The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-12-27

ut?"
The quail was greeted with. Say,
will you look at the sparrowsl" and
as for the salad. it was refused with
scorn. until Reddy, the official 'taster,'
tried IL and remarked:
1T ain't so worse-its kind av'
grass hashl"
Ices and nuts, cheese and fruit dis
appeared without comment
What do you say to toast?" said
Thornton, finally. II have one that
should like to propose in this very
superior brand of cider Let's stand
and drink ito the ladies', God bless
EN-"
The ~ looked anxiously from one to
another, slid from their chairs and
drank perfunctorily. 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 ladies" why,
that settled It. Hutton broke the ST.
lence that followed Thorntons toast,
with
Here's to Mr.. Thornton, the best
fellcr ! 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: am not
much of a 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 liattered by the
toast offered by my good comrade,
Hutton. 1 think, with your perms-
sion, I will now resign the floor to our
guest OF honor, Miss Katherine Win
throp."
Hear, hear! Three toots for the
lady"
I'm afraid that this is a conspiracy
on the part of our host. I never made
a speech before in my life, and I'm
frightened to death. Reddy, stop grin
ming like that. I'D like to tell you
that this is the iolliest dinner ever
went to in my life. and I've enjoyed
every minute of IL, thanks to our host
and you. ] wish YOU every good thing
and ask YOU II you will all dine with
me some time? This isn't much OF a
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.
"Fd loike to say that ivry domned
wan av' us 'ull be on hand fer that
dinner-and II any feller has got any
excuses comm he kin make thin to
Reddy O'Connor. AS fer Mr. Thorn
ton, we all know the sort of fcller he
is, fer he's the frind av us all. re-
mimber the furst tonne ] laid eyes on
him. thought he was wan av thin
Cholly boys, an | sez to him, seq /,
Hello. Algy where did ye git yer
lid?' An he seZ to me. seZ he, AT the
lid store, yer little Mucker, did ye lift
yours? er somethin' to that effect,
an knowed he wuz my koind. all
right. all right. an frum that minute
him an me has been frinds, an the
feller thet sez anything against him
gifts his face punched by Reddy OCon-
nor-see?"
Reddy sat down amidst shouts of
laughter. when to everyone's sur
prise. the shy eight-year-old boot
black. commonly called the Kid" slid
off his chair to speak.
Mr. Thornton's been awful kind to
ma an me an the kids, an all you
fellers know he's awful kind helpin' a
fella git start, an H." here EN-
barrassment threatened to envelop
him entirely, so he marched to Thorn
tons side. and solemnly proffered a
package. 81 got present fer you" he
explained. II didn't have much money
to spend, so the fella trusted me fer
tits a box OF blackin'-it's the best
blackin' made" proudly. Thornton
swallowed hard as he accepted 1t, and
not a boy so much as grinned. They
knew what sacrifices 1t meant to give
presents.
81 think never had a present |
liked so WE'LL" Thornton managed to
say, and no hands except yours, Tim,
shall ever put this precious backing
on my boots. Thank you, old chap
thank you all for coming and giving
me such 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 a most enter
tanning experience. AS she stopped to
say farewell to Reddy, Katherine put
out her hand to her host.
IT'S very genuine, and very sweet,
she said. II thank you for II all.
like your friends and l 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-well see," she said.
And the boys couldn't understand
the affectionate ardor of Thornton's s
farewell to them.
"Arrah, what sthruck him?" said
Reddy, after they got out. "He was
80 lovin'. thought he was agoin' to
kiss US good-bye!"
Some scientists believe that North
America waa In routact duriu1 nra