The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-25
A PARIS CHRISTMAS

turned out as merry and red as food
cheer and bright holly could make it.
We girls who live together at the
Pension Berthier decided to have lit
tie Christmas fete. We begged the use
OF the salon from Madame. assuring her
that it is quite customary for demoi-
selles to entertain in America.
We bought a tree and all the trim
mings at the booths which lire the
boulevards at holiday time. We had
heaps of fun expending our small funds
and selecting our gewgaws.
Each invited friend to our party
The first one ! thought of was Theo-
dore Townsend. 1t seemed so natural
to ask him, We had always been such
good friends ever since l came over
here. But he hadn't been near me for
over month, and I decided that if he
was not in need Of my society l could
do without his. and then 1 thought I
would bid some less popular person to
our little feast, who perhaps otherwise
would have no Christmas. l therefore
wrote note to George Ainsworth, who
was earning his art education by all
sorts of work. and having an awfully
hard time, too, poor chap.
We got up our little party on very
short notice, sending out our invitations
so late that we expected no replies,
hoping that the men would answer in
person.
Much TO our surprise, after the tiny
tree was decked and lighted, George
Ainsworth arrived alone.
Where are the others?'' was asked
in chorus by four wondering girls
What others?' he demanded
why, we each invited man, and as
there are four of us girls, there should
be three other men," and explained.
Did every one receive four invita-
tions?" askd George, his eyes twiAk-
ling.
"Of course not" chorus again.
We'll, 1 did" said George, as he
spread four little notes on the table.
Il invited YOU" shouted all four in
concert.
Il know you did, bless your hearts. l
never was so popular before in all my
life. It's great, l am charmed to ac-
cept."
We girls were amazed. BY tacit con-
sent we had not mentioned the names
of our guests, but had each been as
sured in our own minds whom the 9TH
ers would invite. Now to our conster-
nation we found we had all INDUCED in
the Christmas spirit to the extent of
asking the same man
Now, what's to be done?" we cried.
Til go out and hunt up some other
fellows" suggested the popular George,
unselfshly, "if you will trust my judg-
ment.'
Just the thing; bring three if you
can, and don't you dare come back
without any," said Nan, and George
started down our four flights Of stairs
on his search while we girls blew out
the candles on aur tree, and looked at
each other rather foolishly.
I'VE ought to congratulate ourselves
on our Kindness Of heart" said Nan,
who always sees the funny side Of ev-
erything, but next time we'd better
let our right hand see what our left is
up to-
1t was not long before George came
back triumphant attended by Mr..
Brownell, an architectural student, and
Theodore Townsend.
Dick Howe will be along in a few
minutes" George announced, as we
welcomed our new guests.
1t was inhospitable know, to over
look Theodore's hand which he held out
to me in greeting, but l could not trust
myself to take it. I felt that the pres
sure of his fingers carelessly against
mine might make the tears which sud
denly came more Unexpectedly into my
eyes overflow. He did not seem to no
tice the omission, however, but went
the rounds shaking hands with the
other girls and joining in the jests and
laughter.
$50 you would have a party without
me-" he murrnured few minutes later
while helping me to light the candles
again, but you see I wasn't sensitive,
l fairly jumped at the chance to come"
Your enthusiasm is rather sudden,
isn't it?" I couldn't refrain from ask
ing. I thought he looked at me little
reproachfully, but he said nothing, for
the girls asked him to play the "VaIse
Bleue," which he did with spirit and
force that l feared would be the death
of the Madame's old piano. The rest of
us Joined hands and circled around our
tree in a child-like frolic, after which
we despoiled it of it's little toy gifts and
began on the refreshments, which con-
sisted of marrons-glaces, gauphrettes,
real American doughnuts made by a
New England woman in the Quarter"
and coffee with cream in it, which I
made myself over a spirit lamp. The
boys complimented us highly on our
spread, and did full justice to it.
1--WE must go to the midnight mass at
the Madeleine said Theodore, "Alva-
req is going to sing
Of course we were all delighted with
this suggestion and we put on our
wraps and piled the whole party into
two cabs. rafting away through the
narrow streets of the Latin Quarter till
we crossed the Pont de la Concorde and
soon were at the door of the grand old
church.
We were early enough to get good
seats Theodore came in the other cab,
but sat by me in church, and the hours
wait before the service did not seem te-
dious,
Above us was Marochetti's lovely
marble altar piece. the graceful figure
of Mary Magdalene being borne heav-
onward by angels. The myriads of