Middletown transcript., 1909-08-07

- SsA 01A&A - SSasA~AO@AAJ
That's good, he said, I accept
your hint only to tell you it is
I'm not in any present
need of money. In fact I've got
q little I want to get rid Of. !
invite you to be my guest at din
ner tonight.
The old man suddenly shrank
back.
No, no, he said.
Yes, yes, laughed the stranger.
But I'm nota diner. ont, protest.
ed the old man. You see how
shabby my garb is.
That's all right. / told Jim I
was going TO invite you. He
seemed pleased.
Did he |?
The old man hesitated.
Shall we say six o'clock the
stranger asked.
The old man drew a quick
breath.
Yes. He nodded vigorously. I
like your way, he said. Some.
how you don't act as if you were
doing this in a merely perfume
tory way. You actually want me
to dine with you ? Is that true ?
OF course it's true, said the
stranger. Expect me back at +
o'clock.
He arose and crossed to the
old man and shook his hand
warmly.
At6 o'clock, he repeated, and
was gone.
The old man stared after him
wistfully.
That's a cherry fellow, he said
I Leaves 9 sunshine behind him.
Sunshine is a scarce blessing ir
this old den. Six o'clock, eh
Where's the whiskbroom?
At 6 the stranger was back
again.
Ready, was the old mans greet
ing.
He locked the drawers Of hi'
ole. fashioned desk and locked th'
, time.stained outer door, and the!
passed to the street.
This way, said the stranger
, You don't object to the Colonna
The old man shook his head.
One of the glided ones, eh
. The latest, isn't it? I've neve
} been in one of them. They DON
. appeal to me-they don't appea
: to my old-fashioned notions Q
t economy. And I'm a bird 0
I pretty sober plumage for sue
3 gorgeous surroundings.
The stranger laughed.
e In order to be more sociable W
$ will diue in q private room, b
t said. Ah, here We are.
They entered the great hote
g with its cleaning columns an
!. glittering decorations, and wer
: taken up in the luxurious elevate
J. to a floor high above the nois
:. street.
The stranger led the way to
door and pushed it open. In th
+ center of the apartment a tabl
), was laid for four, a table ths
= cleaned with silver, backed b
snowy napery.
e A lady was standing by th
table, a lady beautifully gowneC
d and beside her was a slende
!. young girl.
vi The lady came toward quickl
It with her hand extended,
n My dear, this is Mr.. Oliver
:. said the stranger. My wife, Nj
Oliver; my daughter Ethel.
d The lady seemed greatly plea
K ed to meet the old man. Sh
took his hat ard coat and led hiI
% to a seat at the table.
We are quite ready, dear, 81
IS said to the stranger. Then ST
touched a bell and a waiter el
q. tered and the dinner began.
rs It was a very good dinner,
= much better one than the old ma
t. had eaten for many years. Ar
le the little family seemed dete
lie mined to make him enjoy the O
s casion. There had been a tim
IS so far back, that it made hi
ID quite dizzy to think Of it, wh'
" he had been a diner.out, and e
ly ioyed the good things Of the tab
le and good company.
Id He sighed as he recalled Il
] misty period.
k It was a delightful family, Ii
ID family Of the strangers. New,
ID for a moment did they let the o
ID man forget that he was the ho
a ored guest.
r. It was a merry feast, too. IT
N lady was q delightful talker, 81
" the young girl developed astrol
lx vein of humor as she told of b