The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-10-05

turkey this afternoon, Mrs. Pearson?" he stammered.
 Yes, indeed, and fine one it is. An, there IS the gong. Come. MT. Lever ton."
 At that moment Speedman entered the dining-room with Dolly leaning upon his arm..
 Mrs. Pearson--Mr. Pearson-con- graduate mo. Dollie has promised to be my wife"
 It was George who spoke, with spark ling eyes and triumphant tone. Leopold could scarcely believe his ears
 "What?" he cried, while Dollie hung her head and blushed bewitchingly. "1es. May congratulate you on having resumed your engagement with Miss Gray2' answered George, seating himself beside Dollie.
 "Wha--what do you mean?" stam. mered Poly, hopelessly bewildered.
 "Oh, nothing! Only I thought as you were sending them a turkey you must have"
 It was now Georges turn to look sur prised
 'l don't understand. There's some mistake. ordered one to be sent here, hoping Mrs Pearson would accept"
 ''The one 1 saw was addressed to Il," interrupted George, thinking he began to see light.
 ''Yes. This is Il; noticed the num- Der on the garden gate as passed this morning."
 ''No," chimed in Mir. Pearson, "this is l7L l noticed the other day that the first figure was almost washed out. We must have it repainted."
 ''Then my turkey has gone wrong!" exclaimed Leopold. II must see about it"
 He was, as has been prevlously re. marked, an impetuous young man, and before the others could recover from their surprise he was hurrying down the road.
 "Who lives at 71?" asked Mir. Pear. son, after short interval of silence.
 "The Grays," answered George promptly. Moved in last week."
 Had Leverton stayed one minute to reflect on Speedmans words it is prob. able that he would have sacrificed dozen turkeys rather than risk meeting the wrathful batter of his discarded lady love, but so bewildered was he that the possibility of such a contrctemps never entered his mind.
 The advent of the fateful fowl, with Leyerton's note attached, in the Gray household had caused almost as much bewildcrment in that household during the afternoon as Leopold was himself experiencing at that momont.
 Mrs. Gray unpinned the scrap of pa per and read it.
 ''Why, Laura, Laura!' she cried, run ming up to the room where her daugh- ter was dressing for a walk. MT. Leverton has sent us turkey!"
 Laura let fall the brush she was using and stood gazing at her mother in silence. Then the color mounted to her checks, but she did not speak.
 Laura read the lines and returned the paper She was still strangely silent, and her mother, anxious to have an cX- pression of opinion from some one else,  Mr. Gray as to what should be done. Laura followed her closely.
 Mir. Gray took the slip of paper in his own hands, read it carefully, reread it and then turned it over, as though seeking further enlightenment.
 His eyes fell upon the line which had been written by the lad with the po- etic soul:
 Let the dead past bury its dead"
 II suppose he means he would liko us to let bygones be bygones," replied Mrs. Gray, slowly. Don't you think so, Laura?'
 Yes" said Laura, very softly.
 The afternoon wore swiftly away. A faint appetizing odor arose from tho kitchen and gradually permeated tho apartment.
 Steps sounded in the vestibule, the handle rattled, the door was thrown open and dark figure stood in the door, way.
 Poor Poly in his impetuosity had never thought of how he would explain his errand, and now as that savory scent floated from behind that dark figure and struck him full with sud denly warm gust he began to stammer something about "a mistake" and "a turkey"
 Mir. Gray, attributing his confusion to the awkward predicament in which he found himself through having broken so shabbily with Laura, and thinking with an accession of that 'good will to all," which often comes over men at the glad Christmastide, to help him out of his difficulty, put forth his hand and half dragged Leverton into the house.
 "Therc, there," he exclaimed, "you'.e a strange fellow, but if you can make it up with Laura all well and good"
 ''Mr. Cray" said Leopold, regaining the use of his tongue as his outdoor garments were taken from him, ''it has all been mistake"
 "Yes, yes," interrupted Mir. Gray. but you will find Laura in the draw ing room. Explain it to her while din- ner is being served"
 He pushed the unresisting fellow into the drawing-room, and, himself re- outside, closed the door be- hind him.