The daily gazette., 1877-10-06
IN A RAG BAG.


"You know how 1 feel about Thanks
giving, Sarah; so wish you wouldn't
press your hospitality upon me.n d
This was what Bernard Hastings said
to his sister the day before the national
holiday. Search the world over, and it
wosld be hard to find the man who had
apparently been treated as kindly by old
Father Time as, this gentleman have
just introduced to you. Forty he must
have been, and yet bis face and manner
were so bOyish that he was not unfre-
quently passed over as too young to no
tice, until he spoke, and then he COM
manded the most respectful attention.
Latterly, at the advice of his sister, who
was sometimes little annoyed at the
first impression he created, he had culti-
vated beard, and, as she told him, look
ed quite fierce with his new hirsuit ad-
dition.
Mr.. Pearsall looked him all over, as
she replied to his remkrk. -
eyes" /" said she, 81 suppose 1 do have
somd idea how you feel; but truly, Ber-
nard, l think it is quite time you got over
it. Ten years is along time to keep up
one line Of conduct. If you had been to
blame, that would have altered the case;
but she deliberately Tilted you, and went
off and married another man. l wish to
goodness she had taken some other day
for h"r grand denouement than Thanks
giving"
"Why, Sarah?"
This was all he said; but it. had its
effect, for the blood mounted to the fair
cheek OF his companion, and she said,
softly:
"Forgive me, Bernard, do. 1 know
am awfully unjust, but, then, one does
hate to have such holidays spoiled We
have always made so much of them, and
our mother before u.s."
81 know it, dear-I know it, but YOU
cannot feel half so wretchedly about it
all as | do. Perhaps some day shall be
more Of man; but now let's drop it. l
hope you look out for the poor, Sarah,
on such days. Don't forget them, but
do try and forget me all day to-mor-
row."
"The best man that ever lived!" said
the sister, fondly, to herself, as she turn
ed away. "And it is always just such
men who get imposed upon. l never
knew it to fail"
Thanksgiving morning-cold, crisp and
clear, ushered in by sharp wind that
drove all fog and dampness away, as the
day seemed to have driven off all weari-
ness and despondency.
The very bePgers looked happy, and,
with their baskets heavily laden, shifted
imaginary turkey in the clear air, and
smacked their lips at the charming an
lticipation.
Lillian Challice looked out of the win
dow, and-although she knew it was very
wicked, indeed, so to do-wished she was
dead.
"Ten years ago to-day-ten long, hate
full years! Why folks don't die when they
get through living is more than know"
woman surveyed herself in the glass, and
then swept her eyes over her beautiful
surroundings. GAIL that money can buy
good friends, ,and the handsomest house in
the county, yet no heart to enjoy it, but
there is nobody but you and l." pinching
her arm till she cried out with pain,
''who knows anything about our misery.
We have kept it to ourselves right brave
ly, haven't we, old friend? What shall
we do till the day is over? Married!-I
wonder who it was that started that fool
ish report about me? wonder if he be-
lieved it, suppose so. Men believe
everything they are told, but he might as
well believe that as anything else. What
could he have been angry about? If live
to a hundred-and L suppose SHALL
will never cease to wonder at the cause
of his sudden alienation. What does
make it so much harder to bear Thanks
giving than other days?"
In handsome bachelor quarters in New
York,a man, by name Bernard, was going
on in the self same style. He had at
tended to all his engagements the preyi-
GUS day, and, with lugubrious counte-
nance, had locked himself into his room,
and was just now most unromantically
busy over the contents of huge rag bag
he had caused to be brought down from
the store room. There were old pants
and vests, stockings and shirts, and some
articles Bernard was sure had never be-
longed TO him.
"My landlady has made it sort of
partnership concern,' he muttered )" but
1 ought to be ashamed of myself to let
things go to rack and ruin so. These
clothes would have done somebody some
good, and now they are all eaten up with
moth. What's this in the pocket? ?" as
he unearthed pair of pants of soft tex
ture and color. GA letter, as Pm sim
one Sarah gave me ten years
ago from Mercy Maxwell, and l never
opened it, because was so disappointed |
at not hearing from Lillian"
He broke the seal and read:
'MY DEAR BoY-Of course love you!
You ought to have known it without |
asking but how ridiculous of you, dear |
Bernard, to write it. 1t would have |
been so sweet to have heard the story
from your own lips but suppose there |
is time enough yet. Ii you love me,
come straight over to dinner, and tell
father all about it, this very evening.
Your own LILLIAN"
Bernard Hastings did not faint or |
scream but he came within an ace of the \
first. For five minutes he was thorough |
Iy bewildered. He must see her, mar
ried or single, alive or dead. Nothing |
should prevent him from meeting her,
and that Immediately. There was only |
one person upon whom he could rely for |
,idings of the lady in question. He dis
patched boy with note to the old |
m q NC rocidonoo