Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-12-23

/ had just received, you needn't
~ mind about the rest. The dinner
will not come off. after ALL"
The decorated end of the big, sumptu-
GUS studio looked oddly dstasteful to
Gerry Talbot since the reading of Miss
Wakefeld'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 greater disappointment, 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 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 confec-
toner's window.
yes. Min. | would I'd do II fust
thing" said the taller Of the two. "Oh.
my, wouldn't II be nice to be rich an
invite all your friends to a big tursey
an ice cream dinner"
They were very poorly clad. thin
featured and lll-nourished, but not I'M
pleasant to look at. Talbot was CON
scious, all at once. of an inexplicable
impulse to crafty the childs wish.
$50 you would really like TO give
your friends a Christmas dinnerw 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 you? 1t
sounds just like a make-believe thing.
Won't Mis- Posey be s'prisedl An
Jonas an Meg an Tom. Oh. won't they
be Jest too pleased!
How many shall you inviteT Talbot
asked gravely. taking out his notebook.
"Well. there's Aunt Katie an Uncle
Tim an the baby. Mis- Posey, Jonas
you think of anyone elseT'
lame Betsy an Moll."
"How many's thatT' asked Lou.
Twelve, counting us three"
Don't you think It 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 l should
not know what to select"
When Lou appeared at the studio on
the following morning she was very
different looking girl. and any one would
have known by the pure joy of her
voice that some great and festive event
was at hand. Talbot had finished the
decorations which had been so harshly
interrupted by Miss Wakefeld's mes
sage, aud the result was extremely graf
flying, especially after LOUIS rapturous
acclamatiOns.
At precisely u o'clock the bell rang
for the first time to announce the ar
rival Of Aunt Katie and Tim and the
baby, all polished and prnked to the
verge of painfulness Next came Mis-
Posey, a little, faded, bowed, ancient
woman in rusty blnck, with long gold
loops in her wrinkled ears. Lame Betty
thumped In on her crutches. closely fol-
lowed by Mol, In borrowed fnery, Of va
rious sizes. Meg brought blind Jonas,
and merry little wrath of a man called
Tom Doom.
Talbot shook hands all around with
"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 a kindly madness that possessed
the host Of that bountiful dinner. for
his stories were of the pleasantest and
his watchful care was unhagging. His
guests rewarded his efforts by sponta-
neous enjoyment of all that was set be
fore them. 1t was good to see them
wait upon blind Jonas. who could not
help himself. and upon lame Betty
whose crippled hands made difficult the
use Of knife and fork.
Talbot rose to replenish a half-emptied
plate as the hall bell thrilled merrily.
There was a pause; then James quiet
well-trained voice said: Yes, madam,
be Is at dinner In the studio"