The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-12-29


'He hasn't any daughter" l said,
and stepped back to the hooded
figure I had been too absorbed in our
quest to notice.
It was Miss Apperthwaite.
She had thrown loose cloak over
her head and shoulders; but enveloped
in 1t as she was, and crested and
epauletted with white, l knew her at
once. There was no mistaking her,
even In blizzard.
She caught my hand with strong,
quick pressure, and, bending her heee
to mine, said In soft whisper, close
to my ear:
II heard everything that man said
in our hallway. You left the library
door open when you called Mr.. Dow
den out"
49," l returned, malieiously, "you
you couldn't help followingt'
She released my hand-gently, to
my surprise.
"Hush," she whispered. Hes say
ing something"
Ladies and gentlemen" said
Beasley again--and stopped again.
Dowden's voice sounded Historically
in my right ear. (Afiss Apperthwaite
had whispered In my left.) '"The only
speech he's ever made in his life
and he's stuck!'
But Beasley wasn't: he was only
celebrating,
Ladies and gentlemen" he began
"Air. and Mrs. Hunchberg, Colonel
Hunchberg and Aunt Cooley Hunch-
berg, Miss Molanna, Miss Queen, and
Miss Marble Hunchberg, Mr.. Noble,
Mr.. Tom, and Mr.. Grandee Hunchberg,
Mr.. Coriey Linbridge, and Master
Hammersley You see before you to-
night, in my person, merely the rep
resentatlve of your real host, Mister
Swift. Mister Swift has expressed
wish that there should be speech,
and has deputed me to make 1t. He
requests that the subject he has as
signed me should be treated in as dig
nified a manner as is posslble-con
siderlng the orator. Ladies and
conference.-the took sip of water
II will now address you upon the fol-
lowing subject: why We Call Christ
mas Time the Best Time
christmas time is the best time be-
cause it is the kindest time. Nobody
ever felt very happy without feeling
very kind, and nobody ever felt very
kind without feeling at least little
happy. So, of course, either way
about, the happleSt time is the kind
est tlme-that's this time. The most
beautiful things our eyes can see are
the stars; and for that reason, and in
remembrance OF One star, we set
candles on the Tree to be stars In the
house So we make Christmas time
a time Of stars indoors; and they
shine warmly against the cold out
doors that rs IKE the GELD Of ether
seasons not so kind. We set our hun
bred candles on the Tree and keep
them bright throughout the Christ
mas time, for while they shine upon
us we have light to see this life, not
as battle, but as the march of a
mighty Fellowship Ladies and gentle
men, thank you"
He bowed to right and left, as to an
audience politely applaudIng, and,
lifting the table and Its burden, with
drew; while old Bob again set his
fiddle to his chin and started to scrape
the preliminary measure Of quadrille.
Beusley was back In an instant,
shouting as he came: Take your
partners Balance allw
And then and there, and all by him
self, he danced a Quadrille, perform
ing at one and the same time for
four lively couples. Never in my life
have seen such gyrations and capers
as were cut by that long-legged, loose
jointed, niraculously flying figure. He
was In the widest motion without
cessation, never the fraction Of an in
slant still; calling the figures at the
top Of his voice and dancing them
simultaneously his expression anxious
but polite Gas is the habit of other
dapcers) his hands extended as If to
swing his partner or corner, or Top
posite LADY," and his feet lifting high
and Tapping down in an old-fashloned
step.
First four, forward and back !" he
shouted, Forward and salute! Bal
ance to corners! Swing pardners
Gr-r-rand Right-and-Left!
think the combination Of abandon
and decorum with which he per-
formed that Grand Right-and-Left"
was the funniest thing I have ever
seen. But l didn't laugh at 1t.
Neither did Miss Apperthwaite, at
my side.
snow do you believe meT Peck
was arguing, fiercely, with Mr.. Schulz
meyer. rs he crazy, or amt hep
HE is." Grist agreed, hoarsely. "He
is a stark, starin', ravln', roarin' luna
ticl And the nigger's humorln' him y
They were all staring, Open-mouthed
and aghast into the lighted room.
"Do you <see where 1t puts usT'
Simeon Peck's rasping voice rose
high.
81 guess / dol" said Grist. eve