The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1889-11-28

want of thought, Bessie" he pleadedi
~ didn't think you cared so much"
II am glad for YOU" she said, in
voice that seemed any thing but glad;
"real glad, John, but"
"Here are letters,n interrupted her
brother, thinking she intended to refer
to Muriel's seeming neglect of him:
''some thank offerings, Bessie"
She took the mail from his hand with
trembling fingers and passed up the
staircase with face as pale as death.
80, dearp' murmured John, as he
Joined his wife below. ST didn't think
she'd feel that way about it."
Brother is happy and why not IT.
questioned Bessie, as she lighted taper
and turned the key in the door. Tears
FLASHED down on the letter she opened.
o, it was such a glad yet such a miser-
able Thanksgiving Eve. She hoped
there might be good news in the we'll
filled sheet.
"Whyl whose handwrite- why, who
-?' Then, for quiet Bessie Anderson,
she acted little strangely. She rose
walked across the room tinss or two
before she read the missive. After that
she gathered up the other letters un~
opened and put them away ia an abb
stracted manner. With a far-away.
happy light coming across the tear.
stained face the overjoyed girl knelt
down by the window in the moonlight
and whispered: 81 thank Thee, Father.
Tomorrow will indeed be Thanksgiv~
ing"
Going over to bureau presently she
opened drawer and took up long,
filmy white vail, shaking out its folds
and sending cloud of quaint perfume
through the apartment. Then with
smile she lifted from its resting-place
beautiful silken gown, smothered in
marvel of starry lace, and laid it over
the chair nearest her.
AS if by programme, Bessie went from
one loving care to another until she
slipped the cleaning circlet on her fin
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 to them.
'I hope you win forgive me for being
so strangely overcome. You did sur,
prise me So"
'of COURSE" said John.
Certainly" said Muriel, little mys-
titled.
In the morning Bessie put her hand
on her brothers arm, saying: "We will
have wedding to-day, too, if you don't
mind"
"Why-who?"
John looked down into the blushing
face and received revelation from the
telI-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
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 it happened that when John
Anderson went TO the village to tele'
graph Muriel's marriage to her guardian,
he met the handsome, sun-bronzed trav-
eler, Ashley Wingate.
"Hellol old fellow" cried he, rose
from the dead?"
30, no; only wrecked and picked up
after awhile" answered the other. ia
Bessie --?"
"WaitingP Wen, OF course she is.
She's true or she would not be an An
derson," and John contided the telegram
to Ashley.
Romance upon romancep exclaimed
Wingate. And so 1t was, 20 the delight
OF the Folly Mill gossips az well as tho
happy quartette.
So, after all, the day which was ex.
pected to be the anniversary of sorrow
and heartache turned out to be the hap
piest, most thankful Thanksgiving inn
aginable
And Ashley Wingate purchased the
lovely Dixon place in the valley, and
Bessie presides over a home as beautiful
as wealth and love can make it, while
John and Muriel remain at Folly Mill
farm. MANDA l.. CRocKER.
--Cheery hearts and smiling faces
Gentle speech md ways
Make cloudy, duh Thanksgiving
SapNieat Qf DAYS