River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-12-27
AT THE NEWSBOYS' DINNER
BY MARJORIE BENTON COOKE
Copyright. by 5osepn B. Bowleso

D0SRAA
i Ices and nuts, cheese and fruit dis
! appeared without comment
What do you say to toast?" said
Thornton, finally. 81 have one that I
should like to propose in this very
superior brand of cider. Let's stand
and drink ito the ladies, God bless
EN-"
| The IL looked anxiously from one to
another, slid from their chairs and
drank perfunctorily. 1.-THE Ladies"
didn't awaken any chivalric thrills in
their manly breasts. The ones they
knew were apt to be overworked, and
| over sharp of tongue-but If Thornton
wanted to drink to "the 1adies"--why,
that settled it. Hutton broke the ST.
lence that followed Thornton's toast,
with
Here's to Mr.. Thornton, the best
Teller / know, and to his girl" They
drank to that with real enthusiasm,
crying, Speech, speech" Thornton
rose and laughed, and cleared his
throat.
Ladies and gentlemen: I am not
much of speech-maker, as you will
find out. I'm just quiet sort of a
fellow who likes his friends and
wants his friends to like him. So you
see I'm very much fattered by the
toast offered by my good somrade,
Hutton I think, with your permits
sion, will now resign the floor to our
guest of honor, Miss Katherine Win
i throp."
"Hear, hear! Three toots for the
lady"
'I'm afraid that this is a conspiracy
on the part of our host. / never made
a speech before in my life, and I'm
frightened to death. Reddy, stop grin
/ ming like that. lid like to tell you
that this is the jolliest dinner I ever
went to in my life, and I've enjoyed
every minute of it, thanks to our host
and you. / wish you every good thing
and ask you if you will all dine with
me some time? This isn't much of
speech, is it?"
AS Katherine sat down, almost dis.
concerted at the steady gaze of IL
pairs of eyes, Reddy O'Connor was on
his feet.
I'D 1oike to say that ivry domned
wan av' us 'ull be on hand fer that
dinner-and if any Teller has got any
excuses comm he kin make thin to
Reddy O'Connor! AS fer Mr.. Thorn
ton, we all know the sort of Teller he
is, fer he's the frind av' us all. re-
mimber the furst tonne / laid eyes on
him, I thought he was wan av' thin
| Cholly boys, an / SEE to him, SEE |,
Hello, Algy, where did We git yer
] lid?' An he SEE to me, SEE he, AT the
lid store, yer little Mucker, did We lift
yours? er somethin' to that effect,
an I knowed he wuz my koind, all
right, all right, an frum that minute
him an me has been frinds, an the
teller thet SEE anything against him
gifts his face punched by Reddy O'Con-
nor-see?"
Reddy sat down amidst shouts of
laughter, when to eyeryone's sur
prise, the shy eight-year-old boot
black, commonly called ''the Kid" slid
off his chair to speak.
'Mr Thorntons been awful kind to
ma an me an the kids, an all you
fellers know he's awful kind helpin'
fella git a start, an Il" here en-
barrassment threatened to envelop
him entirely, so he marched to Thorn
toms side, and solemnly proffered
package. Il got a present fer you, he
explained. IT didn't have much money
to spend, so the fella trusted me fer
tits box of blackin'-it's the best
blackin' made" - proudly. Thornton
swallowed hard as he accepted it, and
not a boy so much as grinned. They
knew what sacrifices it meant to give
presents.
~ think I never had a present
liked so WE'LL" Thornton managed to
saw. "and no hands except yours, Tim,
shall ever put this precious black1ng
on my boots. Thank you, old chap
thank you all for coming and giving
me such a happy day. feel as rich
as Croesus with such friends.
Then the dinner broke up, so that
the boys could get to work on their
evening editions, and Mrs. Winthrop
thanked Thornton for most enter
tanning experience. AS she stopped to
say farewell to Reddy, Katherine put
out her hand to her host.
tits very genuine, and very sweet,
she said. II thank you for 1t all.
like your friends and | hope that !
may have the pleasure of entertaining
them soon. Will you Gomez"
He bent lower over the hand, and
spoke softly.
katherine, dear. couldn't we enter
tain them-together?"
Was there an answering pressure in
the hand?
"Perhaps-we'll see," she said.
And the boys couldn't understand
the affectionate ardor of Thornton's
| farewell to them.
.Arrah, what sthruck him?' said
Reddy, after they got out. He was
so lovin', thought he was agoin' to
kiss us good-bye!"