Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-11-27
ALICE SGORNY.a THANKS.
GIVING.
ny HELEN FOREST GRAVES

ALICE MoaSYt Why. Of course she's
engaged
"Ba, she has lost all her property, tell
you
.csn't help ,bat--shc is engaged to Ire
main.''
''iIow do you know 2"
"Hcw do | know Don't every one
know
Flush you are talking too loud"
Mr.. 81. John inclined his head toward
the tall, dark stranger who was standing in
the bsy-window of tho hotel reception
room, and Vernon Thorns lowered his voice
at once.
II was too late, however. The stranger
had heard their casclessly spoken words.
and each one had fallen like chill drop
Of ice on his heart.
"Enesged Alice Ncrny engaged. |
might nave known there was no trnth hen
In woman's nature, he murrn bred bitterly,
20 himself. "WelI, let her go. Ny whole
life has been one casees Of disappointment,
and this episode has proved 10 be no cxccp
TONI
Guy Chsrville spoke vesv bitterly, look
ing on the dark side Of existence only
There was sunny reveric, however-was
he not wealthy, courted, handsome, Guy
Chcrvlls did not think Of these things, new
ertheless; he only felt that the brightest
hope Of his whole life had vani he'd from
the darkcnirg horizon.
Guy had come home - ask Alice Morny
to be his wife. but he left the country with
out once seeing her-and slbecausc be had
CHANGED 10 oyerhcaf the casual gossip Of
two hrbitues of fashion in hotel reception
Dom! OF course, Mr.. Cherville acted like
m cgregious fool-but do we not oil act SO
once or twice ia the coursc Of our livcsg
"Si.tsr, wish We could have Thanks.
giving"
Alice Morny looked dovn upon the
small, rosy face upturnci 10 her with sad
smile.
I'VE will have . Thanksgiving, Mary j.;
YOU and and little Frank will oil be IN ink-
full together that God has enabled US 10 live
through the trials and poverty Of this
dreadful year"
Mary Morny looked disappointed; her
cherry lip quivetsd.
"Oh, but meant . turkey, sister, and
lots Of nice pumpkin pies, and plum pre-
serves and cake.
YES" pleaded little Frank, ~ am 90
hungry for turkey, sister,"
"Ch,ldrso," said Alice, gently, "we ere
too poor to buy luxuries, but, nevesthsless,
will have our little Thanksgiving together. y
"A turkey, sister ?" questioned little
Frank, jumping around.
hut Aiics only smiled. and refused TO an
swsr any more questions.
Late that night, when Mary and Frank
we're both nestled to sleep in their little
bed, Miss Morny drew . crimson cashmere
shawl out Of the old brass clssped trunk in
Tho corner, and folded it neatly in = paper.
and carefully locking the door behind her,
vent out INTO the raw November night.
"Some ono at the door Il Jump up. Jcre
miah. and open IT," said Mss. Law, Who
vas busy par,ng pumpkins BY bright FIRE
And Alice Morney came 10, flushed and
iovely - fresh blossomed rose.
She Was tail and slender, with beautiful
brown eyes, which Ind the shy, wistful
ight Of . gHze., 8, and auburn hair, while
.er Ncatnres were perfectly nodded, and
he scarlet of her lips was like the red pep
pers over farmer Laws mantel- shelf.
Jeremiah bowed awkwnid!y; there was
aresulaiity in Alice Mo,ny's beauty that
you'd have asserted itself anywhere.
IL havs brought you my shawl, Mrs.
Law. She SAIL, quietly.
80, you've concluded to sell il, have you =
Aud what do you ask for it.
Mrs. Laws greedy eyes ere on the soft,
crimson fabric as Alice unfolded it.
that is, the chi.drcn-are very anx
lous for n turkey TO celebrate our quiet lit
tie Thanksgiving. DO you think you could
spare one 81
II don't know" said the farmers wife,
shrcsdly. "Oar turkeys had or,er fetch At
lcsst four dollars"
"But this shawl is surely worth as much
a. that" said Alice, piteously.
well, ! amt so sure-,ts second hand
you know"
But lave only worn it . few times.
well. said Mrs. Law. grudgingly, leave
Il, and jeremiah shall take over the turkey
in the morning
And some Of the big yaller apples, too, ="
said good -naturcd Jeremiah, regardless Of
wiic's warning mods and frowns. ezra
cious! kesiah. live and let live is my mot
to-"
And that was tile way Alice Morny paid
for her Thanksgiving dinner
ilomeward, through the darkness and
chill, she plodded her weary way, looking
up a she passed to where the brilliant in
duws % Maynestcn Hall flashed cut from
tho distant he ght
50 the wealthy owner of all those lanes
has arrived at last" was her mental COM
ment. 81 hope lie will he kinder to his ten
ants than the agent has been, else Heaven
alone knows what will become OF u.s.
Ard Ahce sighed, as she thought Of her
unpaid rent ami the miserable daily pittance
that she earned by binding shoes.
Had Guy Cherville been little less I'M
petuous that day, he might have learned
how baseless was tue rumor that had driven
him from his native country for second
timo Poor Alice poor, lonely, deserted
flower the Storm was very dark across
her pathi
"llow nice the turkey smells, sister and
how beautiful farmer Laws apples look
like great balls Of gold Alice, don't you
wish they were really gold?'
Alice smiled - she went on arranging
white aud yellow chrysanthemums in the
lite cracked china vase that was to adovn
the mantle.
"where is Franks Oh, here he comes,
al powdered with SNOW Where have you
been. dear 7"
Out in the woods, looking for some blue
asters-but they ere oil gone T.
'Of course they would BE-, With the snow
falling," said Alice. laughing.
And, sister," went on rank, half bold
y, half timidly. lyon went Do vexsd with
the, but I've invited company 70 dinner"
Company . echoed Alice.
There was man, sister, down in the
wcods, sitting all in the snow. With his head
in his hands. and asked him Was he s:ck
and he ssid no. And then he talked, and
asked me What my name was. and oil about
me. and we're ws very poor. said yes,
aud he said he was very poor too-so poor
he had not friend in the world. Bus he
did not look like poor man, Alice he
wore diamonds that sparkled like drops Of
Ore. and he WAS dressed beautiful He
looked 40 sad. though, that l told him We
we're going 10 have turkey fer dinner. and
asked him to COME
"Sarely he did not acceptl"
Yes, he did, Alice, and be 10 COMING
now
Alice's cheek flushed she scarcely knew
what inter eret alton TO put on her little
brothers curious adventure, but before she
could arrive At any satisfactory conclusion