The citizen., 1922-12-21

HCFONN nls kHtP, WIIeu Uls IuCt Wiui
n new and brilliant blue silk handker-
chief, and said:
"Now come de big speech"
The Honorable David Beasley. car.
rying a small mahogany table. stepped
out from beyond the Christmas tree,
advanced TO tie center Of the room;
set the table down; disappeared for
a moment and returned with a white
wntcrpltchcr and a glass. lie placed
these upon the table. bowed gracefully
several times, then spoke:
Ladies' and gentlemen" There he
pau ed.
We'll" said Mr.. Simeon Peck, slow.
~, "don't this bca' hell"
Look out !" Tm Journal reporter
tvitchcd his sleeve Ladies present"
"WhereT said ].
Ile leaned nearer the and spoke IN
q low tone.
"Just behind us. She followed US
over from your boarding house. She's
been standing around near us all
along supposed she was Dowden's
uhutliler, pIOUHDly.
"lIe hasn't any daughter" I SAID,
and stepped hack to the hooded
fguie ! had been too absorbed In our
quest to notice.
II was Miss ApperthwaIte.
Sh. had thrown loose cloak over
her lead and shoulders; hut enveloped
In II 10 she was. and crested ard
epnuletted with wlite, knew her at
once. There was no mistakng her,
even In a blizzard.
She caught my hand with strong.
quick pressure, ana, bending her hend
to mine, said in a soft whisper. close
to my ear:
~ heard everything that man said
In our hallway. You left the library
door open when you called Mr.. Dow
den out"
$50 | returned, maliciously, you
you couldn't help following"
She released my gently. TO
my surprise.
"llush," she whispered. Hes say
ing something"
La lies anu EtilltHtH, Sulu
Beasley aealn-anu stopped again.
Dowden's voice sounded Historically
In my right ear. (Mlss Apperthwalte
had whispered In my left.) THE only
speech he's ever made in his life
and he's stuck T.
but Bensley wasn't: he was only
deliberatug.
Ladies and gentlemen" he began
"Mr and Mrs. HunChherg. Colonel
Hunc'bcrg and Aunt Cooley IIunch
ber- Mss Molanna. Miss Queen. and
Miss Marble Hunchherg, Mr.. Noble,
Mr. Tom, and Mr.. Grandee Hunchberg.
Mr.. C,rley limb, idrc. and Master
Ilammerslcy You see before you to-
night, IN my person, merely the rep
resentatiye OF your real host, Mister
Swift. Mister Swift has expressed
WISH that there should be a speech.
and has deputed me to make Il. He
requests that the subject he has as
signed me should be treated In as dig
nlfied a manner as Is pOssible-con-
sldering the orator. Ladies aud
conference.-the took q 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 II Is the kindest time. Nobody
ever felt very happy without feeling
very kind. and nobody ever felt very
kind without feeling at least a little
happy. So. of course, either way
about, the hnpplest time Is the kind
est time-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 Is like the cold of other
seasons not so kind We set our hun
dred 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 a battle. but as the march OF q
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.
Beasley was back In an Instant,
shout.ng as he came: Take your
partners Balance all II"
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 gyratlons and capers
rs wcr" cut hv that i0ng-legged. loose