The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-30
THE BULLETIN.
CLARICE.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
by RUTH RANSOM.

pile fsome shining fabric that lay, asnow-
drift, IN hc= lnp.
Directly opposite, with her thin hands
folded over an old book, and her eyes
dlmmed with something that verify look
ed like tears sat an old lady, the grand
mother, and only comparion that the sler-
der, ary.iaced girl had on earth.
Iiark, Claricc said the old lady
there Is a sound of some one coming down
from the hill
The young head, with its crown of nns,
i've braids, was bent for moment, and 10
! its ear came the SHARP clear ring Of IRON
shed feet upon the hard road.
YES ! hear but lac who rides i. no.
/ thing 10 US
He may bring " some curse! mutter-
cd the grandmother.
"lie l. more likely to ride pass, and not
even look this way, rejUined the girl.
80, with AN odd smile wreathing her
lips, the maiden bent over her sewing, and
went on adding stitch after stitch 10 the
beautiful profu.Ion Of rose buds. lilies and
leaves, that already lay thickly scattered
over the snowy fatric
Nearer came the horse and ride-, and AS
Clarlce lifted her head and directed her
eyes toward the window, the click of the
gate latch sounded on her ear, and brisk
step crossed tho lawn. Before she could
rice, stranger stood in the room.
She lifted her eyes TO his face with n
quiet, que,tioning glance, and he answered
quickly
II am Ralph Dane, and my aunt.
Mrs. Ellsworth, sent me for some work
which
"Oh yes Il, is not completed; but if
you could wait q little, | am sure | could
pbliUa Har IL will mol L..
1t did not seem a difficult task. Tor he
sat down in the chair she profiered him.
While he waited, his ewes wandered
about this odd little home, and from one to
another of the odd occupants. He chatted
little, TO draw his strange occupants out,
but the only time the younger one raised
her head, or clearly addressed him, was
when she folded up the work and gave it
TO him finished.
Ny aunt bade me give you this, he |
said, taking an envelope from his pocket |
and placing ii in her hands. Then, as
there was nothing more TO say, be bowed, |
walked Out, mounted his horse, and the |
hoofs clattered back over the frozen road. |
Here grandma-here is a little 10 help |
you along. twill carry you past Thanks |
giving Day
WHO was the gentleman, Clarice."
Ralph Dane. who came from Europe |
last week. Mrs. Ellsworth told me they |
expected him.
There was glowing fire in the crate of |
that grand old room, and Ralph Dane, "a he |
came in, contrasted the scene with the |
cherries room in that old farm house.
Il brought the work, aunt said he, tos-
sing the bundle toward "A swect-faccd mid
dla-arr.l I4uuI \ mid
She is glorious little woman Who is |
she?
Why did mamma send you to her |
Why, it is Clance Osborn o.
And Mrs. Ellsworths pretty step
daughter shot sharp glance at her quiet
mother.
"She did send me, Alicia, and what Of
it? Who is Clarice Osborn
why, Il seamstrees, with bad history
whom mamma will persist in patroniz.
ing"
And Miss Alicia threw shocked ex-
preston into tho usual serenity of her
blonde face.
"Well, what has the girl done?7
Nothing, dear boys said his aunt
Nothing Ralph, she married a scape-
grace; who ran off and left her in Just n
week from their wedding day. and never
came back said Alicia.
"And he thus wrecked as true a woman
as ever lived! 1t was her misfortune
yet these narrow-minded gossps Il am
not trying to vex you, Alici look upon
her as great sinner.
WHO did she marry?
"A young English toruist named Brad.
ford
Ralph Dane uttered loud exclamation
pl ,tt tho "a, |
flash
An hour later there was again the sound
of steelclad feeting ringing on the frosty
air, and through the darkness, pale, weary
Clarice Osborn saw form advancing and
again that handsome young stranger stood
in the humble kitchen.
81 came,' be said in breathlcss haste,
'to bring message to Clarice Bradford
She caught her breath, and wildly put
back the dropping hair from white, wan
face.
"From where p she cried.
"From the death of n repentant man.
I've searched America half over for YOU
0IIe knew where | was she said, re-
proachfully.
"He died before he had time to tell me
aught but that he had sinned and repent
ed
"In the name Of God he said, "carry
this to her.
"sTo whom, and where ? asked.
"'To Clarice-' and he was dead. The
address reads only Claricc Bradford
America"
She sat still and white in the gathering
shadows, holding the little package he had
brought, and saying softly, like one rescued
from awful death:
"Thank God Thank God r.
And he who had brought the tidings |
stole softly away without u word.
%
Thanksgiving was close at hand, and |
Mrs Ellsworth, who had remained this |
year at the country house to receive her |
nephew and heir, was going to give ball.
1t would be grand affair. Extra cooks |
were hired. Great hampers came down
from the city. Drcssmakers were busy,
and heads confused, and hearts wild with |
eager anticipation.
Even Clarice and grandma heard a.
about it, and chatted over it in II livelier
strain than they had chatted for many and |
many a day; and at last, when n carriage |
brought Mrs. Ellsworth, there was quite
commotion in the humble home.
"You will not come, Clarce? said the