The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-12-16

~ AME6. said Gerry Talbot sudden
~, looking np from the letter he
had Just received. ''you needn't
o. mind about the rest The dinner
win net come oH. after all
The decorated end Of the big. sumptu-
Gus studio looked oddly distasteful 70
Gerry Talbot since the reading Of Miss
Wake6eid's telegram. which had shat
tered his enthusiastic plans. He had in
vited her-qnd her brother and his wife
to q Christmas studio dinner which be
meant 10 make as festive as possible. OF
course. her rejection az the last hour
had been a gentle invention prepared 70
avert . greater disappointment, for be
had let her know uumlstakahly how Il
was with him. and he had been 20 hope
ful of success that be had selected a
ring for her Christmas gift--a little gold
en- eirclet set with . clear white soil
iaire.
The streets were thronged with bust
ling Christmas shoppers. glad Of heart,
with merry. sxpectant faces. and here
and there a wIstful one. too. looking on.
Ina not buying. Talbot noticed two lit
tic girls gazing sistfally into a confec-
l toners window.
"Yes. Min. | would. I'd do Il fnst
shlng.s said the taller Of the two. ''oh.
Z my. wouldn't Il be nice TO be rich an
/ invite al your friends to q big turkey
an Ice cream dinner
They were very poorly clad. thin
/ featured and iil-nourishea. but not un-
pleasant TO look at. Talbot was con-
pcIous. ell at once. Of an inexplisable
impulse to crafty the chiid's wish.
"Se you would really like 30 give
| yeur friends a Christmas dinner," said
IL. smiling down at her astonished eyes.
Il have = great mind to let you have
your wish"
"oh, dear me, Ming gasped Lou. 81
| can't hardly believe L. can your II
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 InviteY' Talbot
asked gravely. taking out his notebook
well, there's Aunt Katie an Uncl,
Tim an the baby. Mis- posey. Jonai
/ BoEgs Meg an Pat Fooiey-Mln. car
you think Of anyone elseY'
Lame Betsy an Moll"
How many's thatr asked Lou.
twelve. counting as three"
Don't you think Il would be mic
: to have a little present beside eael
!. platter asked Talbot.
: Both girls gasped, but looked immense
/. " pleased.
Suppose you two 60 round with m
q and pick cut what you consider suitabl
Tor each OF your guests. because shout
not know what to select"
when Lou appeared at the studio o.
the following morning she was a yer
different looking girl. and any one woul
3 have known by the pure joy Of he
!. voice that some great and festive even
s was at hand. Talbot had finished "a
J. decorations which had been 80 harshl
/. interrupted by Miss wakcheld's mes
q sage, aud the result was extremely graf
n | flying. especially after LOUIS rapturou
! acclamations.
/, At precisely Il o'clock the bell ran
for tho Iirst time 20 announce the a.
Z rival Of Aunt Katie and Tim and III
baby, all polished and nrinked TO n
y verge Of painfulness, Next came Mi
y Posey, a little. faded, bowed, aneiel
2. woman in rusty black. With long gol
e loops Ia her wrinkled ears. Lame Reti
thumped In on her crutches. closely 70
lowed by Mol, In borrowed Emery, Of Vi
Ie rious sizes. Meg brought blind iona
"a ana a merry little wrath Of man eall'
X Tom Doom.
- Talbot shook hands ali around vii
'sAerry Christmas" after which "a,
all took their places At the beautif