The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-11-27

tie was at other times. He sat at twi-
light listening TO the wind. on his stool
by the fire, which was a poor FIRE of
cinders, with his head in his hands,
feeling very melancholy. 1t was a
gloomy world and he was OH the
wrong side of it; he didn't see how it
was ever going to get any better. His
father lay on his pillows in the adjoin-
ing bed room, looking at them through
the open door with an expression on his
face almost as sad as Toms, not quite,
for Tom saw no way out Of the coil,
but the good man among his pillows
knew that, heaven willing, his family
would be all right when lie should be
upon his feet again. But a Tom now
and then lifted his head and looked
round, it did seem very depressing to
think Of that sick man, that tired May,
that dear mother, that gentle little
Sue. without any Thanksgiving dinner
to speak of, and that Ned Twombly-
He took up his capand stole out of the
house presently, not meaning to go
anywhere i'll particular, but iust to be
moving. 1t was all unconsciously to
himself that his feet followed the path
down hill that led past the TwomLlys'
house.
1t was the footpath of the pasture,
and the bars being down for the last
bringing in of harvest across the fields,
the path took him straight by the
Twombly kitchen and the pantry,
whose window was wide open. The
light from a window in the wing Of
the house shone full upon the pantry,
and there on the window shelf was
plainly visible a big turkey set to cool,
just roasted, a shining golden brown,
shedding Its savory aroma upon the
frosty air; and near it stood a glass
bowl of cranberry sauce, and, as lie
paused a moment and looked in, there
was surely q dish Of cracked walnuts.
with some great punches of raisins
and a pan of juicy red snow apples
and-yes-a huge mince pic; it made
his mouth water to think of it.
And this goodly array was just the
Q beginning Of the Twomblys' thanks
; giving. This turkey they were te
, have cold evidently; the other would
be hot. Two turkeys for Ned Twombly
> and he and Sue with none! And Their
and there a hungry imp of evil whis.
pered IN Toms ear, why not take that
turkey and carry it home? 1t would
! be stealing, to be sure, but the Twom.
blys would never feel the loss of it:
they didn't need, nobody needed two
turkeys; it would not be hurting any
ones; and he could tell his mother it
had been given to him; it would be
easy enough to get up a story that
would convince her; and that would
be lying. One sin always tumbles on
the heels of another.
But could he not sustain the burden
5 of the two sins for the sake of giving
his mother and the girls such a Dime,
, as that turkey would make? There
was no trouble at all about it; he
could reach the shelf on tip toe. He
had only to put up his hand and take
it by the ends of the two drumsticks
; he could lift it up so gently no one
would hear; and he could make of
3 with it into the darkness entirely un.
! seen.
And Sue could have her wish bone
5 and his father perhaps just one bit ou'
1 Of the side bone; and his mother shoult
Z have that luscious morsel of the brown
outside wing; he could see them all en-
joyiEg it: and he himsolf-ho was hun
CRY for that turkey down to his yer,
toes. Oh, how tempting it was!
$ Suddenly Tom turned and took tt
: his heels and ran as if that Whispering
imp Of evil were after him. Up thu
path through the gate he went, acros.
: the pasture, through the fallen bars
Y over the field, into his w yard
through the shed till he could burst il
: at the kitchen door. The gloom SCENE,
$ to be full Of live things of darkness
seemed to be s%warming with evil es
t sences of which he had been about IL
t become one; they We're close upou him
all about him, he thought he felt them
! he knew there was no such t!ing-ane
, yet if he did not gain his fathers door
! step, his mothers side, they would hav,
. him, he would be one of them. lie hat
t almost been a thief. He had alnos
t been a liar. He. Tom Powers! II,
3 would never be able to look his father
in the face, to bold up his head unde,
i, the blue Sky, to say his prayers again
;. He tumblea in at the door; but hi
i mother only thought that he ha,
J, tripped his foot, and held up her finger
warningly, for his father had faller
asleep. And he sat down again OH hi