The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1905-12-23
TaIbOt's Christmas

BY FRANCIS HART.

Y AMES." said Gerry Talbot sudden
ly, looking up from the letter he
had just received. you needn't
0J mind about the rest. This dinner
will not come of. after all"
The decorated end Of the big, sumptu-
Gus studio looked oddly distasteful TO
Gerry Talbot since the reading of Miss
Wake6eld's telegram, which had shat
tered his enthusiastic plans. He had in
vited her-and her brother and his wife
to a Christmas studio dinner which he
meant to make as festive as possible. OF
course, her rejection at the last hour
had been a gentle invention prepared to
avert a greater appointment. for he
had let her know Enthusiastically how II
was With him, and he had been so hope
full of success that he had selected a
ring for her Christmas gift-a little gold
en- circlet set with a clear white soil
taire.
The streets were thronged with bust
ling Christmas shoppers, glad of heart,
with merry, expectant faces, and here
and there a wistful one, too. looking on.
hut not buying. Talbot noticed two lit
tie girls gazing wistfully into a confec-
toners window.
Yes. Min, | would. I'd do II fust
thing" said the taller Of the two "Oh.
my, wouldn't it be nice to be rich an
invite all your friends to a big turkey
an ice cream dinner''
They were very poorly clad, thin
featured and ill-nourished. but not I'M
pleasant to look at Talbot was con-
scious, sill at once, of an inexplicable
impulse to crafty the child's wish.
$50 you would really like to give
your friends a Christmas dinnerr' said
he. smiling down at her astonished eyes.
81 have a great mind to let you have
your wish"
~Oh. dear me, Mini" gasped Lou 81
can't hardly believe it. can your II
sounds Just like a make-believe thing.
Won't Mis- Posey be s'prised, An
Jonas an Meg an Tom. Oh, won't they
be jest too pleasedr'
How many shall you inviteY' Talbot
asked gravely, taking out his notebook.
well. there's Aunt Katie an Uncle
Tim an the baby. Mis- Posey. Jonas
Boggs. Meg an Pat Fooley-Alin, can
you think of anyone elseT'
Lame Betsy an MOn-"
How many's thatf" asked Lou.
Twelve. counting us three"
Don't you think il would be nice
to have a little present beside each
plate?" asked Talbot.
Both girls gasped, but looked immense
ly pleased.
Suppose you two go round with me
and pick out what you consider suitable
for each Of your guests. because 1 should
not know what to select"
When Lou appeared at the studio or
the following morning she was a very
different looking girl. and any one would
have known by the pure joy of bel
voice that some great and festive even
was at hand. Talbot had finished tbs
decorations which had been so hsrshll
interrupted BY Miss Wakeield's mes
sage. and the result was extremely graf
flying, especially after Lou's rapturoui
acclama tons.
At precisely IL o'clock the bell RAM
for the first time to announce the ar
rival of Aunt Katie and Tim snd tn
baby, all polished and prinked TO th'
verge of painfulness. Next came Mis-
Posey, a little. faded. bowed. >ancien
woman In rusty black. with long sol,
looms in her wrinkled ears Lame Bettl
! thumped in on her crutches, closely fol
lowed by Mol. in borrowed hnery, Of va
rious sizes. Meg brought blind Jonas
and a merry little wrath Of man Gale
4 Tom Doom.
r Talbot shook hands all around wit
Merry Christmasw after which the
ali took tkeir places at the beautiful
table. the ike of which none of tina
: humble party had ever looked upon Blu
It was a kindly madness that possesses
D the host Of that bountiful dinner. 70
n his stories we're Of the pleaSanteSt an
his watchful care was unhagging. hi
guests rewarded his efforts by sponts
neous enjoyment Of all that was set b
: fore them. Ii was good 10 see ther
I wait upon blind Jonas. who could nc
Y help himself. and upon lame Bett,
whose crippled hands made difficult n
use of knife and fork
IL Talbot rose to replenish half-emptie
! plate as the hall bell thrilled merrill,
% There was a pause: then James quie
A well-traired voice said: Yes. MADAM
he Is at dinner In the studio"