The Portland daily press., 1893-12-28

1t was George who spoke with sparkling
eyes and triumphant tone. Leopold could
scarce believe his cars.
WHAT" he cried, while Dolly hung her
head and blushed bewitchingly.
Eyes. May congratulate you on having
resumed your engagement with Miss
Gray?" answered George, seating himself
beside Dolly.
"Wha-what do you meanP" stammered
Poly, hopelessly bewildered.
''Oh, nothing. Only thought as you were
sending them a turkey you must have''-
1t was now Georges turn to look sur
prised.
II don't understand. There's some mis-
take. Iordered one to be sent here, hoping
Mrs. Pearson would accept
1.-THE one I saw was addressed to II - in
terrupted George. thinking he began to see
light.
Eyes. This is II, noticed the number
on the garden gate as passed this morn
ing"
NO" chimed in Mr. Pearson. 'This is
III. I noticed the other day that the first
figure was almost washed out. We must
have it repainted."
''Then my turkey has gone wrong" ex-
claimed Leopold, Il must see about it''
He was. as has been previously remarked,
an impetuous young man, and before the
others could recover from their surprise he
was hurrying down the road.
who lives at ZIP" asked Mr.. Pearson
after short interval of silence. W
"The Grays," answered George promptly.
showed in last week"
Had Leverton staid one moment to re-
a.. 81. = Il
that he would have sacrificed dozen tur-
keys rather than risk meeting the wrathfui
pater of his discarded lady love, but so be-
wildered was he that the possibility of such
contretemps never entered his mind.
The advent of the fateful fowl. with Lev
erton's note attached, in the Gray house.
hold had caused almost as much bewilder-
ment in that homestead during the after
noon as Leopold was himself experiencing
at that moment.
Mrs. Gray unpinned the scrap of paper
and read it.
why, Laura. Laura!" she called, run
ming up to the room where her daughter
was dressing for walk. ''Mr. Leverton has
sent us turkeyr'
Laura let fall the brush she was using
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 pa
per. She was still strangely silent, 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 her
closely. {
Mr.. 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 poetic
soul:
Let the dead past bury It's dead.
Il suppose he means he would like us to
let bygones be bygones," replied Mrs Gray
slowly. Don't you think so, Laura9"
YES" said Laura very softly.
The afternoon wore swiftly away. A
faint appetizing odor arose from the kitch-
en- and gradually permeated the apartment
AS time passed this faint odor gradually
intensified until at the hour when Leopold
Leverton, having with some difficulty dis
covered 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 dis
elimination in the way of savors. %
Steps sounded in the vestibule, the ham
die ratified. the door was thrown open ard
dark figure stood in the doorway. af1e
Poor Poly in his impetuosity had never
thought of how he would explain his err
rand, and now as that savory scent foated
from behind that dark figure and struck
him full with sudden warm gust he be-
gan to stammer something about ga mis-
take'' 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 good will to all" which
often comes over men at the glad Christ
mastide to help him out of his difficulty
put forth his hand and half dragged Lever
ton into the house.
There. there" he exclaimed, you're a
strange fellow, but If you can make it up
with Laura all we'll and good"
"Mr. Gray" said Leopold, regaining the
use Of his tongue as his outdoor garments
were taken from him, sit has ali 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
into the drawing room, and himself re-
naming outside closed the door behind
him
As Leyerton entered lady rose from the
fauteufl upon which she had been seated.
It 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 moments awkward pause,
and then he said bravely:
Laura, I have been fool. Can you for
give me?"
st was who was to blame," she muir
INJURED brokenly.
So he dined off that erring turkey after
all, and that is how it came about that
when George and Dolly were married in
the ensuing summer there was also we'd
ding from No. 71.-W. Knowles Cooper in
Boston Globe.