The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-22

When she came back, Dodo was standing
by a table In the kitchen staring tragical-
iy into an open paper bag.
Come look at this, Man." she said
gravely.
Nan walked toward her with apprehen-
sive quickness. OF course something had
gone wrong with the dinner.
"a tin pan with baked beans and pork
h itf Why, we never ordered any beansl'
"Of course We didn't That is his
Christmas dinner. Oh, Mani
"Whose!"
"Tnat poor old mans overhead.
"Well, but how do you know 10 isf"
at just must be- Somebody whistled
up our tube and l went 10 the dumb
waiter, and there were just two bags on 10.
i grabbed the one nearest To me, for I'd
left the sauce for the plum pudding sim
mering on the stove, and the waiter went
on up lie is the only one higher up than
we, SO we've got his Christmas dinner
"And he's got our plum pudding"
"Oh. well, let it col A miserable little
canned pudding--I hope he will relish itp'
"But perhaps no prefers beans and
pork"
Dodo put out her hands tragically.
Don't speak of them. l came home
In such sublimatod frame of mind Such
music as L have heard today, Mani mean
the organ solol IL came over me like the
swelling anthem Of solemn ocean waves.
/ always cry at the sound of the sea. III
could find out who played that solo, /
would pay him all i make in year to
teach me tho organ. IL lifted me clean
out OF the realm of worry and care, and
then-to come back TO pork and beansv'
"And Mrs. Stone" Nan added as the
twitter of the doorbell sounded through
the little apartment.
1t was In state OF complete readiness
for the festive occasion. Mans evergreen
wreath, with its crimson star, decorated
their one front window a beautiful branch
OF holly that Dodo had secured a week be-
fore was suspended by her best neck rib
bon from the single gas jet in the center
of the room. Two mysterious parcels on
the table under it showed whore the mod
est gifts which were to brighten the day
for Mrs. Stone and the lame girl were do
posted.
Dodo stood absently twisting the neck
of tho bag about the pan of beans. IL
there was only some way Of sending his
dinner back to him and making him keep
their plum pudding for dessert Then
she started violently.
Nan was talking 10 someOody, anu some-
body was answering in a rich baritone
voice that certainly did not belong TO old
Mrs. Stoiie. What Nan said was
"We had just discovered the exchange.
My friend took your package by mistake.
Thank you very much for bringing our
pudding back" Dodo's eyes and ears
were wonder stretched at Mans next
words. 1--WE would be so glad TO have
You come in and take dinner with us
that is, unless you have friends with you
up stairs"
The rich baritone said sadly, "No; there
| is no one waiting for me TO come back"
Then said Nan, with grave sweetness;
/ ave ask you TO stay. Our own Christmas
will be the gladder for knowing that you
are not all alone" And, with grateful
| glance beyond her into the little holly
decorated room, he said "If might
1T just could not be avoided, I" said Nan
| self defensively that night when she and
/ Dodo, flushed with the triumphant sue
cess of their dinner, sat discussing the day.
"When saw him standing there, pale
| bou ,uaallyy MI