The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-24
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

A Gramsroy Park ThsAkrGivlnGt or, The
Man, The Maid and tho manuscript
A. IT. Ford IA Ner York Pre.s
1t was the night before Thanksgiving,
the city was ablaze with lights. The
first snow had fallen and the air itself
seemed 1ight-hearted. The massive
mansions that surround Gramercy Park
were brightly lighted.
In muf1ed silence a young man cloak
less and gloyeless hurried by the iron
bars that fence in the little acre OF the
rich toward his lodging place.
For ave years Jack Fleming had
lived alone. No one knew very much
about him, except that he was a thrift
less, indolent genius. When his father
died the fortune that might have gone
to him had endowed certain wealthy
charitable institutions. Els mother
had died in his infancy, and Jack
Fleming had grown up with the SER
wants and his books for companions.
He had never seen enough Of his father
to love him. In his childhood Jack
had had one friend, Dora Goldthwait.
She was a beautiful girl, several years
his Junior, who lived in the house adj
Joining his fathers, and every day one
or the other would climb the fence that
separated Them and drop over into the
little yard for a romp. Dora was proud
of her protector and playmate, for even
then he was full OF book knowledge,
and Dora soon learned TO love Shakes
peare and Milton as read aloud by her
hero.
Another great tramping place for tho
little people was Gramercy Park, for
both houses faced the handsome play
ground and MIR. Goldthwait and Jacks
father were among the favored rich who
possessed keys 10 the great iron gates
that shut out the children OF the Door,
who often lined the front fence and
peered wistfully between the bars at the
smiling lawn within.
The children we're inseparable until
Jack was fifteen and Dora twelve. Then
Jack went TO college, but every holiday
found him at home again, and often
books went by the board and Jack came
home on the sly TO see his little sweet
heart. OF course, on these occasions he
was smGggled into D6ra's home and
pood-natured, easy-going Mr.. Goldth-
wait would have thought it the basest
treachery for any member OF his family
to inform his nextdoor neighbor, Jacks
father, that his son was playing truant.
After three years at college Jack was
hopelessly behind in his studies, and
his father, still ignorant OF the reason,
called him o blockhead. One day Jack
received a tender, loving letter from
Dora, asking him to come home at once,
as her father had just received word
from England that he had fallen heir to
alarge property, including % theatre in
one Of the largo cities, and the business
of the latter was in urgent need OF his
immediate attention. The family would
sail for England Immediately, but Dora
wanted Jack to so with them, il he
could. A few hours after receiving the
letter JKck stood in front OF the Goldth-
wait residence on Gramercy Park. II
was closed. no servant answered the
bell, and Jacks heart fell like load.
Again he looked at the letter. 1t was
dated two DAYS before and Ind boon de-
layed in the mails. AT homo he found
his father, but in mood in which no
had never aeen him before.
you young rascaln!' he shouted, al
Jack entered. 80 you have been vast
ing your time next door, instead Of
studying"
No pleading on tins part Of jack could
induce the serbulent old man to tell
whera the Goldthwaits had gone.
Never mind" thought jock. ~ will
hear from her coon, And then-
But no letter CAME. Weeks length
ened into months, and Jock grew tall
and thin. Ono day ho went up to his
college town, and an inquiry at tho
post oface elicIted the fact that several
letters had come, MP to a month ago,
but they had been forwarded 20 Gra-
mercy Park.
That night father and son faced each
other for the last time.
where are tho lelters Dora wrote to
moi" demanded Jack, as Ito leaned over
toward tho old man. who stood smiling
sarcastically in his face.
az told you that il you refused to re-
turn 10 college yon would regret it"
wa the reply.
JACK IuEnbu OH MS Hcot uuu pbsheu
out Of the house.
He found it harder struggle than he
expected. His income fuctuated from
next to nothing to nothing itself. He
became first q wanderer among apart
ments, then among boarding houses,
and at last IN inhabitant Of Furnished
rooms" who ate at cheap restaurants
when ne could eat at all,
He had lived a week in a rear hall
bedroom on Iwenty-second street be.
ioro he discovered that its windows
were only separated from those OF his
old homo and that of Dora, on Ora
mercy Park, by the brief New York
back yards in which they used to play
together. The Goldthwhit house was
dark. 1t had been aver since the day
Doraleft Next toit, where his fathers
mansion doomed up against tho trees
beyond, lights were often seen. But
strangers occupied the familiar rooms.
On Thanksgiving eve just i've years
sincc he had left his old life behind
him, Jack went to his little dingy win
dow 10 gaze Mt the two mansions. He
shiyered with coldj but the blood