Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-30
ON WITH TINE OLD LOVE.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

and hall on DelnB lnubptuutuI VI anu Ill
different to the rest of the great human fam
ily. andno she grew suddenly weary of her
self-imposed solitude. 1t might be because
IL was Thanksgiving week, and everybody
about her was so busy, bustling and happy,
or il might be from many other reasons but
whatever the cause, the fact remains that, on
n certain sunny morning in November, Miss
Finch awoke to the knowledge that her con-
dition was not to be envied.
In vain she tried to argue herself back into
her old self-satisfaclion. 1t was just as true
now as IL was yesterday that her brother
James had married Sarah Jones IA girl she
thought she had good reason to hate but
someway, there was no pleasure to be gained
from comparing their poverty with her
riches
She tried to woo back her old content by
thinking of the seven little Finches who
could be so well dressed, so well-educated,
and so altogether comfortable with her mo-
ney, and iDl0 should Re0er get Il cent Of IT,
But this, contrary to all past experience, only
had the effect of making her more uncom-
Portable than before. She tried to picture the
"Old Woman's Home" she was going TO en-
dow but the great massive piece of archi-
lecture brought with 1t no consolation what
ever.
A monster turkey was just being brought
up into her next door neighbor il remind
ed her that the following day was Thanks
giving, and also reminded her that she had
yet to provide herself with the culinary
wherewithal without which no Thanksgiving
Day might be properly celebrated for Miss
Finch was Massachusetts woman, and not
once in an her fifteen years of social exile,
had she failed In the outward observance of
this holiday.
1t always made Miss Finch's face burn to
think of Captain Abel Jones-first cousin to
her obnoxious sister-in-aw Long ago, when
she was in her teens, they had been lovers,
and everybody knew thai, as soon as he got
his ship, Abel Jones and Jenny Finch were
to be man and wife but one evening she
ran over to Sarah's (hey had once been bo-
som friends, and hearing voices in the par
lor, had stopped moment to discover who
was there. In that moment she had seen
Miss Sarah, crying as If her heart would
break, with her head on Mr.. Abels shoulder.
Quite ignoring the fact that these two haG
been brought up together, and that Abel had
time and again told her that Sarah was just
the same to him as dear sister, Miss Finch
srew righteousy indignant yet she was
iust-yery Just, indeed she would not judge
ihem on this evidence, although to most any
one it would have been proof enough of a
very disagreeable fact but she would wait
and see how their conversation accorded with
their position. So she waited.
"Dont cry" said Mr.. Abel Jones, plead
ingly. 81 am sure | can fix it all right. She
isn't nearly so fond of me as you think and
you know, Sarah, how dear you are to her.
Ill break it 10 her gently, and I'm sure she Il
give nae up of her own accord.
"Now, Miss Finch hadn't jealous nature
not at all but the most unsuspcious idiot il
the universe, couldn't have misunderstood
that speech 1t was very evident he wanted
to be free from her. So she stole gently ou
without letting them know of her presence
walked home at railroad speed, and, with 1
very proper self-respect, Immediately tied VI
his picture, his few presents, and his fewe
leters, and sent them back to him, with th'
pretty falsehood that she found she didn'
like him well enough to marry him, AM
should be Obliged if he would release he
from the engagement
She didn't propose to be jilted By him-an
she wasn't.
Then she went off on a visit, staid tw
months, and came home TO find her brothe
James engaged to her false friend-and he
false lover nowhere.
In vain she endeavored to prevent this maj
rage. Her brother would not be convinced
without absolute proof that Sarah Jones wa
perfect woman, She begged, pleaded an
urged But pride prevented her giving hir
the one fact of which she had become po.
scsSed, and so the two were married, and sll
took her fortune (left her by her fathers onl
sister,, and herself to another town, gradual
withdrew herself more and more from til
world, until, at twenty-siX, she was col
llrned misanthrope, seeing no ono.
This sort of existence she had kept up III
Ill the time our story opens.
Why Sarah Jones married James Fincl
and why Abel Jones was still bachelor SCI
captain, were mysteries she did not troub
herself TO explain. Sure of their treacher,
what mattered it to her how they spent the
lives?
Today Miss Finch, in thinking over h
past, acknowledged to herself for the fir
lime that she might have been hasty not
far MS the stalwart sailor was concerned, b
about her brother.
don't suppose ought to have eXpectt
him to give up his sweetheart without al
reason, she thought "I wouldn't have dOl
myself. | believe I'll send them a goo
Thanksgiving dinner. From all | can hea
they amt able to do much in that line f
themselves" and with a sudden twinge
conscience, the more from being unusua
Miss Finch hurried on her bonnet and shaw
and started off to market.
Oh, the marvellous purchase she mad
Pumpkins, and cranberries and turkeys al
chickens, and barrels of potatoes onions, a
pies, flour, and everything else in the eatil
line that could be desired.
I'm give 'em a Thanksgiving that will !,
the Winter" she said grimly; and then all
sudden she felt great desire TO partake
the good things she had generously provide
I've good mind to go down and eat d
ncr with EN-. | don't know as I'll he W
come, but they can't do more than shut
door in my face. believe I'll try it, anywi
james and | are the only ones left, AM
don't think it is right we should liyea
longer in this way. According to all accoun
Sarahs been good wife to him.
And so that night Miss Finch started off
visit to her brothers.
james Finch looked fOrV ard to Than
giving Day with no great pleasure.
Captain Abel Jones had just returned fir
voyage to the Indians, and, as was his c
tom, repaired Immediately to the home of
cousin Sarah, there to remain until such ii
as his ship should be ready to start again
''And you hear nothing at all from Jenn,
To him Jane Finch, spinster, aged fol
one, was not the grim formidable won
she seemed to everybody else.
He had not seen her since her girlhood,
his memories of her were all part of I
happy time.
No." said James Finch, sadly. %
hear of her, but nothing from her She
lives alone, and still refuses to hold comm
ication with any of u.s.
Captain Jones looked around the poo