The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-10-26

that the possibility of such contre'
temps never entered his mind.
The advent of the fateful fowl, with
Leverton's note attached in the Gray
household had caused almost as much
bewilderment in that homestead dur,
ing the afternoon as Leopold was him.
self experiencing at that moment.
Mrs. Gray unpinned the scrap Of
paper and read it,
"Why, Laura, Laura!' she called
running uD to the room where her
daughter was dressing for walk.s
''Mr. Leverton has sent us turkey I"
Laura let fall the brush she was u.s.
ing and stood gazing at her mother in
silence. Then the color mounted to
her cheeks, but she did not speak.
Laura read the lines and returned
the paper. She was still strangely ST.
| lent, and her mother anxious to have
an expression of opinion from some
one else, trotted off down stairs again
to consult Mr.. Gray as to what should
be done. Laura followed he'll closely.
Mr.. Gray took the slip of paper in
his own hands, read it carefully, re-
read it, and then turned it over as
though seeking further enlighten-
ment.
His eyes fell upon the line which
had been written by the lad with the
poetic soul:
Let the dead past bury its dead.
''I suppose he means he would like
us to let bygones be bygones," replied
Mrs. Gray, slowly, "Don't you think
SO Laura?"
eyes, said Laura very softly.
The afternoon wore swiftly away. A
faint appetizing odor arose from the
kitchen and gradually permeated the
apartment.
AS time passed thisfaint.odor gradu-
ally intensified until at the hour when
Leopold Leverton, having with some
difficulty discovered the real No. II,
painted up to the hall door thereof, the
fact that turkey was being prepared
for table might have been guessed by
any chance passer who happened to be
gifted with critical discrimination in
the way of odors.
Steps sounded in the vestibule, the
handle ratified, the door was thrown
open and dark figure stood i'll the
doorway.
Poor Poly in his impetuosity had
never thought of how he would ex-
plain his errand, and now as that sa-
worry scent foated from behind that
dark figure and struck him full with
sudden warm gust, he began to STAN
mer something about ga mistake" and
"a turkey"
Mr. 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
goodwill to ALL which often comes
over men to help him out OF his diff
Guilty, put forth his hand and half
dragged Leverton into tbe'house.
"There, there" he exclaimed,
'syou're strange fellow, but if You
can make it up with Laura all well and
good"
"Mr. Gray" said Leopold, regain
ing the use of his tongue as his out
door garments were taken from him,
.'it has all been mistake"
eyes, yes" interrupted Mr.. Gray,
''but you will find Laura in the drawing
room. Explain it to her while dinner
is being served. "
He pushed the unresisting young
fellow lnlO lIt "iiA AAiiAA
self remaining outside, closed the door
behind him.
As Leverton entered lady rose
from the fanteuil upon which she had
been seated. 1t was Laura.
Somehow at sight of her standing
there, looking so fair and sweet in her
evening costume, Leopold forgot all
about the lady of the legacy, and
sudden feeling of shame stole into his
heart and caused the warm blood to
rush up into his cheeks.
There was a moment sawkward pause,
and then he said bravely:
Laura, / have been fool. Can
YOU forgive me?"
sIt was | who was to blame" she
murmured brokenly.
So he dined off that erring turkey