The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-12-03
MARIoN'S THANKSGIVING.
BY KAYE w. HAMILTs1N

\ n
BY KATE w. HAhnLT&N.
Marion tucked the robes mo...e close
ly around her in the "old ark N,s sh
, mentally styled the antiquated cay Ahfge
that had met her. al the stallion. and
then leaned back with q little sigh and
closed her eyes to shut out the sight OF
the snowy wood and lonely road. The
way and the conveyance suited the
place to which she was going--the
plain, gloomy old country house where
Uncle Martin aud Aunt Ellice lived,
and grew yearly older, ''queerer,"
more rheumatic, and farther away
from the gay world Marion loved. She
did not visit them ofLen--she wished
she need not now, All the girls at the
seminary had pitied her-the other
girls who were each to have u delight
ful time somewhere--that she must
spend such a "horrid Thanksgiving"
| She knew just how 1t would be in the
Old house. She could see it with her
closed eyes, as the carriage rolled
along-the stiff, shut-up parlor--the
great, unused chambers-the sittlng-
room, through whose quiet the tall
clock ticked with such painful distinct,
ness. No restless fingers ever disar-
ranged books or curtains, no changing
fancy ever found new places for the
furniture. Uncle Martin would read
and doze on one side of the Fireplace
Aunt Ellice would knit and doze on the
other. side. They would be gla to SEQ
ner In their sober, undemonstrative
way but they would cal her Mary
Ann"-they always did, and oh, how
she hated 1t 1t would never cur TO
them to try TO entertain her, or l., bring
any young life into the old hous on nu,.
account They would talk a little of
Old Thanksgivings, and Aunt Euico
would probably remark that sh had
Thought OF havin' the minister ana ri,
wife and Mr.. and Mrs. Prltcha.i tn.
year"
On, dear it was all SO different u.
Sc merry gatherings tu which
> II gtr's we're gong. Even in
''r", acqu ntauces had been wish
tGn "thcr "a happy Thanksgiving ..>az
There hah been one exception ~ q
her. . s =
Tue stn,,ii"n Keeper, as be "A
INK 10 place nn-t4,, Ssss<l Z. b Z
observed tn the easy fam liHrity til
belongs u lie In small village: r.
"Well, hope you'll kerry the, oh
inike II 'it''e good cheer for Thank,
1 m. Pears ike they ed it, livin'
81 alone 81. with not II chick nor u
hnu iOngin to- 'em"
Mariou had s.crc,l, r, sunted the
"ann"r and mater of une speech; yet,
- ~ rccurred 10 hcr now, there sud
denly flashed upon her the sugs estion
1t held Sure enough The Thanks
giving to which she was going promised
poorly enough for herself, but what
about the one she was carrying to
them
IL might try to use the pieces of nv
own spoiled one TO patch up Il respect
able one for them, | suppose" she said
with laugh, sitting up to consider the
proposition.
1t was broad one and held such
varied possibilities, when she once be-
gan to study it, that the long sire tch
of woodland and road had been tra-
versed before she knew it, and the old
house was in sight.
Exit Marion, enter Mary Ann! I'll
be the last-named damsel to the best of
my ability for the next two weeks"
she assured herself almost gleefully as
she stepped upon the broad piazza.
Mary Ann did a variety of things that
Marion had. never thought of doing
seemed to have a wonderful effect. She
sought out her plainest dress. and tied
over 1T, when she came down to dinner,
Q little white apron, at which Aunt
Ellice glanced approvingly. She in
quired about all the old residents
whom she could remember, ap0 skill
fully started Uncle Martin into stories
Ut old times, which soon awakened
Aunt Ellice and himself to unwontcd
"That was Cousin 'LiZbeth," said
Aunt hilice at the close Of one of those
It's years sinca[gA.
heard from her directly, though we
used to be most like sisters. She
lives out in Iowa, and I've often thought
I'd write, but always put it Off Some
way letter-writin' LOOKS like mountain
nowadays"
Why not let me do it for you ?"
said Marion with happy thought.
g We'll do it this very afternoon send
her good, long letter, and tell her
how we were talking of old days and
Of her"
"If you just would ?" answered Aunt
Ellice heartily, with sudden bright
ening OF her worn face.
Then there was the old piano:
Marion had always Stunned that "in-
strument," as Uncle Martin called it.
out OF tune, and the classical music on
which Marion prided herself, suited
neither 1T nor her audience. But to-
hty she had reminded herself that
-" Mary AIMS" playing would probably
be of another style, and going up To
lhe attic she had found " book OF old
favorities; ; she was we'll rev .rded in
i1e supreme cont ut with wiicu Udcle
Martin listened 10 lS rrl.,~ fi,,dlr," ~
a,,ed for "Mact n CIR ,.i hoaily
unted up IL long unus Il I'd
trich to accompany her in "l1oney
Musk
AS sfnr'rhanksgiving itself, the dream
ol having the minister and his wife
and Mr.. and Mrs. Pritchard for once
b"came II reality.
Why not have them, au ty, an i
haif ooztn of your old frien X, besi
l'iI lip Hannah get up the inuer M,
'ee that everything is rght. Y IA
needn't worry over it or get tir 81 IL
bit" Marion had said.
Getting up the old folks party was
real fun,' Marion declared afterwdru
The closed parlOr was opssrz, ll.rnH
spiendors were shaken o& ~
stiffness ana frightened 4. s.
ling lire. the addition OF sO>ffESl lsss s
Ellice's lowering plants and II noSJofSl
nameless touches that skilfui, girlish q.
fingers can give. The table WAS pretty
enough for any eye with its otd-tlSh-
Toned linen, silver and china: and
there could be no doubt about the dinner
itself when Hannah took charge OF the
substantials and Marion looked after
what the old woman called "tho fringcs
| and fruebelows." How the hosts aud
the guests did enjoy that day