The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-11-24
TWO THANKsGIvINGs.

TWO THANKSGIVING
1--WE must be early at church today
Aunt Charlotte" said Dorothy. II have
promised to play the organ, and would
not be late for anything"
what beautiful Thanksgiving day
1t isn she continued, when she had left
the table and put back the curtain from
the window. '.How fine the sleighing
will be!'
AS she spoke, q jingling of bells was
heard without, and sleigh glided rap
idly across the white lawn.
cit is Bert Darricote, auntie,'' said
Dorothy, looking out at the handsome
young man, who sprang out of the sleigh
at the steps.
II have come to take you to church.
Dorothy" called out Bert to her as she
threw up the sash, Lettings in the crisp
air, which blew her fair curls in sweet
confusion about her fair, pretty face.
II know you would not for worlds
miss the opportunity to exhibit youl
skill at manipulating the ivories today
the young man continued, as he came
and stood under the window and looked
up into the bright face above him.
81 am so very glad you came, Bert
said Aunt Charlotte coming up behind
Dorothy. ''This child has been hurry
ing me all morning, and housekeeper
must needs look well to the ways of her
household, particularly when her pastor
and his wife are to take dinner with
her,
sJust wait moment, Bert" said Dor
othy, land / shall be ready. Do not
keep auntie standing here talking to
you, though. She is all impatience to
explore the mysteries of cellar and closet
| to see if perchance she can discover some
delicacy to tickle the palate of Brother
Mallory today"
| She looked very beautiful! to the young
man when she came down to him.
| "Isn't the road fine, and isn't the air
crisp, and doesn't Selim travel we'll to-
day, Bert?" asked Dorothy loquaciously
when they were seated in the sleigh and
packed snow.
what makes you so quiet, Bert?" she
asked, astonished at the happy fellows
unwonted silence.
Perhaps it is because have SO much
| to tell you, and | hardly know where to
begin'' answered Bert solemnly.
'Do you know, Dorothy, am twenty
one years old tomorrow
"Twenty>one? Yes, you are, and am
eighteen. And yet-how short time it
seems since we were little children; since
we used to go coasting down Dobson's
| hill. Do you remember the time, Bert,
when Tom Arnold asked me to try one
trip down on his sled and the thing came
all to pieces and went tumbling down
and sprained my ankle? Oh, how furi-
GUS you did get! Don't you know? You
pummeled Toms big head till you split
your gloves and your knuckles, too, |
believe, for they looked very red when
you were dragging me home,
do you remember all that?" said
Bert. 81 thought you must have for
gotten it from the way you were smiling
at Arnold The other night at choir prac-
| tice."
"Why, Bert, how could he help the
sled's coming to pieces?" asked Dorothy
laughingly. see you are as unreason-
able as ever"
"Well, it's mans business to take
care of a woman, even in little things,
and when q fellows even Indirectly the
cause of girls coming to grief in any
way think he deserves to be demolish-
ed,'' said Bert unreasonably. "But this
is not what I wanted to say, Dorothy.
AS told you, am twenty one now and
father has given me the junior partner
ship in the bank, -and-you know
how I love you-how I have always
loved you, dear, and want you to be
my wife"
The young fellow wound up abruptly,
hastily, looking lovingly into the sweet
| face beside him.
The sleigh sped smoothly on, the
horses feet resounding upon the bridge
they were just crossing.
won't you speak to me, Dorothy?"
Bert said, almost pleadingly "You
must know that l love you, and now |
am able to take care of you, dear, if you
will only trust yourself to me, no harm
| shall''-
| Bump! The runners of the sleigh
struck a board at the end of the bridge
there was cracking, a creaking, the
horse bounded forward and Bert and
yond the bringe.
| "Are you hurt?" said Bert, scrambling
to his feet, and extracting himself and
Dorothy from the mass of rugs and soft
snow.
mot in the least she replied, 'but
| how are we to get to church? Who will
play the organ?'
'Can help you out of your difficult
ties?" called a cherry voice behind them,
and big Tom Arnold came up in his
handsome sleigh.
"Oh, Tom," said Dorothy, II am so
| glad to see you'll must be in church in
time to play the organ today, and see
what has hefallen us!''
"Well, get in, both of you," said Tom,
arranging his rugs and holding out his
hand to Dorothy. "Just fasten up Sc
Inns traces, Bert. and hitch him behind.
He will lead, won't herr
''Thanksn' said Bert stiffly. 81 can
take care of myself; you had best not
waste any more time, since Miss Daily
must hurry"
Dorothy looked at him mutely from
her seat in the sleigh; Arnold smiled be-
meath his fierce moustache, dracked his
whip, and the horses sped forward, leav-
ing Bert standing flushed and angry in
the middle of the road.
It was very silent, gloomy ride, after
all, that Dorothy had, Tom saw her
distress, and like the good fellow that
he was said nothing to her. Her hands
were trembling and her eyes were full OF
tears when he helped her out at church.
She etruck tho fret few chords doukt