The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-28

"Gone, " repeated Mrs. Patten, setting
the steaming coffee pot in her hands upon
the supper table and looking inquiringly
at the deacon. "Gone where?'
Don't know" seating himself by the
fire and kicking off his wet boots. "Didn't
come round when | was feedin' the rest
Looked high an low, but didn't find no
signs of it. 'Tain't likely it would 90 off
in such a storm when it had plenty to eat
here. If anything has been round an
took it the tracks are all hid by the snow
/ allowed I'd kill it tomorrow, an hang
it up for Christmas. I've set such store
by havin' it that it won't be any kind of a
Christmas without it,;
Perhaps it will turn up by morning
Come to supper, father" And as the
deacon seated himself before the steaming
coffee and helped himself to the haky bis
cults and golden honey the lost turkey was
for time forgotten. But the search was
taken up again the next morning After
bringing in the milk the deacon returned
to the barn and Mrs. patten caught
glimpses of him hunting about az she
passed back and forth before the kitchen
window, doing her work. Finally he left
the yard and went out into the road. The
housework was finished. il row of crisp pies
on the pantry shelf told of Mrs Patterns
deft handiwork, and she was pairing pota-
toes for dinner when the deacon returned.
Removing his wet garments, he seated
himself near the fire and slowly rocked
back and forth in his chair, moodily hold
ing his head between his hands.
did you get the turkey back, father -
asked Mrs. Patten after an interval of
silence
Mo- curtly answered the deacon.
Mrs. Patten looked surprised at his sharp
tone and waited for him to speak again.
The deacon gazed steadily at the floor for
time, then dropped his hands into his lap
and raised his head
Mother, he said in convincing tone,
''them Davids took that turkey
'Why, father!'' exclaimed Mrs. Patten,
dropping her knife. "'Tain't like you to
speak so of anybody" and she leaned to
the floor and took up the knife again.
course it amt Wouldn't say such
thing if 'twasn't so. You see | thought
I'd go down the road a piece and see if any
OF the neighbors seen the turkey, an when
got long by the David's barn | thought
I'd peep in an see if twas in there Sure
'nough, there was white heap on the
manger.'
''Snow drift, probably" interposed Mrs.
Patten.
"'Twant no snow drift. Snow drifts
don't flap their wings guess. While
was tryin' to find a crack where could get
square look at it Dick David an one ofthe
girls come to the door on t'other side an
Dick says, Now IN open the door bit,
an you put your head in an take a look.
Then he fused with the door an after
minute the girl says 'Haint he big fellow?
But you ought to have lock on thr door,
Dick. Somebody might open it an let him
get away; an then they fastened the door an
went to the house L knowed where my
turkey was right 'nough."
Perhaps so-and perhaps they found it
in their barn and shut it in till they found
where it belonged; and perhaps it isn't
your turkey at all
"Not my turkey! Whose is it then, I'd
like to know: Everybody knows raised
the only white turkey in the country
round this year, an everybody knows l
was savin' it for Christmas. Likely they
doa't know where it belongs. 1t didn't
90 there without hands, neither"
"Now, now, father
Didn't see Dick David skulkin' round
my barn yesterday? What else was he
after but my white turkey? But he won't
have it. I'm going down there tomorrow
an tell 'em l seen my turkey in their barn
an come take it home. Yes, l will !"
And he did. Gentle Mrs Patten labored
in vain to make the deacon take Il more
charitable view of the circumstances. but
his resentment. nourished over night, had
grown into passion when he set out for
the David homestead the next day Mrs
Patten watched him depart with a sinking
heart. Her eyes followed him down the
road as he went with great strides through
the almost unbrokeu snow. Then she
dropped into chair by the window and
watched for his return. Almost before She
expected to see him he came in sight Mrs
Patten rose to her feet, shaded her ewes
with her hand and peered anXiously out at
him as he approached. He was empty
handed. On he came, stumbling along
through the snow, pausing here and there
to turn back and shake his clencled fist
toward the receding home of the Davds
He had started out full of anger he was
returning in towering passion. Mrs
Patten sank back in her chair with sigh,
her heart filled with forebodings as to what
might have happened, when the deacon
entered, closed the door behind him with
rang and threw himself into his chair.
"You need never say another word for
them Dayi1s - he ,rasnel struuuln,r IN