The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-02

slack Barber. you william, if you
haven't been up to your old tricks of
climbing in the window" Horace's voice
came floating down the stairway in a
peal of surprised laughter.
"Jack! My Jack! Well I never"
cried Aunt Hepsie, pushing her way
through the crowd and rushing up the
stairs.
Marion, at the first sound of Jacks
name, had OWNED in a moment just
what had occurred, that Jack had come
on the early morning train, and not wish
ing to arouse the family, had crept up to
his room window in the moonlight, and
as she had 50 obligingly left it open, had
found no trouble in getting in quietly,
and trembling aud blushing, she re-
treated to the kitchen to think it over.
and compose herself for the meeting
with him.
They had parted in anger, aud she
scarcely knew how to receive him now.
Last night in her loneliness and grief she
would naye rushed into his arms aud
have shown all her delight and desire to
undo the past; this morning she was
more self-reliant, and she wisely re-
solved that a little of the concession at
least must come from Jack, since he had
left her so cavalierly and so unkindly
without just cause.
She was standing there still, balancing
the fork with which she had just turned
the turkey, idly in her hand, when an
arm stole round her waist and Jacks
voice, very humble and loving, whispered
in her ear: evil my Marion forgive
and forgeta"
All her pride vanished at once under
the spell of the dear, familiar voice, and
turning, she shed happy tears of re-
joicing on her lovers shoulder.
"And why haven't you written to me,
JACKIE" she asked reproachfully, after
a few moments of happy converse.
81 did, Marion. 1 wrote you q long
letter asking your forgiveness for the
miserable part I had taken in that
wretched quarrel, but I never received .
word in reply, and of course I supposed
you were angry and unforgiving towards
me-"
SHOW could I answer it dear Jack,
when I never received it; no, not n
line from you in all this weary year."
stIf I could only have known it, but
not hearing made me so angry that I
determined that you or no ono else should
know where I was, or anything about
me-"
"You foolish, hot-tempered jack"
said Marion, softly, ''but how did you
chance to come home, dear2"
81 could not keep away" said Jack
simply. ."As Thanksgiving drew near,
the attraction towards the old home be-
came too strong to be resisted, and now
that I have you again, I'm not going to
let you go, and I propose that we be
married this very day. I'll 60 for a
minister directly after dinner, and We'll
make it a Thanksgiving worth remem-
bering."
"Well, as for that, there's no use o. STIR
rin'out of the house for a minister" Aunt
| Hepsie had come in to look after her ne
elected dinner, and stood regarding them
with a beaming face. "Young Mr.. Hol-
land is a minister, and I don't doubt but
that he'd be glad to have aceremony to
sorter get in practice on, you know"
"All the better; we'll be married before
dinner then, and have a wedding dinner
as we'll Us u Thanksgiving feast. Just
let me brush up my hair a bit while Mar
ion takes of her kitchen apron.
The great brown turkey was an interest
ing witness of a surprisingly impromptu
ceremony a half hour later. The guests
were not informed of what was going on
until they were all gathered around the
table in their several places. Aunt Hep
sic, at the head in her best cap,and Jack
and Marion at her right, Mr.. Holland
coming next. He oficiated in a partic.
ularly happy manner for a comparative
amateur, and never had q jollier Thanks
giving dinner been served in the old farm
house than upon this occasion, made
memorable by the presence OF a burglar IN
the house, and the subsequent ringing OF
wedding bells.-Ladns' World.