Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-11-21

it had become part of her life.
Thanksgiving day came, cool and
bright, with crisp, bracing air that
brought soft color into Lucinda's
cheeks as she gathered white artemcsias
from the garden to brighten the parlor.
Susan, as she looked out of the Kitchen
window, thought that her sistcr-in-law
was as good-looking, in spite of her
thirty-five years, rs any of the girls, and
then sighed little over the romance in
the others life. Though Lucinda was
always cheerful and seemingly con-
tented, her brothers wife knew that her
heart hungered for home of its own.
Every woman's does. 1t is natural chat
II should.
When Lucinda dressed herself to re-
ceive the Thanksgiving guests, she had
to make an artemesia with a cluster of
its green leaves answer for brooch.
The white flower, against the dark
maroon of her dress, showed to such
effect that she wondered If folks wouldn't
think it almost too gay for woman of
thirty-fveP But before she had quite
decided the matter in her own mind,
she heard wagon drive up, and looked
out of the window to see cousin Nathan's
family alighting at the gate. And with
them stranger. He had already
alightcd and stood with his back to the
house. Something in the broad shoul-
ders and the peculiar carriage of the
head struck Lucinda as familiar.
Jack used to look something like
that" she said, with sigh. Then the
man turned to shake hands with Deacon
Graham, who had rushed out to greet
his visitors with n face half shaven, and
she saw it was Jack himself! Changed
of course, but not so much so that she
did not recognize him the instant she
saw his face.
The roses faded out of her cheeks,
and she had to sit down for minute to
recover herself Jack was alive, and
had come back! What had he come
here forP
Don't be foolish" she said to her.
self. ''Its quite natural that he should
come here, for cousin Nathan's wife is
his cousin, and if he came to visit them,
they couldn't leave him at home while
they came here to spend Thanksgiving.
OF course not. He comes in friendly
way, and why shouldn't hep So don't
be silly, Lucinda Graham, but do your
best to enjoy yourself and help other
folks to have n pleasant time"
But she couldn't keep her heart from
fluttering strangely as she went down
stairs. In ''the entry" she met cousin
Nathan's wife.
II hope you won't be offended, Lu-
cindy," whispered that CHEEKY little
woman, as she kissed the other, "but
Jacks come back, and / took the liberty
to bring him along"
You did quite right" answered Lu-
.cinda, and her cheeks were quite rosy
now, for Jack came in, and she went up
to meet him with frank smile and an
outstretched hand.
81 am glad to see you," she said.
1--WE were talking about you yesterday,
Susan and L, and wondering if you were
living. It's been a long time since we
have heard from you"
You haven't grown a year older in
looks" he said, and his eyes were full
of look that made her eyes falter and
droop. WAS he going to hold her hand
all day? And so many looking on
too!''
My! that feller they call Jack keeps
a lookin' at Amt 'Cindy just as we look
at the pies an things" said Ruth tc
Johnny, by and by.
'Looks as if he wanted to eat her up
then" chuckled Johnny, with a long
long sniff of the delightfully."- tantalizing
odors coming from the kitchen. "Won
der if he amt the beau she used to hav,
ever so many years agoP / heard m,
an Aunt Desire whisperin' abou
Aunt 'Cindy an somebody she though
lots of, q little while ago, an I'll be
that's him. Oh, my! Wouldn't it b
jolly if she'd get married, an they,
have bang-up big weddin'P | don
s'pose Thanksgiving are anything sid
o weddin's. Wonder if they have tur
key an such thingsH'
Jack and Lucinda had no opportunit,
to talk over old times before dinner
She was busy with the guests, and th
arrangement of the tables, and he wa
busy renewing old acquaintances. Bu
his eyes would follow the woman he ha,
loved.
Dinners ready" shouted johnny
and the deacon said the company nigh
as well pair off," and in the ''pairinl
off" Jack was fortunate enough to Sc
cure Lucinda, and he took her in to din
ner with such radiant look on his fac,
that cousin Nathan's wife nodded will
great satisfaction to Susan, and tha
worthy woman nudged her husband
and told him to look at Jack an 'Cindy
and he whispered back that they mad,
a good-lookin' couple, an he hopcd-bu
the hustle drowned the rest of the sen
tence, whatever it was. Lucinda felt tina
everybody was watching them, and he
checks got red as roses, and Jack, wht
was utterly oblivious of any one else, a
least two-thirds of he time, thought sh,
had grown handsomer as she had grow1
older, and felt an insane desire to pu
his arms around her and tell her so
then and there, and ask her if the pas
couldn't be forgotten, or some of it, n
least, and the divided paths be made t,
run together again.
"Why Lucinda, what's become of you
broochp" spoke up cousin Nathan
wife, all at once across the table. g
never saw you without it ON before"
"Ilost it yesterday answered Lucinda
I'D give anything if could find it."
just then the pumpkin pies wer
passed.
They're good, l know" said Susan
'for Lucindy made en- an can't b
beat at pumpkin pies You remembe
her pies, don't you Jackp"
"Yes, / do" answered Jack. Ant
then he took piece, and whispered t,
Lucinda that he wondered if it woul,
taste the same as it used to. And sh,
blushed, and Susan winked at cousil
Nathan's wife, and cousin Nathan
wife nodded back, and the wink an,
the nod were as comprehensive and in
telligible to the two women as dozei
sentences of spoken words would hav
been.
All at once Jack put his napkin to hi
, mouth, and his eyes twinkled as he re
, moved it.
AT last dinner was over.
Don't you want to take walkp
asked Jack of Lucinda. "I want I
; look the place over it's been SO Ion