Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-30


Then the captain was lmpaled as the send.
er i; bnt his astonishment was so evidently
genuine, that the veriest skeptic In the uni
verse could not but have believed him inno-
cent
But that mystery Mrs Sarah was a util-
ltarian. She did not waste her energies in
trying to imagine where the things came
from-not she she rolled up her sleeves,
| put on big apron, and went to work.
| Oh, the marvellous time she made that day!
But, after all, 1t was little wonder, for she
impressed everybody the big, good
natured captain, to the sx-year old Jimmy
into service. The captain cut up pumpkins,
her husband chopned mince-meat, and the
children beat eggs and butter and sugar, and
picked over the raisins, Verify the Finch
family proved, that though . too many
cooks" may spoil the broth" they don't spoil
a Thanksgiving dinner, for better-looking,
better-smclling, better-tasting meal than that
of which the Finches partook the next day.
we defy the greatest epcure in the country to
produce.
Miss Jane made her appearance, bright and
early, on Thanksgiving morning. Mrs. Sarah
was alone in the kitchen when She entered.
slow do you do, Sarahs" said she, not
very cordially, ii must be confessed, for,
although prepared to extend the right hand of
fellowship to James and the little ones, she
could not, even now, look upon her sister-in-
law except as a traitor, whom she would be
obliged TO make the best Of
ooh, Jane" and Mrs. Sarah, with one rush
left her cranberries to take care of them
selves, and gave her husb nd's sister heart
er welcome than she deserved by good
sight.
Miss Jane didn't return her kiss but she
suffered it, and though she did mutter "Ju-
| das |" under her b cath, think she was a
| good deal more comfortable than she would
have been if her hostess had been cold and
stiff as herself
''Draw right up to the stove, and take off
your things" and the little women hustled
about in whirl of delight. ''Oh, won't
James be glad Dear, dear He ought TO be
| here this minute"
And to think its Thanksgiving Day an |
we've got so much to be thankful for!" And
then her thoughts went back TO their unknown
| friend of the day before, and like flash the
truth came to her. "Oh, Jane - she went
ON with a gasp, 8" | see now, it was you sent
the things. Oh dear how can we ever
thank your" Then she rushed back to the
cranberries which showed signs of stewing
over, and for the first time since her entrance
Miss Jane had chance to put in word.
She had just opened her mouth, TO say
something of explanation of her sudden ap-
pearance, when the door opened, and in
walked Captain Abel.
"GOt anythingfor me to do, Salle!" he asked
with laugh and then the great-whiskered
man stopped short, preceiying the stranger,
who sat just in front of the fire.
Miss Jane had been a beauty in her yonth,
and even now she was not at all ugly. Her
eyes were bright, her teeth were as bright
as ever, and her dimpes were not thugs OF
the past, by any manner Of means. But for
a few wrinkles, and hard look, which was
the natural result of her hard life, she would
have been a very handsome woman. She
had not changed so much as had the
captain; but both were recognizable, and each
after one glance, knew the other. Mrs.
Sarah looked from her carnberries eagerly !:
"Oh, Abel, here's Jane-Finch p
Captain Abel came forward, and extended
his hand; but 1t was an awkward meeting.
They had not seen each other since the
breaking off of their engagement-oyer a
score of years beforehand both of then
} were uncomfortably conscious of the fact
But Captain Abel drew a chair up to tn
, stove, and tried to talk as if he had forgotten
all about it they discussed the weather, tn
crops, and everything else they cared nothing
: about, until Mrs. Sarah, who was all whir
with the surprise of Miss James VISIT an,
| WIN GOulN nbb httD tto ohiS hONiN
broke into the conversation with:
} "Oh, Abel, do you remember the last da,
r we saw Jane, dear What a mess | was in
r was engaged to Jim, and nobody knew it
and mother was bound you and l shoul,
: make match of it, never shall forget til
afternoon we decided to tell her about il
5 Goodness, how | cried-on your shoulder
i too, Abe-and how you tried to convince m
n that poor ma didn't care much about you, an
= had Just as lieve I'd take somebody else,
e you only explained it to her properly-an
y you were right, too!'
y And the little woman, quite overcome b
e these "reminiscences, opened the oyen-dool
+ and commenced an energetic basting of th
turkey contained therein.
l. Poor Miss Jane was too much astonlshe
by this revelation to be prudent.
!, "And wasn't you in love with Sarah
i she asked breathlessly, of the captain.
e sin love with Sarah" he repeated.
Z, "Why, | was engaged to you.
ir 81 know III" she said ''ISut though
you" And then she stopped suddenl
II short.
st Thought what? ?" and the captain dre'
70 his chair eagerly toward her 4" Was thu
1t the reason you acted so toward me p
If silence gives consent, Miss Jane col
d fessed that ii was, and he went on (Alr
" Sarah had discreetly turned her back, an
le was very busy hunting things in the kitchel
Nd cupboard;
Il 'Wel, now that you know 1t wasn't $,
1r what are you going to do about itH' Al
Of Captain Abel hitched his chair closer still.
!, Miss Jane didn't pretend not to unde
!, stand.
'We're too old ~ she murmurcd.
,! But week after, she was Mrs. Abel Jone
nd so it is to be supposed that Captain All
p vetoed that notion.