Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

= MIN about the rest. Inc ulnner
will not come off, after all"
The decorated end of the big, sumptu-
GUS studio looked oddly dlstasteful to
Gerry Talbot since the reading of Miss
Waketield's telegram, which had shat
tered his enthusiastic plans. He had in
yited her-and her brother N 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 disappointment, for he
had let her know Enthusiastically how 1t
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
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, l would. I'd do it fust
thing,' said the taller of the two. ooh.
nv, 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, all at once, Of an inexpiitabie
impulse to crafty the child's wish.
$50 you would really like to give
your friends a Christmas dinner!' said
he. smiling down at her ~astonished eyes.
your wish"
"Oh, lear me, Mini gasped Lou. 81
can't hardly believe it, can you? 1t
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 pleased!
How many shall you invite? Talbot
asked ~gravely, taking out his notebook.
"well, there's Aunt Katie an Uncle
Tim an the baby. Mis- Posey. Jonas
Hoggs, Meg an Pat Fooley-Min. can
you think of anyone else?'
Lame Betsy an Moll."
"How many's that?' asked Lou.
Twelve, counting us three"
Don't you think it would be nice
to have a little present beside each
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 l should
not know what to select"
When Lou appeared at the studio on
the following morning she was a very
different looking girl, and any one would
have known by the pure joy of her
voice that som great and festive event
was at hand. Talbot had finished the
decorations which had been so harshly
interrupted by Miss Wakefeld's mes
sage, and the result was extremely graf
| flying, especially after Louis rapturous
scclamations.
At precisely - o'clock the bell rang
for the first time to the ar
rival of Aunt Katie and Tim and the
baby, all polished and prinked to the
verge of painfulness. Next came Mis-
Posey, a little, faded. bowed. ancient
woman in rusty black, with long gold
loops in her wrinkled ears. Lame Betty
thumped in ON her crutches, closely fol-
| lowed by Moll, in borrowed finery, of va
| rious sizes. Meg brought blind Jonas,
| and a merry little wrath of a man called
Tom Doom.
Talbot shook hands all around with
a merry Christmas!' after which they
all took their places at the beautiful
table, the like of which none of that
humble party had ever looked upon. But
it was q kindly madness that possessed
the host of that bountiful dinner. for
his stories were of the p~.-asantest and
his watchful care was unfiagging. His
guests rewarded his efforts by q sponta-
neous enjoyment Of all that was set be
fore them. It was good to see them
Iwait upon blind Jonas. who could not
help himself, and upon lame Betty.
whose crippled hands made difhcult the
use OF knife and fork.
Talbot rose to repIenish half-emptisd
AAalAs4a he'll @sssh.rsIlllesa .errasaay
ThsfsNWas 4 pause;; then lanes Quiets
w~elktsslsed yeiee I'D: .yeA oe1ent