Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-11-24
TWO THANKSGIVINGS.


not be late for anything"
"What beautiful Thanksgiving day
it isl" she continued, when she had left
the table and put back the curtain from
the window. How fine the sleighing
will bel"
As she spoke, jingling of bells was
heard without, and sleigh glided rap
idly across the white lawn.
at 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. letting in the crisp
air. which blew her fair curls in sweet
confusion about her fair, pretty face.
81 know you would not for worlds
miss the opportunity to exhibit your
skill at manipulating the ivories to-day"
the young man continued, as he came
and stood under the window and looked
up in 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"
Just wait a moment, Bert" said Dor
othy, "and 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 del
icacy to tickle the palate of Brother
Mallory to-day"
She looked very beautiful to the young
man when she came to him.
isn't the road fine, and isn't the air
crisp, and doesn't Selim travel well TO-
day, Bert?" asked Dorothy lOquaciously
when they were seated in the sleigh and
were skimming over the smooth, hard
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, l am tweny-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 Dob
bins 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
furious you did get Don't you know?
You pummeled Toms big head till you
split your gloves and your knuckles, too,
1 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
sleds coming to pieces?" asked Dorothy
laughingly. l 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 a fellows even indirectly the
cause of girls coming to grief in any
way | think he deserves to be demol-
ished," said Bert unreasonably. "But
this is not what wanted to say, Doro-
thy. AS l told you, l am twenty-one
now, and father has given me the Junior
partnership in the bank, and-you
know how love you-how L have al
ways loved you, dear, and l 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 love you, and now L am
able to take care of you, dear, if you
will only trust yourself to me, no harm
shall"-
Bumbl The runners Of the sleigh
struck board at the end of the bridge,
there was cracking, creaklng, the
horse bounded forward and Bert and
Dorothy tumbled over into the drift be-
yond the bridge.
"Are you hurt?" said Bert, scrambling
to his feet, and extricating himself and
Dorothy from the mass of rugs and soft
snow.
Not in the least" she replied, "but
how are we to getto church? Who will
play the organ?"
Cant help you ont of your difficult
ties?" called CHEEKY voice behind them,
and big Tom A1uold came up in his
handsome sleigh.
"Oh, Tom," said Dorothy, 81 am so
glad to see you! must be in church in
time to play the organ to-day, and see
what has befallen u.s."
"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 her.
"ThanksI' said Bert stifiy. 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 mustache, cracked his
whip, and the horses sped forward, leav
ing Bert standing flushed and angry in
the middle of the road.
1t was very silent, gloomy ride, aft
er 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