The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-27

1elLN NdIhcO " luC anu iOVhCu te
herself.
It was bright, womanly face she saw
reflected there, with true, earnest eyes, and
not thread of silver in the abundant bacds
of wavy brown hair that shaded il, in spite
of her thirty two years. 1t was not at all
homely face, but il looked very plain. old
and faded to Letty's critical survey; and as
she went back to her work she said to her
self
Lefty Harper. don't be Ounce! What
chance have you, a little old maid, beside
those girls? l dare say Morton James has
forgotten that he ever saw you.'
Not another word did she say on the sub
ject. But she worked so very fast over Tie
blue silk that it was finished before she
went to bed that night.
In the morning she had time to make the
mince pie, fix dish Of ruby cranberries
and glass of celery, and get the chicken
ready to roast before she went to church, as
a good Christian ought to do on Thanks
giving day.
There's no use making fuss for a
solitary dinner" said she to herself, but
I'll do it for once. Perhaps III invite some
Of the poor members home with me-"
Leaving the chicken in the oven to brown,
she went to church. dressed in her best
black six, and pretty velvet bonnet she
had made herself. Her unusual attention
to her dinner made her little bit late, and
the hymn was read when she took her seat
among the altos in the choir. The singers
sat up in one o. the "amen corners" and it
WAS a trfiing embarrassing to have to walk
clear down the aisle, after service began.
so no doubt the red spots which flashed into
Miss Letty's checks were due TO that fact.
But she futtered the leaves of her hymn
book hastily, and found the place in time to
rise with the choir.
One doesn't need to lock right at thing
to see it. Lefty did not give glance at the
tall figure in Judge Bakers pew until they
were singing the fourth verse, nevertheless
she saw it all the same! When she did ven
ture glance he was looking another way.
so she could take coed view OF him. All.
how fine-lookiag and dignitied he was!
Only changed to be so much improved, and
how hard he must have worked TO rise so
high in six years
And once, before he went away, he had
said-but no matter now! The great Judge
had nothing in common with the poor little
Gressmaker. She must just forget all that
past nonsense. and keep on at her work.
She did not even look that way again.
After church, when she saw the big-bugS
of the village gathering around to shake
hands with the returned Wanderer, and well
come him back, she just slipped out of the
side door of the church, ana hurried home
as fast as possible. And she even forgot TO
ask those poor church members home to eat
Thanksgiving dinner with her,
Indeed, that dinner wasn't eaten-just
then. Lefty set the neat little table, putting
on her best old glass and the few bits OF Sill
verware she had kept-put on also the
mlnce pie, the celery and cranberr!es, and
tiny glass of crimson jelly, with the d. int
lily biowned chicken, from which issued SO
savoy an odor ard took her solitary place.
But when she had folded her small hands,
and said grace, instead of eating she laid
her face down on the spotless iable-cloth
and cried heartily, from very loneliness, on
that happy, festive day.
A cup of tea made her dinner-she could
n Rpt piphf in and
1t would do for nice cold supper; so she
washed her cup and saucer, rearranged her
table and sat down TO sew. She could not
afford TO be idle, even upon Thanksgiving
day.
Not caller came in to enliven her after
noon. People were gathered in merry par
ties at friends houses on that occasion. and
no one remembered the lonely little dress
maker.
Twilight came-but she did not care for
any supper She sat thinking until quite
dark, dropping her work in her lap. At this
hour they would he lighting up Judge
Bakers grand mansion, and before long the
guests would arrive. aud the music would
begin. and jewels would fash, and fair faces
smile, and Judge James would be there, but
what did that matter to her?
She threw down her work, rose, lit her
lamp, determined to put idle fances aside.
At that instant reSolute rap came at the
cottage door. Lefty opened it, and saw a
tail 1Oll elduulllS III huGSs.
Coed evening, Lefty. Why, don't you
know me, little woman" exclaimed a fanlil-
lar, manly voice.
And as she Stood too surprised to speak,
Judge James stepped inside, closed the door,
and took her hands in a warm clasp.
Didn't you know l would come to you
for q Welcome?" he said. 81 tried 10 speak
to you after church, this morning, but you
ran away too soon. See here. dear child"
lie stopped and pressed a kiss on her fore
head. 'lhere!" said he, when l went
away | told you that l would ask nothing,
not even letter, but would keep the kiss
you gave me until brought it back to you,
pure as / received it. Lefty, I've kept my
word. I've kissed no woman since we
parted until now. Have tie right to kiss
You, Gear? Can't you say word to me ~
"How can !, when l am so happy?" whis-
pered Lefty. Il thought you had forgotten
me-"
Forgotten your He drew her into
strong embrace so far from thar, | have
come back to claim you as my bride, to
brighten MY home forever. Will you keep
the old promise and come, my little Letty?"
Would she not? Doubt pain and loneli-
ness were swept away forever, and not a
heart in al the village held such fervent
Than kSgiving as Lefty Harper's that glad
evening, when her old friend came back to
her.
They had long, long talk But at last
she made him leave her and 90 to the party
where he was expected. She could spare
him now, but he declared it was the last
party he would ever attend without her. Be
fore he went ne said:
Lefty, dear. see in your little kitchen
that your supper is waiting. | did not en-
JOY the state dinner at DR.. Henry's and the
purity supper " i'll not come on before mid
night. May l share your support"
Well, didn't Lefty make cup of tea in
II urry, And then she found out what that
chicken and mince pie were waiting for.
Her eyes filled with glad tears when the
Judge said:
Please, heaven, next year We'll eat our
Thanksgiving dinner together, at our own
table"