Dodge City times., 1883-12-27
box open and exposed to view 5 plump

box open and exposed to view plump
turkey.
ssAnd rais;ns.', cried Madge, pulling
open paper -bay Z and filling her mouth
with the contents.
.'And beef! And suet. And celery
said Mar an.
3heo lookcd.Ip as if stupe6ed.
"Why, it's mine!'' she exclaimed at
last.
.sOf course it's yours. Who said it
wasn't?' answered Madge, helping
herself plentifully to the raisins, again.
'.But it's what | bought and gave to
the mani" persisted Theo.
"But you didn't buy oranges and
lemons and three big pineapples, did
you?" asked Marion. still ineredulous.
mo: but / bought the other things
know they are the same. And lCOk,
Marian. look, Madge, here's my purse.
too, with The half-dollar still in it!
What can it mean9"
r No one could tell. But wonders will
never cease. Another knock sounded
on the door. Theo opened it, her lips
and cheeks scarlet with excitement.
Before her stood a man in a slouched
hat and sc. dy overcoat, mufiled up tc
his chin. TheO recO gnized him.
"Come in, she commanded, i'm
periously, "and tell us the meaning OF
this" And she pointed to the open
box, where figs AMI ra:sins lay scattered
about, oranges and suet lay in close
proximity to pineapples and beef. and
the turkey had fallen helpless on his
back amo3g the rosy -pearmains that
lined the bottom of the box. where he
held up one plump drum stick, as if be-
seeching t e sympathy of the spectators.
The tramp walked obligiug!y IN. He
pulled of the seedy overcoat; he threw
down his s!ouched hat; and there stood
Il handsome, road-shouldered young
man, with gray eyes and crisp chestnut
hair
Cousin Tom cried Marian, as
founded.
sWhy, Cousin Toni echoed Madge.
But Thco stood silent, with dropping
eyes AMI blush;ng cheeks.
"And have you no greeting for me,
Theo:?" asked Tom-who, by-the-way,
was only third or fourth cousin, after
all
Theo shock her head.
'How do I know but that YOU are an
imposter?' she asked.
Tom laughed.
81 had no intention of deceiying you.
| thought recognized you on the street,
but it was SO dark | followed you into
the fruit-store in order to be certain be-
fore ventur NO to speak
"But you said yoH hadn't tasted
bread for two days. pouted Theo, re-
leniing a little. -s 9aEsa@
"Well, ] hadn't. You see, our train
was showed up for nearly Il week, and
TIE bread all gave out; we had plenty OF
meat, and pie, and cake, though, so we
didn't miss the bread much. -
"But what seedy old coat and hat.'
said Madge, eyeing the cast-otf gar
ments suspiciously.
"They are rather seedy, to be sure"
said Tom. ''The fact is, when we
changed cars l chanced to be taking a
nap, and when the conductor succeeded
in rousing me that coat and hat were
the only ones left in the car; SO it was
Hobson's choice, as you see.''
While Marian and Madge were fit
ting about the room roasting the tur-
key, chopring mincemeat, seasoning
the plum-pudding, and laying the table
for four, Theo and Cousin Tom stood
by the window, whispering together
over the yellow chrysanthemums.
''And you'll never, never get jealous
any more" asked Theo, with averted
face and tell-tale cheeks.
Never" declared Tom. And he
slipped plain gold ring on her finger,
and perhaps stole a sly kiss, while the
two sisters discrectly basted the turkey
who ki ys?-Chicago Tr'ibane.