The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-22
Thanksgiving at Van Cortlandt
Manor.

In the iovial red-cheeked embrace Of
the wide fireplace in the kitchen of our
old homestead. we young folks are
gathered this Thanksgiving evening ;
while through the open door of the sit
ting room can be seen the white-haired
grand parents and more sedate circle Of
elders, the pleasant murmur of their
voices swelling out to us as, knitting in
hand, our mothers gossip over old times,
or speak in somewhat sorrowful expec-
tation that this may be the last time the
family circle will meet unbroken.
To US of the third generation there is
no room in the house equal to the dear
old kitchen for comfort or home feeling.
There is a never-ending delight in watch
ing the lights and shadows the huge log
burning in the open fire place casts on
the walls, sometimes bringing into start
ling relief the marvellously bright tins
on the shelves, then again making
shadows so dark and terrible that invol-
UNFAIRLY we glance nervously over our
shoulders and draw closer together. In
the outer kitchen Chloe. with a bright
new bandanna turban, and an access OF
dignity for the occasion, moves round
dispensing the fragments of the dinner
to a crowd of hungry grandchildren,
vigorously rapping with her spoon the
woolly head of some more voracious
youngster, then handing him lump Of
sugar to heal his wounds.
A silence has fallen on us all, induced
partly by the love of reverie, the delight
of youth, partly by the hearty dinner
we have eaten. 1t is broken suddenly
by Annie Roberts, pretty cousin OF
sixteen, overlooking with girlish mis-
chief, who cries is would-be startled
voice
'Look, girls ! see that shadow kissing
Audrey Isn't it, for all the world,
like certain big bearded fellow now
on the Brine Take care, Audrey, per-
haps it's his wrath :"
We all look curiouslv toward the
corner where Audrey's pale, proud face
is outlined on the wall, and there, sure
enough, by some caprice Of the Fire
Spirit, the semblance Of heavilymus
tacbed mouth seems seeking hers. We
all laugh, and, with a bright blush
mounting to her forehead, Audrey
covers her mouth with her hand, on
which glitters the diamond ring of be-
trothal.
There he's kissing the ring now,
cries Annie again ''did you ever see
such devotion
The shadow has moved, and is appar-
emily passionately carcssin9 the slender
hand
"Pshaw, girls !" says Audrey, as she
moves more into the freight, II sup
pose some of you are quite certain in
your inmost hearts that Max is at this
moment lying 'fathoms deep and his
wrath has to give me warning. Thank
heaven, am not in the least supersti-
tious "
1--WE are not all as strong minded and
brave as you, Audrey" says Alice Van
Cortlandt, who with lazy grace has
seated herself on foot-stool at Audrey s
feet, ana on whose golden hair and
blonde beauty the freight fingers low
ingly. "The night we passed together
last Spring was sufficient to prove that
l am as covardly as you are brave"
"What was that, Alice I" asks Walter
Lessing, Using young lawyer, Of whose
taents we are all very proud, and who
is RAPIDLY developing more than cousin
ly ADMIRATION for Alice, which she CO.
quettishly half accepts, half refuses.
"Why, oui adventure with the burg
lar didn't you hear of it, Walter y re
spends Alice al. was the theme OF
conversation here and at home for
months, and Audrey was, hguratively
speaking, crowned with iXprels.
81 did nothing more thap> Alice would
hsve, if she had been aySne, says Au-
q drey " nothing at leSA deserving the