Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-21

Y AMES," said Gerry Talbot sudden
ly, looking up from the letter he
had just received. "you needn't
(OJ mind about the rest. The dinner
- will not come off. after all
The decorated end of the big, sumptu-
Gus studio looked oddly distasteful to
Gerry Talbot since the reading of Miss
Wakeield's telegram, which had shat
tered his enthusiastic plans. He had i'll
vited her-and her brother and his wife
to a Christmas studio dinner which he
meant to max as festive as possible. OF
course, her rejection at the last hour
had been gentle invention prepared to
avert greater disappointment, for he
had let her know Enthusiastically how it
was with him, and he had been so hope
ful of success that he had selected a
ring for her Christmas gift-a little gold
en- circlet set with a clear white soli-
taire.
The streets were thronged with bust
ling Christmas shoppers. glad of heart,
with merry, expectant faces, and here
and there a wstful one, too. looking on,
hut not buying. Talbot noticed two lit
tie girls gazing wistfully into confec-
toner's window.
"Yes, Min, l would. I'd do 1t 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 un-
pleasant to look at. Talbot was con-
scious. all at once. of an inexplicable
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 astonshed eyes.
81 have a great mind to let you have
your wish
"Oh. dear me, Min" gasped Lou. 81
can't hardly believe it, can you? 1t
sounds lust like makebelieve 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 inviteT Talbot
asked gravely, taking ont his notebook
"Wel. there's Aunt Katie an Uncle
Roggs. Meg an Pat Fooley-Min, can
you think of anyone else!'
Lame Betsy an Moll.'
"How many's thatT' asked Lou.
"Twelve. counting us three"
Don't you think it would be nice
to have little present beside each
plateT' 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. and the result was extremely graf
ifvinr. especially after Lou's rapturous
acclamations.
At precisely 10 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 prinked to the
verge of painfulneSs. Next came Mis-
Posev. a little. faded, bowed. ancient
woman in rusty black. with long gold
looms in her wrinkled ears. Lame Betty
,humned in on her crutches. closely fol-
lowed by Mol. 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
"Nerry Christmas after which they
all took their places at the beautiful