Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-12
Canfe1d's Phantom Feast
Continued from page s

expedition to the distant grove was stationed
in corner of his none too spacious quarters.
The labor was finished by dark, and Garfield
sighed with content when at last he stood back
and reviewed his handiwork
Fine, isn't it, old chap" he commented
addressing the dog. Smells good, doesn't it.
Tell you what, old boy, l never appreciated
half the pleasure of Christmas Eve before! Our
companyll be delighted when they it, Ell.
But, say, that tree looks sort of lonesome. I'll
have to fix that up bit, )" and then for another
half-hour he worked steadily upon the manu-
facture of various sized packages, wrapping
them with exceeding care, writing names on
them, and finally tying them to the branches
of the tree TOO bad we haven't any candles
old man." he muttered once; but on the
whole I'm glad of it. 1t would never do to run
the risk of fire out here, and Hooper would be
sure to start one if there was half chance.
He backed away and surveyed the tree criti
cally 1T will do, he said with conviction.
Even Katherine couldn't find any fault
with that! And when she discovers what's in
that package addressed to her-well, to quote
Pete again shell sure like it. and then some.
And the rest of the bunch will like their presents
too, take it from me! didn't forget YOU old
chap; don't YOU ever think it And now we'll
have dinner, and after that smoke, and then,
after little. We'll hang up our stockings and 60
to bed. I'm dog tired, if anybody should ask you.
THRISTAIAS morning was like every other
- morning that had come and gone since the
great storm, clear and cold the heart OF
an iceberg; but the heart of Sunny lin Can
field was warm and glowing as midsummer
day. He UP with the sun and before he
dressed he thrust his hands into the two stock
ings-they were socks to be exact-and drew
forth two slips of paper.
"Now what do YOU think of that Royal.
he demanded, turning upon the dog, WHICH was
watching the procedure critically. Here Is
what Santa Claus brought to YOU" He read
aloud from one of the slips of paper. \ brand
new silver mounted collar with your name en-
graved on it. from Who do YOU suppose. old
chap, From Katherine by the hand of Santa
Claus. Tell you what she doesn't forget old
friends, does she, And look what I've got
How in the big world do you suppose She knew
exactly what l wanted, See it \ scarf pin
made of the letters X and j."
Garfield put the papers aside and brushed
isn't all JOY, this Christmas Day business, IS it;
ROYAL? There is always little sadness mixed
up with it-but | suspect that Is all right, too;
it wouldn't do for us to get too gay, you know,
He dressed himself prepared his breakfast,
cared for the two horses that remained to him.
and then set about the preparation of the feast.
and he did it with all the directness of purpose
that would have marked the undertaking OF an
| &c tual function. Indeed. the idea of the enter
tainment had so grown upon him that he was
more than half obsessed by it. 1t had ceased
to be mere pretense; it had become an actually.
The storehouse was we'll stocked; dozen
hearty men might have Toasted from its con-
tents all winter. There was frozen sagehen; he
roasted three of them. He boiled ham; he
baked a batch of potatoes: he stewed squash
and turnip and boiled some onions and some
sweet potatoes. He even attempted a squash
pie, and prided himself that The succeeded
admirably. Orange marmalade took the place
of cranberry sauce, and an Indian pudding
uSurped the prerogatives of the plum variety.
OF course all these preparations for the feast
were nicely timed and everything was done so
that all would come out evenly While things
were baking and boiling and stewing and other
wise getting cooked, Garfield prepared the
table and the chairs. \ sheet did duty as
tablecloth; of napkins. there none; but
there were plates and knives and forks and
spoons galore, which he brought to the cabin
from the CookhouSe.
A 7 o'clock he made hurried survey of
things that were cooking and baking, and
he sighed with contentment. He resumed his
chair near one of the windows. and after mo-
ment raped sharply against the wooden seat
of it with his knuckles. The dog raised his head
from between his paws and looked alertly
round the room. Garfield started to his feet and
crossed to the door throwing it aiar.
"Roval," he shouted get up and be po-
lite, confound you! Our guests have arrived
Here they are. every last one of them! All
Katherine sweetheart" Garfield held the pic
ture of his fiancee before his eyes for moment
and then kissed it rapturously. "Howdy do
Agnes.' he exclaimed then pretending to greet
,nnthar Ry Lowell h,,t If was GOOD # yo,, tn