Show GERRY talbott T A L B ol 01 5 F CHRISTMAS ir itt ira ir A J DINNER ff NER james said gerry talbot sud denly looking up from the letter he bad had just received you t mind about the rest the dinner will not come off after all the decorated end of the big sump studio cooled 1001 ed oddly distasteful to gerry talbot since the reading of miss wakefield s telegram which had shattered his enthusiastic plans he aad nad inv ted her and tor for chaperon age her brother and his wife to a christmas studio dinner which he meant to mal e as festive as possible ot of course her rejection at the last hour had been a gentle invention pre pared to avert a greater disappoint ment tor for he had let her know how it was with him and he 27 ac gazing wistfully had been so hopeful ot of success that be he had selected a ring tor for her christ mas gift a little golden circlet set with 4 a clear white solitaire the streets were thronged with bustling christmas shoppers glad of heart with merry expectant faces and here and there a wistful one too looking on but not buying As talbot turned toward the restaurant he noticed two little girls gazing wistfully into a confectioner confectioners s window yes min MITI I 1 would I 1 d do it f fust thing said the taller of the two oh I 1 my I 1 t it be nice to be rich an invite all your friends to a big turkey an ice cream dinner minnie wl ato a was of less sanguine disposition said there wasn gasn t any good in wishing cause nothing ever came true anyway but her friend kept up a flow of charitable ashira tiona that interested talbot in spite of his gloom they were very poorly clad thin featured and III nourished but not unpleasant to look at talbot was conscious all at once of an inex impulse to gratify the first child s wish so you would really like to give your friends a dinne I said he smiling down at her aston dished eyes I 1 have a great mind to let you have your wish oh dear me min alin she gasped I 1 cant hardly believe it can you youa it sounds just like a make believe thing wont mis posey be s sed an jonas an meg an tom oh wont they be jest too pleased how many shall you invite 1 tal hot bot asked gravely taking out his note book you see we haven t much time to spare so well have to begin our preparations at once how many well there s aunt kitty an uncle tim an the baby mis posey jonas boggs meg an pat booley min can you think of anyone else lame betsy an moll mail how banys that asked lou twelve counting us three talbot nodded gravely can you give me some idea what they would like to have tor for dinners there 11 be turkey won t there certainly with sauce and stuff la nf yes talbot wrote down the various items while they added sundry incon articles dont don t you think it would be nice to have a little present beside each platea he asked both girls gasped but looked lin densely pleased suppose you two go around with me and pick out what you consider suitable for each of your guests be cause a I 1 krould not know what to select they set oft off toward sixth avenue where they soon found themselves in a whirl of belated shoppers talbot consulted his list as he followed the children from counter to counter low now I 1 think you had bad better both run home and let your parents see that you are safe and sound then set 0 about bout the invitations said talbot when the cab stopped before his own door at precisely 12 a clock the bell rang for the first time to announce the ar rhal of the greats talbot shook hands alt all around with a merry christmas after which they all took their places at the beau ticul table the like of which none 0 of that humble party had ever looked upon but it was a kindly madness that posse possessed sed the host of that boun ticul dinner for his tories were of the pleasant est and his watchful care was unflagging now and then talbot rose to refill an empty glass or replenish a half emptied plate and in the midst of one of his excursions around the table the hall bell thrill thrilled eZI merrily a pro longed intimate expectant trill that sent all the blood rushing madly to bis his face there was a pause then james quiet well trained voice said yes madam he is at dinner in the studio the door swung inward and well talbot knew that he was not dreaming when she came toward him with outstretched etched hands and a ripple ot of explanation of which be he heard not one word indeed to him one isolated tact fact filled the world that she aa was smiling up at him with a great prom ise in her eyes he ile heard himself say something about a delightful surprise which she interrupted with a bait halt apologetic question concerning his gu ats balbot beamed around the table A little friend of mine wanted te to ghe her friends a christmas dinner and I 1 persuaded her to let me share it he explained jauntily it has been a great treat to me miss wakefield read the whole truth tor for herself as she looked into the good homely faces that reflected their hosts host s praises in every glance she said nothing but her eyes told what talbot would have given all he possessed posse sed to hear from her lips then mr wakefield and his wife ventured in and talbot be bought himself to ask it if they had dined which they bad had not I 1 warned grace that we d jar somebody s plans by running in at this hour but she thought we might as well look in on our way home said her brother lou and talbot made room for three plates here and there and as there was a plenty of crullers and tur key ley and ice cream all went well to the very end of the function when the eleven originally invited guests rose and made their adieus with glad hearts and beaming faces talbot saw them all safely stowed into the ele vator cage when with a happy new year and many jolly returns he hurried back to the studio miss wakefield stood before the grate while her brother and bis his wife examined a row of pictures halt half hid den behind the holly wreaths I 1 was sorry to disappoint you yesterday she said but poor ted beds teds s tel agram was so urgent that we were afraid he was worse and t the heart to refuse refuse him when I 1 dincov ered that we could take an early train home I 1 made up I 1 my mind to run la in fa I 1 yes now he repeated and wish you a merry christmas anyway and so we came you see talbot thought of the ring he ile had taken it from its hiding place for a long while I 1 have wanted te to ask you to accept this and what goes with it he said simply holding the glittering bauble toward her A red glow crept into her face I 1 don t you think you are taking a rather unfair advantage ot of me garry rya she asked yes nowa now he repeated she made no audible answer but when the young couple at the other end of the room sauntered toward them they were smiling new york time |