St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-28
THANKSGIVING YARNS
Hector Bridegroom Has Seri-
Gus Trouble With His
Turkey.
Divorce Does Not Follow, but
He Gives Thanks at q
Hotel.
Reginald Pontmercy Looks
at q Photograph and Pom
derG Deeply,
But the Remainder of the
Story Is Shrouded in
Darkness.

they have always been ever since the
parson pronounced them man and wife,
not even the Semhlance of a cloud hav
ing ever darkened their porte coch, re,
as they say out OH the motor line. tec
tor used to be zone of the boys" before
he began to wear Luciile'S photograph
around on his gore pump, but he be-
came different man as soon as he was
endowed with a muther-in-law and
never tired painting. for his bachelor
| friends, the delights of having home
of ones own.
"Why, u0ys.'' he would say. "yOu
can't imagine how soothing il is to the
spirit 10 sit down in cosy little dining
room with the JOY of your life opposite
| and to enjoy a delic Gus dinner without
being forced to listen 10 the aimlesS
chatter of score of other people in
whom one is not a bit Interested. Then
IL gives q man a certain feeling of
strength and pride and elevation of
spirit To preside at ores own table. No,
street No more boarding house and
single cuSSedneSS for me-" and the boys
would smile.
Just week before Thanksgiving
Hector invited four of his friends to
dine with him on that day of good
cheer. remarking that he'd ''show them
what it is 10 have home of ones OWL"
Thanksgiving d y came and with IL the
dinner. The four friends and Mr..
and Mrs. Bridegroom sat down
at the appointed hour and toyed
with the preliminaries until Hector,
with a flush OF satisfaction marble
| mantiing his brow, commanded that the
turkey be produced. 1t came. Right
here let it he explained that Hector had
never before tackled a turkey. He could
ulssect a harmless SlrI0ln of beef ar
good-natured leg of mutton, but a
healthy adult turkey, who had been all
athlete in his day, clothed in warm
brown gravy and disposition to create
mischief, was to him an untXplored
field. But he brandished the carver,
smiled with superior air and began.
Boys. you ought TO get married."
said he, as he made a vicious punch at
the off hind leg of the erstwhie barn
yards pride. And by all means learn
/ to carve as L" and he stopped to re-
front. The turkey lay Oh bis side, APP
parently ginning at Mr.. Briedgreum.
But Hector returned to the charge and
soon had his turklets on his
back. Hector wresiled vigorously,
but the turkey "nridged." honors
were even. The turkey was playing a
waiting game. AS Hector had said to
the boys, it gave him feeling of
strength to preside at his own table.
and his strength was now up. The tur-
key hadn't worket as an eXcavat0r for
four long years without getting up some
muscle. The fight began again. Hec-
tors pride was now aroused, and lie
was also experiencing that elevation OF
spirit of which he had spoken at the of
fee. His spirit became so high that his
shirt collar became scared. But he Sc
cured half-NeiSon OH Mr.. Turkey and
away they both went across the table.
But the turkey slipped the hold and
they both parted for wind. Then Hee-
tor attempted different tactics. He
seemed to feel his way. But it didn't
work. Flirt's didn't work, and when-
ever he made rush the turkey wasn't
there. Twas a long and hard-fOu%ht
battle, and resulted in Lonesome Law
son. the cr0SS-cOuntry tourist, eating so
much turkey that he had to eat gravel
in lieu of pepsin.
LUCILLE" murmured Hector Bried-
greum in low, base tones. as he Sat by
his own hearthstone that night, ''ihere
is one thing for which am truly thank
tul on this blessed day."
"What is it. DEAR" replied Lucille,
sympathetically as she bathed Hect0r'S
dislOcated shoulder.
"That we had but one turkey"
While the members of the Briedgreum
household were recovering from the eff
fects of the fierce engagement, there
came stealing to them ON the gentle
waves of the circumambient air, sounds
of revelry FROM the adjoining house,
where dwet Oscar Oldtheimer, Sr.
The Oldtheimers seemed to be enter
tanning a Thanksgiving party, and.
Judging from the sounds of merriment
proceeding thence, the entertainment
seemed to be success. Mark the con-
trast between the two adjoining homes.
LII one was pain and suffering, in the
other naught but pleasure. The reason
may be clear when it is stated that
few days previous Oldtheimer had been
heard to say to friend, George, a lit
tie party of us are going down 10 the
West to dinner on thursday. Be one
of u.s."
1t was the afternoon of Thanksgiving
day. The mantle of night was being
drawn over the world. shutting out the
gray, somber light of November. Regi-
Maid Pontmercy sat before the hre
! which glowed in tile CRATE of his cosy
little parlor. 1t mattered not that those
glowing embers and that lightly leaping
blue fame was produced by an ingen-
iouS combination of gas and asbestos;
TIE charm winch hOvers about CRATE
fire on a chilly day was there. All
about the room were scattered evidences
of wealth and cultivated taste. Nay
more, the owner and occupant of that
room was shown to be lover
OF art. Glorious paintings. delicate
etchings, engravings. the products
| of master hand, covered the
walls. A small easel, some half-finished
studies in black and white, one or two
beautiful bits of nature in water colors.
few photographs of the quaint and
! curious, and, insOne corner. Kodak,
| told only too plainly that the master of
| all this luxury Was an amateur artist. a
man who loved art for arts sake. Now
he was sitting pensively before the fire,
| gazing abstractedlys into the rudy
glow that, reflected back, threw SOFT
| light upon his finely nodded features
and glinted along the wavy hair, show
| ing here and there a thread of silver,
| for Reginald Pontmercy was no longer
youth. Suddenly his eye caught
| faded photograph which rested on the
| mantel. He took it down and gaZed
long and thoughtfnlly upon its outlines,
some partially obliterated.
The picture was that of a handsome
| boy OF nineteen, ana raQlantly Deautl-
full maiden. for not all the power of
natures alchemist, the sunlight, could
drive from that faded photograph the
delicate lines of youthful beauty. The
features of the boy could be traced in
the older face that now bent over the
! picture. Of what was Reginald Pont-
| mercy thinking? WHO can say? Plainly,
the pair in the picture were lovers. The
| pose, the INTERVENING arms. the alb
| stracted look upon the faces, still WISH
bic, proclaimed it. Underneath was
written, "rhanksgiving-l 1870" That
was all. But was it not enough? After
seeing that one line, the attitude of the
portraitured lovers. the subdued. almost
| thoughtful interest with which Reg
inald Pontmercy gaZed upon it, the
| tenderness with which he handled it.
| Who could doubt that this man of forty.