The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-27
NUMBER SEVENTY-NINE.
A Thanksgiving Romance.

Rhoda Bruce sat alone by the parlor
window in the dim November twilight.
watching the flicker and flare of the Gas
IN the street lamps, as the cold sweeps OF
the winter wind came surging round the
corner.
1t was Thanksgiving eve; and, after a
day of busy preparation for the morrow's
festivities, everything had settled down
into quiet again.
Rhoda had heartily enjoyed the excite
ment eff helping her aunt, with whom she
lived, arranged rooms for the expected
guests, and prepare flowers for the tables
and NANTES, putting graceful, g1rlish
touches upon all the adornments. To-
ward night, aunts and uncles and cousins
had poured in from the different trains.
and Rhoda's brother Ralph, her especial
admiration and alteration, had SURPRISED
her by coming from his college to spend
the day with her. Altogether it had
been happy day, and was a joyous pre-
Jude to the hymn of praise and thanks,
which Rhoda fcl, sure she. would sing
out gaily on tho morrow.
But it was just triie dull alone in the
parlor tonight. Aunt Garry had taken
the girls, her two daughters, off up stairs
tor contab, and others ut the aunts and
cousins were singing lullabys IN their
rooms to protesting babyhood; Uncle
Boyed was smoking up in the library
with the husbands and brothers, and
Ralph. after little confidential converse
with Rhoda, had rushed down to the
Continental to meet some of his chums.
It looked very pleasant over the way
at the Weldon girls house; the gas was
lighted in the parlor, the blinds up, and
they seemed to be having a jolly time,
Some one had told Rhoda that Letty
Welden's beau was coming on from the
West TO spend Thanksgiving with her
and Rhoda deserted him in the group.
"Heigh- hop sighed Rhoda; che don't
rush off to meet comrade as soon az he
has arrived. I wish had lover! They
must be very nice. I wonder if 1 will
have one next Thanksgiv1ng2"
just then voice in the darkness made
her start with the words:
"f you love me, you'll do something
l want you to very much.'
BH 1t was only Cousin Gilbert who
had spoken, and as he was but fourteen
aud only up to her shoulder, even cou-
sinly Irritation was out of the question.
"Well, what is it Gil?" laughed Rho
da; e faint heart never won fair lady.'
you know; ask, and see If I will not grant
you favor"
Rhode. dear, it's awtully stupid up in
the library, they're talking stocks, and If
go where mama is, she'll want me to
go to bed; and Rhodie,"' coming closer.
and coaxing in rough boy fashion, II new
er saw great city lighted up; I wish
you'd take me down the stree. a little
ways, please?"
|'Certalnly I WILL" replied Rhoda.
jumping up; "get into your overcoat
quickly, and wait in the hall until come
down. Then. running up stairs for her
own seal-skin jacket and cap, Rhoda
burst into the nursery with an incoherent
sort of explanation that she was going
out little way, and would take Gilbert
as escort.
"Poor fellow!'' she said to herself. as
she tied her cardinal cloud tight down
over her ears, and wound it round he1
throat; che lives such humdrum sort
OF life up in that little village; how grand
the city by night will look to him! I'll