Ready, and was thought by some a trifie pretentious. There were net half a dozen families in Rough and Ready; nobody ever knew before that Spin- dler had any relations, and this ringing in of strangers to the settlement seemed to indicate at least a lack of public spirit. He might" urged one of his crit ics, "hev given the boys-that had worked alongside O him in the ditches by day, and slung lies with him around the campfire by night-he might hev given them a square blow out and kep' the leayn's for his old Spindler crew, just as other families do. Why when old man Scudder had his house-raisin last year his family lived for a week on what was left over after the boys had waltzed through the house that highland the Scudders warnt strangers, either" It was also evident that there was an un- easy feeling that Spindler's actions in- dicated an unhallowed leaning to- ward the minority of responsibility and exclusiveness, and desertion-without the excuse of matrimony-of the conviv. ial and independent bachelor majority or Rough and Ready.
 Elf he was stuck after some gal and was kinder lookin ahead, I'd hev under stood it," argued another critic.
 Don't ye be too sure he ain |, 3l sai9 Uncle ns Jim StaFbgnekd ba ad g50om s at the bottom of this yer 'fammerly' gathering. That and trouble ez almost all they re made forl'
 There happened to be some truth in this dark prophecy-but not of the kind that the mlsOgynist supposed. In fact Spin the the house of the Rev. MT saltover, and Mrs. Saltover having one of her "Saicra- tus headaches" had turned him over to her widow sister. Mrs Huldy Price, who obediently bestowed upon him that prac- tiCal and critical attention which sne di- vided with the stocking she was alarming. and practical wisdom, who had once smuggled her wounded husband home from a border affray, calmly made coffee for his deceived pursuers while he lay hidden i'm the loft, walked four miles for that medical assistance which arrived too late 10 save him, and buried him secretly fin his own quarter section,' with only one other witness and mourner, and so saved her position and property Tn that wild community who believed he had fed There was very little of this eXpe- rience to be traced in her round, fresh coinTed hr,Inette cheek, her calm black eyes, set in prickly hedge of stir lashes' sgeous laugh. The latter appeared as smile when she welcomed Mir. Spindler; she hadn't seen him Tor coon aeS, but '.reckoned he was busy hxin up ms ''S 'Weil. yes" said spindier. with slight hesitation. ''ye see I'm reckonin 10 heV d kinder Christmas gatherin' of my he was about to say folks" but dismissed it for relations" and finally settled upon ''relatives' as being more correct ID preachers house. Mrs Price thought it a very good idea. Christmas was the natural season Tor the family to gather to see whos heIe aho who's there, who's gettin on and who isn't and who's dead and buried. It was lucky for them who were so placed that they could do so and De loyful. Her invincible philosophy prooapiy car ried her past any dangerous recoNectons of the lonely grave in Kansas, and hold ing up the stocking to the light she glanced cheerfully along it's level 10 MT. Spindlers embarrassed face by the fire. well, I can't say much ez to that, re- sponded Spindler sull awkWaruly, Tor you see | don't know much about 1t any How long since you've seen 'em?" asked Mrs. Price, apparently addressing herself to the stocking.
 Spindler gave a weak laugh. Well, you see. ef it comes to that, I've never seen 'emr'
 Mrs. Price put the stocking in her lap and opened her direct eyes on Spindler. Never seen 'em?" she repeated Then they're not near relations?'
 There are three cousins" said Spindler, checking them of on his fingers. "a half uncle, kind of brother-in-law-that Is the brother of my sister-in-law's second husbaud-and a niece. That's six But if you've not seen them, I suppose they corresponded with your said Mrs. Price.
 me for money-seeing my name in the paper ez havin' made strike returned Spindler. simply. "and hevin' sent it, l jest know their addresses"
 "Oh!' said Mrs. Price, returning tO the Something in the tone of her ejacula- ton increased Spindier's embarrassment but it also made him desperate. You sec. Mrs. Price" he blurted out "I oughtcr teli ye that ] reckon they are the folks that 'heyn't got on, don't you see. For me. ez had got on. Co give them a sort o' Chrs stmas festival Suthin'. don't Te know. like what your brother-lu-law Nss rssin' last Sunday ln the pulpit about fh.s yer peace and goodwill twlvt man Nre Ifiee looked again at the man be- fnge her His anlloN, perpieNed face en- nIf.fri some doubt. vet a certain deter winsfign rerurting the prospect the quo- iGrs Nr sninf'tr. and ono that does vou great rrrff sne saii EraFeiy
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