Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-11-28

and voices. A great lump came into her
throHt--"it couldn't DO Ashley2"
'Bess, this Is my wife, Murlel" eps
claimed John nloment later, his fase
shining with joy as he pushed the
biashing Muricl into her sister-in-law's
arms.
II was all so sudden and unexpected
for poor, lonely-hearted Bessie. Shc
had been thinking Of other and sadder
things, and the turning Of the tide as IL
set toward SUMMER shores mado her
heart dumb
II was not Ashley, not tho wanderor
from over the sea, but then IL was an
ether lost love and John was hoppyl
A strange feeling ctept over Bessie
Anderson. She put one arm around the
fair bride and held the other out inn
ploringly toward her brother.
'ttohn," she gaspcd, with white, quiv-
ertng lips, "i'm glad for you aud Muriel;
but It's all so sudden-so sudden. IL you
will excuse me ! will go 10 my room for
awhile"
She turned away and went upstairs,
leaving the astonished two standing in
the middle Of the room.
In moment John tiptoed after her;
he could not bear this. Forgive my
want OF thought, Bessie" he pleaded;
"I didn't think you cared so much"
III am glad for you" she said, in a
voice that seemed any thing but glad;
''real glad, John, but"
"Here are letters interrupted her
brother thinking she intended TO refer
10 Muriers seeming neglect of him:
''some thank-oiferings, Bessie"
She took the mail from his hand with
trembling fingers and passed up the
staircase with face as pale as death.
20, dear" murmured John, as he
Joined his wife below. II didn't think
she'd feel that way about it,
'Brother is happy and why not 10"
questioned Bessie, as she lighted taper
and turned the key in the door. Tears
FLASHED down on the letter she opened.
o, Il was such a glad yet such miser-
able Thanksgiving Eve. She hoped
there might be good news In the we'll
filled sheet.
"Whyl whose handwrite-why, who
p" Then, for quiet Bessie Anderson,
she acted little strangely. She ros
walked across the room time or {,
before she road the missive. After that
she gathered up the other letters un-
opened and put them away in an alb
stracted manner. With a far-away,
happy light coming across the tear
stained face the ovcrioyed s'-l linelt
down by the window in the moonlight
and whispered; 81 thank Thee, Father.
Tomorrow will indeed be ThanSsgiy-
ing"
Going over 70 bureau presently she
opened drawer and took mp a long.
hlmy white vail, shaking out its folds
and sending a cloud Of quaint perfume
through the apartment Then with
smile she lifted from its resting-place a
beautiful silken gown, smothered in a
marvel of starry lace, and laid it over
the chair nearest her.
As IL by programme, Bessie went from
one loving care to another until she
slipped the cleaning circlet on her lin
ger and went downstairs to welcome
Muriel.
With such happy light in her eyes
that John felt his heart bound in re-
sponse, she repeated: II am so glad for
you, both Of YOU nodding 10 them.
~ hope you will forgive me for being
so strangely overcome. You did sur
prise me so."
''Of course" said John.
Certainly" said Muriel, little mys-
tilted.
In the morning Bessie put her hand
on her brothers arm, saying: "Ne will
have a wedding to-day, too, If you don't
mind"
"Why-who?"
John looked down into the blushing
face and received a revelation from the
tell-tale eyes before the whispered con-
fession.
Bessie and Ashley" she said; and
then he remembered the handsome Ash
ley wingate who sailed in search Of a
fortune so long ago that he had almost
forgotten.
"Why, Bess, didn't know"
81 didn't either until last night"
smiled she; she's coming to-day"
"And you never let on, said John, re-
proachfully.
zone happiness at time" answered
Bessie.
And so II happened that when John
Anderson went 10 the village TO tele-
graph Muriel's marriage TO her guardian,
he met the handsome, sun-bronzed trav.
eler, Ashley Wingate.
"gello! old fellow" cried he, ''rose
from the dead?n
20, no; only wrecked and picked up
after awhile answered the other. ''Is
Bessie -"
waiting? Well, OF course she is.
She's true or she would not be an An
derson," and John confided the telegram
10 Ashley.
Romance upon romance" exclaimed
Wingate. And so It was, 10 the delight
of the Folly Mill gossips as well as the
happy quartette.
SO, after all, the day which was ex-
pected 10 be the anniversary Of sorrow
and heartache turned out 20 be the hap
piest, most thankful Thanksgiving i'm
aginable.
And Ashley Wingate purchased the
lovely Dixon place in the valley, and
Bessie presides over home as beautiful
as wealth and love can make IT, while
John and Muriel remain at Folly Mil
farm. MANDA l.. CBOCKER.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
asSS@a-