Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18
EDYTH ELLERBECK READ.

bare upholstered. uncarpeted. but shin
ing with cleanliness and just now gay
In Christmas decorationS-green from
the hills and strings of popcorn. In
one corner stood a diminutive Christ
mas tree, q miserable dwarf reared In
the sulphurous atmosphere of these
smelter-cursed hills, sagging under
knobby bundles. and here and there
sending out tiny sparks of light from
candle ends hung precariousy on the
tips of branches. In the middle of the
room the suppertable, brave in yellow
oil-cloth, decorated too. in green's, lay
set for seVan.-mush and milk and
steaming ''praties," the Christmas
spread.
Only the stimulus OF fear nerved
Geddings finally to assume the char
acter of his disguise, He had faced
the turbulent mob of foreigners with
moro courage than he felt in the pres
ence of these credulouS eyes of
childhood But perform he must. With
a superlative effort he shook off his
dfIldence together with his dignity,
and began to play tho role of kind
and benef1cient Santa.
With unsuspected talent he developed
the part, buried his natural voice In
the deep Stentorian tones of the villains
of melodrama, and playfully disported
his generous allotment of avoirdupolS
according to the directions of the
motherly stagc-manager. All his efforts
were applauded, noisily appreciated by
the brood of lively O'Toole'S and Ged-
dings was progressing splendidly-
when there suddenly came shouts from
without, and several quick raps on the
door.
Down wild yc nowl Give 'em a rear
view, while Oh go head thin off. Niver
We let on, an kape up the fun" whis
pered Mother O'Toole to Geddlngs as
she made her way stoutly to the door
and opened to a half-dozen black fig
ures stamping the cold and snow from
their feet.
AN phwat is ut now yere after doin'
here?-interruptin u harmless mite o.
fun this Christmas ave." she demand
ed Indignantly OF the six mute foreign
ers arraigned before her. Mary O'Toole
was far-famed among the smelter
hands for strength of muscle as well
as fire of tongue. Any woman who
could keep Mickey O'Toole in hand
must necessarily be of the AmaZonian
type,
"Well. an is ut an invitation In ye're
waitin' fer?" she scoffed, her voice
tlnged with scorn for every foreign
tongue among them.
One burly Greek, his dark eyes mar
rowed with q sly purpose, sidled in
past the belligerent figure of Miclsey's
wife to scan the interior of the cabin.
No suspicious traces were Visible. All
he saw was q fat. turkey-red st.
Nicholas Sprawled grotesquely on all
fours the turkey-red strained almost to
the splitting point and five rollicking
little O'Tooles endeavoring to play
lcap-frog over his well-padded frame.
In response to q few unintelligible
syllables from the interested spectator
the rest of the Greeks trudged apolo-
getically in past Mrs. O'Toole and stood
watching tho curious proceedings for
what seemed an unconScionably long
time to Geddings. Finally. after few
moro calculations from their leader.
they turned away. content to seek their
victim elsewhere.
AN it's about tonne yez were gettin'
on, wild me holdin' the door riddy this
tin minutes. Take yer muddy feet off,"
peremptorily commanded the disdainful
housewife. AN git out o. hearin' o.
folks as common sinSe enough to spake
the English tonguel Ye good-fer-noth-
in immigrantS!"
Silent before her unmistaleable de-
nunciation, tho Last Greek was slouch-
Ing dejectedly out, when she unex-
pectedly assisted him over the thresh-
hold with vigorous spat of her hand,
after which she closed the door with
q bang.
There! Thin sooty furreners is went
an ye're safe. But" she warned.
there's Mickey yet to come, an II he
strikes home wild mite % rum an
n bit o. the divil in him an gets on to
ye-there won't be enough o. ye left
to say prayer when he gifts through.
Dhrap on to the vittles. children-'tis
tolmc to ate. Fill up all tho Imply
places yez ben kapin' fer a wake-an'
don't forgit TO feed the cat Me an
Saint Nick has to go out and harness
up thin reindeers, but OIL be back in
q bit Sit up"
Needing no further urging the crowd
of tow-heads crowded about the table,
while Geddings, putting after his vio-
lent gymnastics, yet touched by the
homely good spirit that reigned In the
gulch cottage, followed his benefactress
out into the night.
''Where-whero are We golng?" he
breathlessly inquired. doubling the ex-
pediency of leaving his former refuge,
as he saw her strike abruptly up tho
hill that rose just back of the house
n snowy hill whose white heights
seemed to fade vaguely into the misty
clouds OF the clearing sky
ITO q kind av cave lettin' into the
mountain as the children discovered In
their play" complacently answered hIs
companion.
Heavens! Won't freeze?" gloomiIy.
as he stumbled UP the trail.
"Oi don't expect so," was the re-
assuring answer, "'Tis not so could a
night. Times, whin the home is NOT
warm enough fer want o. flrewood. OF