Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-28
The Lost Bill
A THANKSGIVING STORY.


The Lost Bill.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
Milly Barry and Josie King
served at opposite counters OF a
great dry-goods and millinery
emporium. That was how they
made acquaintance in the first
place-nOdding and smiling at
each other in the intervals Of ser
wing customers. When they came
to speaking and by easy stages to
the innocent C Onfdencc of their
age they found they were com
paniOns in 80 many ways-each
being orphaned, poor, lonely and
very sOciabe-it was natural that
they should presently exchange
VOWS of eternal friendship.
They then hired a little room
together, paid equal parts of its
humble rent, and went partners in
their frugal housekeeping expenses;
and when they drank their coffee
and ate their Vienna roll opposite
each other, across a dainty little
table they felt as if they had a
home once more.
Milly was a fair, pleasant-look-
ing girl, with soft blue eyes brown
halr, and fresh red and white
complexion Josie was tall, slight,
dark and pale, with glossy black
hair and large, dark-br0wn eyes
a very handsome girl, as was often
remarked by ladies when she served
them, with a rather queenly air.
The girls were a direct contrast
in personal appearance another
reason for their attraction toward
each other.
Milly and Josie had not large
salaries-the firm which employed
them was not remarkable for
generosity; quick sales, small
profits and very small salaries was
the rule, in the great emporium
However, by dint Of incessant
economy, and by reason of sharing
expenses, Milly and Josie cOntrived
to put aside small sum weekly
toward a little fund for a great
Thanksgiving celebration.
They were both New England
girls, and in their childhood 5 days
that day had ever been one Of
great rejoicing and much merry
making in the homes that remained
now only as a beautiful and hal
lowed memory.
But for once they determined to
make it as much of a joyous reality
as the flight Of years and loss Of
/ friends and relatives would allow.
/ They laid out in Imagination quite
a sumptuOus entertalnment;and on
counting up their savings a few
days before the festive occasion,
and finding that they amounted to
the magnificent sum of ten dollar,
both girls felt justified in inviting
a few friends to help them eat their
turkey.
Mrs. HobsOo, their landlady,
promised to roast the noble bird,
and asked permission to contribute
a mince and a pumpkin pie; while
the girls themselves undertook the
cooking Of the cranberry sauce and
vegetables on their own tiny gas
stove-for each felt that half the
fun of the entertainment would be
lost unless they personally super
intended a port on of the cooking.
The great day approached, and
it was Thanksgiving Eve, and of
course their marketing had to be
done after store hours, for neither
had been able to get leave of
absence during more than usually
thrOnged because of the coming
holiday.
Come, Josie = called Milly, from
the door Of their room, as she drew
on her neat gloves, Josie having
stepped across the hall for mo
ment to ask their rheumatic neigh
Dor, just opposite, whether they
could dc her any service while
they were out shopping.
Yes, dear Josie answered. 'GC
on, Milly Twill Overtake you al
the door
Milly went on, as directed, very
leisurely, and buttOning her gloves
as she descended the stairs.
When she reached the lower ball
she waited for Josie before opening
the do or.
} Minute after minute passed, an,
growing impatient, she amuse'
herself by drumming with the tip
of her fingers on the banisters.
, Five minutes passed, and, with
slight exclamation, she ran hal
way upstairs again.
'Oh, dear, dearl' responded
, Josie, in a voice of mingled dis
tress and perplexity.
Milly hurried up the remaining