The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-11-21


want Of thought, Bessie" he pleaded;
II didn't think you cared so much"
Il am glad for you," she said. in ;
voice that seemed any thing but glad;
real glad, John, but"
"Here arc letters" interrupted her
brother, thinking she intended to refer
to Muriels seeming neglect Of him:
'ssome thank-oferings, Bessie"
She took the mail from his hand with
trembling fingers and passed mp the
staircase with face as pale as death.
20, dear.' murmured John, - hs
joined his wife below. II didn't think
she'd feel that way about it,"
Brother Is happy and why not II"
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 glad yet such miser-
able Thanksgiving Eve. She hoped
there might be good news in the WELL
| filled sheet.
why: whose handwrite-why, who
-?' Then, for quiet Bessie Anderson,
sho acted little strangely. She rose.
| walked across the room q time or two
before she read the missive. After that
she gathered up the other letters un-
opened and put them away in IN alb
stracted manner. With far-away,
happy light coming across the tear
stained face the overjoyed girl knelt
down by the window in the moonlight
and whispered: Il 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 il 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
sponse, she repeated: II am SO glad for
you, both Of you," nodding to them.
Il hope you will forgive me for being
SO strangely overcome. You did sur
prise me So"
.'Of course" said John.
Certainly" said Muricl, little mys-
titled.
In the morning Bessie put her hand
on her brothers arm, saying: 1--WE will
have a wedding to-day, too, il you don't
mind"
"Why--who?"
John looked down into the blushing
face and received . 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 .
fortune SO long ago that he had almost
forgotten.
"Why, Bess, didn't know"
II didn't either until last night,
smiled she; "he's coming to-day"
"And you never let on" said John, re-
proachfully.
"One 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.
Hello! old fellow" cried he, 'rose
from the dead?"
20, no; only wrecked and picked up
after awhile" answered the other. ''ls
Bessie -?n
waiting? Well, OF course she is.
She's true or she would not be an An.
derson,' and John confded the telegram
to Ashley.
Romance upon romance" exclaimed
, Wingate. And SO it was, to the delight
! of the Folly Mill gossips as well as the
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
/ picst,: most thankful Thanksgiving i'm,
aginable.
And Ashley Wingate purchased the
, lovely Dixon place in the valley, and
Bessie:presides over home as beautifu
as wealth and love can make it, while
/ John and Muriel remain It Folly Mill
farm. MANDA L. CROCKER.
, CHEEKY hearts and smiling faces.