The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-20
RICH BUT HOMELESS.
A TuANsGrvING DAY STORY.

1t was Thanksgiving eve. A carriage
was rolling rapidly along Fifth avenue,
its occupants, a lady and gentleman,
were just returning from the opera. The
lady was young, beautiful and gorgeous
ly apparreled. She nestled herself in
corner of the carriage and sighed wca-
rily. Her escort, tall, fine ooking
man, gazed at her silent a moment and
then exclaimed:
LILLIAN, it is a rare sight, and to me
sad one, to see your bright face shad-
owed What is the mattcr2 In the
midst of that brilliant throng tonight,
with the enchantment of that lovely
music, saw you often suppress a,siGh,
and your laugh had not its usual merry
ring. Tell me, Lillian, is there a secret
l cannot share" The tone was tender
and caressng, and, withal, genuinely
sincere. Thank you, Ralph; truly
owe you an apology for allowing my
mood to be so apparent 1t was selfish to
inhict myself upon you tonight, but |
hoped your society and the music might
dispel the cloud and overcome this mel
ancholy. Oh, Ralph; | positively hate
the thought of anniversaries, Thanks
giving and all holidays. All, yes; you
laugh; you recall my wealth, my host of
friends. You say women are strange
compounds, that you have no home and
are rather poor; but yet you manage to
enjoy life without so much sentiment.
We'll, all | can say is, women arc differ
emily constituted from men and need diff
ferent food to properly nourish them
that is, their hearts. Then, too, you arc
wit; you are always wanted; every
home is thrown open to you most cor
daily, while l am simply nobody"
"You are rich widow"
eyes; rich widow, but homeless
childless. On my table there are many
kind invitations to spend tomorrow
among friends, who doubtless felt
would be lonely at the hotel, but l feel
l would be an outsider. have no right
of my very own"
poor girl did not dream you were
INDUCING in such sad broodings or
would have made no engagement for to
morrow and devoted the day to tn,
pleasing effort Of bringing back thos,
smiles. have promised to dine will
judge d. at three o'clock may come t.
you at sevenI"
"Yes, indeed; | am sure l shall hal
your presence with smile Of 'Thanksgiv
ing at least" So they parted.
AS Lillian entered her beautifully ap
pointed room at the hotel her faithful
colored Desey the maid of her girlhoo,
days, came forward to assist in dsroh
ing her, and scrutinized the loved fac
as if she, too, saw the shadow of discor
tent. Tenderly kissing her hand, a
was her custom before leaving for tn
night, there seemed to poor Lillian a
most mockery in her, "NNish you happ
Thanksgivin', missey.'
The sun rose clear and beautiful o
Thanksgiving day. Lillian arose at tn
summons of Desey and the sight of I'll
beautiful flowers handed her, wit
Ralph's card attached, recalled the ola
and the conversation of the night b,
fore.
81 won't be so foolish" she said {
herself "Other people with less oppo
tunitics than make themselves happ,
and why should not II" But the oil
gnawing pain was at her heart still, an
she entered the breakfast room in an
thing but her usual happy mood.
There was no depression of spirits
the guests surrounding her at the tabl,
they were all going among their kindrC
or friends to celebrate this annual 10y
feast, and every remark seemed to Ia
rebellous heart MS wilful stab. AS Il
waiter brought her the morning mi
her face frightened, and she hastenC