The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-12-09
s~-~--
4 CHRISTMAS
EVE DINNER.
sy GRACE ETHEL WEEKS.

by 0NNkG W66tNSs
copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
II was hard for Mr.. and Mrs. Whit
BECK TO separate. especially hard, be-
cause they had two lovely children. a
Aoy ard girl. aged eight and six.
They agreed to leave the legal steps
a the hands OF Tom Forrest. lawyer.
~ho was friend Of both. Having
heard the story Of each. he recon-
aaended thai the husband leave his
wife for awhile and she could then
shtain 4 divorce on the ground Of de-
sertion.
After an interval Of six months. on
sse I'D of December the attorney mott
fesf bis clients that their Enforcement
vas about 10 come to head and that
swing IL i division Of property that
ss,d been agreed upon meeting was
necessary. Tie summoned them to
meet III The home they had occupied
ME next evening al . o'clock.
The couple arrived within a few
minutes of each other. They were met
Il the dor and nshered into the H.
sriry hy the lawyer. Il was cheer
K.ss day lau,ls. chill and snow-but a
5righ, wmd lire burned on the hearth.
Eos this fusethought aud provision the
Nhifbc. Is riutely commended their
V, Friend The attorney. Mr.. Forrest said
~ them:
.rnis x pral,ahly your last meeting
~ husband AID wiie."
He tbeu nsic IN agreement be had
drawR W.. Thsh he began 10 get the
aurir.rtis iisether for signature. BE
Booked AR me he dbl not ind.
That's had. hp said. "ODe Of the
most inppriant papers OF the lot
hare left III my office. fear shall
Save 10 ask you 10 wait till ] 90 and
get IT,"
He went cut. leaving the couple to
gefbeY. Neither spoke for some time
wbitbeck went 10 the window and
booked on The dreary sight without
his wife peered al the IRE.
The hauSs. looks very comfortable
and very NATURAL said the husband
nrnin:
--If d0es." VAS the hconic reply.
Far preferable 10 a bachelors
room IN bachelors apartments"
Or nnr ~ a huieL-
There was pause.
Il suplH.Se this sld ending TO happy
days Is largely my fauIt:' said Whit
hrvk
= dare say had something to d.
~ IT, r....Ssi The wife
ssmbs, lr.u-e.
80. -.a-'rty.- ''se HUSBAND
xGa a-a Ant ih.s * me last viev
~ saaa iis-. n leisr Together. OF Uu
,p.,s h;,lIa irs;ls
-, usrfHphly."
-hhiuS n,.s.r w.ss said for ton mir
uies. Then the wife remarked ira
Tisa was s"Hr ian. while ard N
SIRE pe~epd more w",d. whitherk sal
elai s.as. sisr nisis; I've II charge an
~ x.s ] r.ii-. - touched Inc eic'
rrir l..i;an. a,G whp .hnnld respon
snt the maid they Ind left there 81
r's..',- i-ss.,rs.
IS us. Nancy exclaimed husban
aud wife together.
I'm glad TO see you both back
amid the sirl. smiling. "Whnt Is
ns'am:.
-w.v.why." she stammered. IT
word
The girl went out and brought ycc
i sa.grt.n you'll hare dinner {,
sane time a. before she said.
-Dinner'-
-Yes.m The tables laid nov in q
dining r.s,ln.
The husband and wife looked at ea'
siker
-Thr same hour. Nancy said VIII
beck half past q" And the maid d
parted.
-Thi. /. Toms doing" said u
whillsrk
Il wonder what IL all means"
marked Mrs. whilbeck.
III msa.gs. sweetheart" replied b
husband. I,uiilng hiS arms about b.
that wp've lsen pair ~ ninDl
aud Tom his known Il aud saved u.
Al that npoment Nanry opened I
soor. 10 lnd SIR aud Airs. Whites
who had tDins a. sign papers for \ ~
pctuaI separation. 10 each others ara
-Dinnsr's ready" she said. looki
~ the ceiling.
The table was set for four on
was a b,i;ie 81 champagne With II
Forres,'s rsrd dangling 70 n on !
rard was written.
p8y9ee ~ hanged. You needed d
81 loueIlness and J have given u 90 =
\ have never entered a plea for dive
and never intended 70 DO 20.
.-oh. dear. exclaimed the wi
-lIow / wish ! bad brought the q
sle1.-
Can't we send for fhemy'
The door opeBed. and there was Il
forresi. while boy and a girl boul
N Into fbc room. Jumped to their
shprs neck and chung there.
4 knew you'd want them far m
ss.sn shai missing paper. said Forr'
-seI jumped into n cab and wert
nsem-
oh. pats." cried the boy. 4
rad come homo for cbristmssr'
Mamma said only yesterday"
rsfi added. that she wished p'
syu,d BE- with Us today and ton
ga. .xs.. Trxfrn fo08