Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-26
THANKSGIVING AT STONES MILL

Mountains; so extra hands for the winters fell
ing and hauling ('9oggin'," as it is technically
called) often came down from Canada Stone
was powerfully built, ungainly man, with rest
less black eyes and swarthy skin He sat in his
office one November day registering the names
OF some newly arrived .'logrers."
James Cooper he called out; "Sam Pres
ton; Michael Cassidy; Yorkshire Billy chow are
You, Billy?) All right" He spoke with for
eign accent. Next"
The next was slim young man with fair hair,
who wore. like the rest, rough flannel shirt.
leather belt, and high boots. But the shirt col
lar was rolled back with a certain careless grace
from a round comely throat, and held by
knottcd scarf. Stone looked up sharply into the
pleasant gray eyes. and asked,
Are you logger"
mo" answered the young fellow: sbut I
want to be-"
Humph! How old are you, and what wages
do You want?"
"Twenty-four, and I'll leave the wages to
you"
.seyenty-fve cents day-all you are worth,
and more. too
The new hand looked rather amused.
w nat your name:"
"Arthur Lennox"
Then the owner called out sNext," and Len
hon went out to hunt up lodging.
II houlfon. lark. traditional, cartoon Yam
kee answered the strangers inquiries with
look that took in the glossy fair hair the white
teeth, the curling moustache. and the pecuIiar
ron oil the blue shirt collar. Then ST rubbed both
corners OF his mouth with impartial precision
and said, Guess there amt no boordn house
mere thutli suit yer, 'ithout it's Ray's-fust
house below the bridge"
In a lew minutes Arthur was walking throurh
neat It'll" red house that seemed deserted.
so he stepped into the Kitchen and stood in
Ray,''
A tall young girl came out from shed close
by She had a basket of wood steadied by one
iland upon her shoulder She passed by Arthur,
VINO stepped aside with " Beg par
don,' lowered her burden by a skillful little
bounce upon the free hand, and then asked
What "a it:''
Il was calling Ray. Mr. Ray. the owner of the
mouse. suppose want lodging room.''
I'm Ray, said the girl. You can see the
room have
As she led the way Arthur apologized for his
laundering entrance TO the coil of soft brown
hair at the back of her head. for the Young per-
son didn't condescend to turn round though she
explained Everybody calls me Ray; my names
Rachel joyce"
Why, the room is very NICE" exclaimed Ar
thur, land so thoroughly clean, too" Then he
talked on in familiar. laughing way. yet tenn
pered too with certain Difference for her sex,
uhtl sne un5cnt something of her defensive,
underlined rigidty, and actually stood smiling
Deiofe MN In natural grlish. pleasant fashion.
tie noticed what sngularly delicate face she
nau-a New England complexion, pearly fair.
put with clear blue eyes and scarlet lips that told
OF ROBUST health. He stood admiring the lines
0i her nose and mouth, and thinking that
Drown calico frock of a baggy make couldn't
spoh genuine beauty after all, when suddenly he
Thought to ask, shall see your mother about
the price,
81 have no mother and no father The board
is three dollars week"
DO you live here alOne:"
Yes teach the district school, and in the
los@lil season take bOarders-aman from Can
anda, Billy, they call him, and his wife. Then
this room is generally wanted by some logger,
some one like-like- She stopped in her illus
tratlon, and regarded this new specimen of log
ger with puzzled expression.
Some one like me-" he suggested
No; at least the lOggers are not like
~, True, they're not like me, Miss Rachel.
Iney re stronger, bigger men. l envy them.
why, only earn seventy-five cents day"
I've charged you too much for the room,"
she said gently.
Nonsense" he exclaimed, with an odd little
iaugh; 1t 8 an honest board. I'm hard-wOrk-
ing boy, Miss Rachel, and I've something put
by"
81 wouldn't for the world be hard with YOU"
she added. graveiy.
eyes II think, Miss Rachel, you wouldn't be
hard with anybody" Then he changed the sub
Ject by saying, You must have a great deal of
work to do"
Yes, have some" she responded, with the
genuine Yankee idiOm.
little while after when Arthur strolled
down toward the mill 81 Moulton remarked:
Nice gal, Ray is Got rarnin, an mind of
her own tew. bet yer. Old Joyce. her father
owned this ere mill. an when Ray was fourteen
fEaffc civ IL
Naal. Joyce was shiftless, an there was old
debts from when he lived down to Boston.
lheih creditors they come up, an things was in
middle, when down comes Laroche-him
that JOtln Stone nOw-frOm Canada, an buys
up the hull place 'cept JOyce's house: that the
creditors give ter Ray, out o. pity sorter, l
5 pose Waal. she's a smart schOol-teacher
now, an Stones jist a-dyin fur ter marry her
Guess ne tWlstifed his name over inter English
list ter be a-kinder nat'ral an humly like for
ner, 6nt she don't like him, she don't, an
queen victory Onter her golden throne amt
more, more nigh an mighty nor Ray when she don't
like body-not Queen Victory; no, sir!'
was Ray born here:'
"Waal, no. 81 admitted with regret; ''she's
a nice cal, but she want born here
Il thought there was something in her
speech that
''Speech!" echoed ST, Indignantly. "Nothin'
ais Rays speech. Speaks good as me, or any,
BODY. an we all calclate ter speak putty good
ieouiiu htic- len yer WHAT, young teller. stay
up mere awhile, an I'll Farm yer ter talk as good
as me-
Arthur looked much more delighted than even
TINS brilliant promise warranted, and laughed
long and loud. Then he asked:
How about Thanksgiving, ST, your great
hOliday?''
Waal, some folks eats a good deal an the
men. bein off work, calc'late ter drink good
DEAL
Il suppose you have crowd of people. flags,
music. and dancing, like fair dav!'
~ aas-oh ya'as." 81 answered, cheerfully
lying for the glory of his native place. ''Dunno
bout fags.but crOwds-Oh yes crowds of folks.
All come here ter have big time. Crowds and
cr0Wds-yeS. S1!''
When 81 had gone away, Arthur wrote in
notebook:
People full OF conceit and slrewdness. Girl
at my lodgings quite well spoken sweet voice,
and uses the native id0m in a pardonable sort
OF way. Says i want ter know.' as an exclam-
alton. Says 1T rains some Abominable.''
Hi. Halo! Come here." some one was calling
to Arthur from the mill. He hurried over the
10otway across the dam There was trouble
about raising heavy log. and as he STONED
(under stones drection) to the lifting. a gold
watch slipped from an inner pocket into sight
lie tucked it away. but not quickly enough to
escape Stones eyes.
After that first days work avery tired man
t,s.,x, - ls.-I~.-