Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-12-16

~. lnuhnR up from the lelief ne |
had just received. you needn't
NI 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
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 a greater appointment, for he
had let her know ulmstakably how II
was with him, and lr 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.
but not buying. Talbot noticed two lit
tie girls gazing wistfully into confec-
toner's window.
Eyes, Min, would. I'd do it fust
thing" said the taller of the two. ooh,
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-nourshed. but not I'M
pleasant to look at. Talbot was CON
scious, all at once. of an inexplicable
impulse to crafty the child's wish.
80 you would really like to give
your friends a Christmas dinnerl" said
he, smiling down at her astonished 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 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
Boggs. Meg an Pat Fooley-Min, can
you think of anyone elseT'
Lame Betsy an Moll."
"How many's thatY asked Lou.
Twelve, counting us three"
Don't you think it would be nice
to have a 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 aud the result was extremely graf
flying, especially after LOUIS rapturous
acclamations.
At precisely - 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-
Posey, little, faded. bowed, ancient
woman in rusty black. with long gold
looms in her wrnkled ears. Lame Betty
thumped 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
merry Christmas after which they
all took their places at the beautiful
table, the like of which none of thai
humble party had ever looked upon. Blu
1t was a kindly madness that possessed
the host Of that bountiful dinner. fo
his stories were Of the pleasantest an'
his watchful care was unhagging. Hi
guests rewarded his efforts by a sponta
neous enjoyment of all that was set be
fore them. 1t was good TO see then
wait upon blind Jonas, who could no
help himself, and upon lame Betty
whose crippled hands made difficult tn
use Of knife and fork.
Talbot rose to replenish half-emptie
plate as the hall bell thrilled merrily
There was a pause; then James que
well-trained voice said: Yes. madam
be is at dinner In the studio"