The Meeker herald., 1907-02-23

i Bt0reS greeted her remark. Soup.
1T looks to me loike medicines
aurty dishwather. Is ut good?"
"Excellent. Try 1t and see."
Reddy tasted gingerly. all eyes upon
him.
Its all roight. fellers 20 ahead"
The quail was greeted. with. Say.
will you look at the sparrows!" and
as for the salad. 1t was refused with
scorn. until Reddy, the official 'taster.'
tried 1t and remarked
at amt so worse-it's kind av'
grass hash!"
Ices and nuts. cheese and fruit dis
appeared without comment.
What do you say to toast?" said
Thornton. finally. Il 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 II Thornton
wanted to drink to "the ladies''-why.
that settled It, Hutton broke the 81
lence that followed Thornton's toast,
with
{ Here's to Mr.. Thornton. the best
Teller know, and to his grill" 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 q
fellow who likes his friends and
wants his friends to like him. So you
see I'm very much fattered by the
Hutton. think, with your permits.
sion, / 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 l 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 jolliest dinner l ever
went to in my life, and I've enjoyed
every minute of 1t. thanks to our host
and you. l wish you every good thing
and ask you II you wilr 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 loike to say that ivry domned
wan av' US 'ull be on hand fer that
dinner-and II 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 l laid eyes on
him, thought he was wan av' thin
Cbolly boys. an SEE to him, see /.
Hello, Algy, where did We git yer
lid?' An he SEE TO me, seq he, AT the
lid store, yer little Muckcr. did We lift
yours? er somethin' to that effect.
an l knowed he wuz my koind. all
right, all right, an frum that minute
him an me has been frinds. an the
Teller tibet SEE anything against him
sits his face punched by Reddy O'Con-
nor-see?"
Reddy sat down amidst shouts of
laughter, when to everyone's ssr-
prise, the shy eight-year-old boot
black commonly called the Kid" slid
of 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' .
fella git a start, an H." hero en-
barrassment threatened to envelop
him entirely, so he marched to Thorn
toms side, and solemnly proffesed =
package Il got present fer YOU" he
explained. Il didn't have much money
to spend, SO the fella trusted ms fer
Tits box Of blackin-its the best
blackin' made" proudly. Thornton
swallowed hard as he accepted IL and
not q boy so much as grinned. They
knew what sacrinces 1t meant to givs
presents.
"I think I never had a present 1
liked SO WELL" Thornton managed to
say. land 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 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
i out her hand to her host.
Its very genuine, and very sweet,
she said. Il thank you for 1t all.
like your friends and ! hope that
may have the pleasure Of entertaining
them soon. Will you Gomez