The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-12-22


kiah, shcepishly "but | do feel kind
O elevated. Come up to the fire, Jcs.
sic; don't sit away Off in the cold
That's right, puss-nestle down in
y our old chimney corner seat. That
the way you and Frank Steele used to
sit together when you were children" /"
"Fathcrw exclaimed Mrs. Under
hill, Teproachfully, as Jessie burst out
crying, with her face hidden on her
Aunt's knee.
81 didn't mean to- apoIogized Hez-
ekiah, but even then his face was in q
glow with something brighter than the
genial shine of the freight.
1t was evident that Hezckiah was
glorying in the mystery Of some won
dcrful secret. And never did any Sc
cret struggle so desperately for disclo-
sure as Hezekiah's on Thanksgiving
eve, But he kept.it For the honor
Of mankind let it be recorded that Hez-
ckiah Underhill kept his secret.
r x 4 \
Of course it's no use trying. Sayer
himself, even were he gifted with the
descriptive powers of the wizard Of
Waverly, never could have given you
any idea of Mrs. Underwood's Thanks
giving dinner. The brown cracking
turkey, unctious with stufling and ole
aginous with rivulets of gravy; the
pyramids of crimson quivcring jellies
the green crisp pickles; the battalion
Of pumpkin pie, nesting like amber
lakelets in shores of russell crust; the
pudding, a triumphant mystery of cul-
mary art; the whole dictionary would
fall short of expressing the plcnteous
glories Of that feast of fatncss.
Hezelklah disappeared soon after
brcalifast-whilhcr he had gone no.
booy knew, for all the explanation he
vouch sated to his wife was that he was
"goin' to bring company home to din
ner." But punctual to the noon mark
90 the Kitchen floor he returned, but
not alone.
I Jessie was IN her own room, think
ing sorrowtully and crying little be-
tween whilcs, when Mrs. Undcrhill
camc up with flushed cheek and
voice strangely tremulous.
darling, your uncle wants you to
come down stairs"
"Indeed, aunt, | had rather not,
and Jessie shrank involuntarily into
her chair. .... .... =.
"But he has brought home friend
dear, and would like"
"Oh no, aunt Please let me stay
here-I have such u dread of strange
faces just now"
"My dearest, but your uncle partic-
ularly wishes it Come, there's a good
girl let me smooth your hair and put
on your pink ribbon bows. Now you
look swectly!" .....
Mrs. Underhill's hand shook and her
eyes ovcrhowod while she fastened the
simple brooch in Jessic's collar.
"Why, aunty, what's tho matter?'
Nothing, Jcssie-nothing. Come,
are you readyY'
Hezekiah Underhill stood in the
middle of the room as they entered
& beside him Jesaie's bewildcred vision
took cognizance ofyet another figure.
She stopped with diIated eyes and
pallid check, her brain seemed in
whirl; but when the mist cleared from
her sight she was clasped to Frank
Stcele's breast, the noble breast that
had borne the brunt of battles fiercest
tide the breast that should evermorc
bo her shelter and her resting place :?
"Jessie, will you take me, pale, and
Scared, and sickly2 Will you be my
wifc?"
81 will love you all my life longW
That was all they said-but it was
enough.
But ESank, tell mo how it all hap
penedY
at was your uncle's plot, love.
was lying in the hospital-sicll woun-
ded. dying, as | thought-when his
letter came, telling me Of your remorse
at what you fancied was your unkind-
ness. 1t was written without your
knowledge; but, Jessie, it was like a
draught Of immortality, an elixir of
life to me. grew better under the
very eyes of the surgeon, who had told
me | was doomed man. And here
l am, on sick leave, to hear my happi.
ness again from your own lips"
The sweet lips confirmed his hope
but it was not in words.
Il DECLARE" said Hczckiah, rubbing
his hands glcefulIy, lit seems just like
u story IN a'printed book But there
was one time thought should have to
let the cat out of the bag-when you sat
cryin by the window last night, Jessie.
But I'm glad l didn't tell. Frank
wanted TO surprise you, and l guess
he's done it,
Frank Steele, sitting before the
merry Thanksgiving blaze, with Jes-
sizes hand in his, folt that the great
reward of all those midnight watches
and pcrious battles had come at last.
May every gallant soldier in the land
reap the same sweet harvest.
DEATH OF PROF. sILL1MAN.
Our dispatches announce the death