The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-28
She still lives alone, and still refuses to

'Sne mas CnaQSeu greatly, NC salu
elf she can enjoy her wealth, while you
are struggling on in this style, I cannot
understand it. But there's do use in
talking it over. Years ago We decided
that it was incomprehensible. Come,
tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we must
bestir ourselves to give it a hearty re-
ception.
The husband and wife we'll knew what
that meant.
Captain Jones proposed to provide the
Thanksgiving dinner. James Finch,
with all his poverty was q proud man.
"Ican't take it," said he, resolutely.
eff I was in need, Jones, I'd come to
YOU {; but can get along very we'll with
out that :; and SO, until I'm unable to
provide myself with one, l won't have
any. -,
What the captain would have said,
must forever remain a mystery, as, Just
at that moment, the disputed dinner, in
the shape of Miss James donation, drove
up to the door.
It was in vain that Mr.. Finch protest
ed that the load was not for him. His
name and address on the card were cor
rect, and the expressman refused to be
convinced.
Then the captain was impaled as the
sender but his establishment was so
evidently genuine. that tho veriest
skeptic in the universe could not but
have believed him innocent.
But that mystery! Mrs. Sarah was a
~tilitarian. She did not waste her ener-
gies in trying to imagine where the
things came from-not she She rolled
up her sleeves, put on a big apron, and
went to work.
Oh, the marvellous time she made that
day! But, after all, it was little wonder,
for she impressed everybody-from the
big, g%ood-natured captain to little SIX
year-old-Jimmy-into service.
Miss Jane made her appearance,
bright and early, on Thanksgiving morn
ing. Mrs. Sarah was alone in the
kitchen when she entered.
Chow do you do, Sarah?" said she.
not very cordially, it 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. -
"Oh, Jane |" and Mrs. Sarah, with
one rush, left her efanberries to take
care of themselves, and gave her hus-
bands sister q heartier welcome than
she deserved by a good sight.
Miss Jane didn't return her kiss, but
she suffered it !; and though she did NUT
ter vJudas !" under her breath, l think
sh4 was q good deal more comfortable
than she would have been if her hostess
had been as cold and stiff as herself.
"Draw right up to the stove, and take
off your things" and the little woman
hustled about, in a whirl of delight.
"Oh, won't James be glad! Dear,
dear He ought to be here this min
ute. And to think it's Thanksgiving
Day, and we've got so much to be thank
full for /" And then her thoughts went
back to their unknown friend of the day
before, and, like a flash the truth came
to her. "Oh, Jane I" she went on, with
a grasp, CT see now, it was you sent us
the things. Oh, dear! how a we ever
thank you?" Then she rushed back to
the ~cranberries, which showed signs OF
stewing over, and, for the first time since
her entrance, Miss Jane had a chance to
pnt in a word.
She had Just opened her mouth to say
something in explanation of her sudden
appearance, when the door opened, and
in walked Captain Abel.
"Got anything for me to do, Sally?"
he asked, with a laugh and then the
great-whiskered man stopped short, per-
ceiving the stranger, who sat just in
front Of the fire.
Miss Jane had been a beauty in her
youth, and wen now was not at all ugly.
Her eyes were bright, her teeth we're as
white as ever, and her dimples were not
things. of the past, by any manner of
means. But for a few wrinkles, and a
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 up from her cranberries
eagerly.
u"oh, Abel, here's Jane Jane
Finch" .
Captain Abel came forward, and e1-
tended his hand; but itwas an awkward
meeting. They had not seen each other
since the breaking off of their engage
ment-over q score of years hefore-and
both of them were intentionally con-
scious of the fact. But Captain Abel
drew a chair up to the stove, and tried
to talk as if he had forgotten all about
it; they discussed the weather, the crops,
and everything else they cared nothing
about, until Mrs. Sarah, who was all in
q whirl with the surprise Of Miss James
visit, and who could not keep still-try
as she would-broke into the converse
ton with: ..:-.-
ooh, Abel, do you remember the last
day we saw Jane, dear? What a mess I
was in was engaged to Jim. and no
body knew it; and mother was bound
you and T should make q match of it. I
never shall forget the afternoon we de-
cided to tell her all about it. Good
ness, how T cried-on your shoulder,
too, Abe-and how you tried to convince
me that poor ma didn't care much about
you, and had just as lieve I'd take some
body else, if you only explained it to her
properly-and you were right, tool"
And the little woman, quite overcome
by these "reminiscences, opened the
oven-door, and commenced an energetic
basting of the turkey contained therein.
Poor Miss Jane was too much aston
ished by this revelation to be prudent.
"And wasn't you in love with
Sarah 2" she asked, breathlessly, of the
captain.
"In love with Sarah !" he repeated.
why, I was engaged to you"
ct know it" she said. "But I
thought you"
"Thought what2" and the captain
drew his chair eagerly toward her.
WAS that the reason you acted %
toward me?"
If silence gives consent, Miss Jane
confessed that it was, and he went on
"Well, now that you know it wasn't
so, what are you going to do about it?"
And Captain Abel hitchedhis chair closer
still.
Miss Jane didn't pretend not to under
stand.
"We're too old" she murmured.
But, o week after, she was Mrs. Abel
Jones 80 it is to be supposed that Cap
tain Abel vetoed the motion.