Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-11-26

On Thanksgiving Eve just five years
since he had left his old life behind him
Jack went to his dingy little window to
gaze Mt the two mansions. He shivered
with cold; but the blood rushed quickly to
his face when he saw the home of the girl
he still loved, brightly lighted up. For
an instant he stood still, amazed. Then
he sat Gown on his bed 20 think. Finally,
downhearted and discouraged, he turned
to a great pile of manuscript and rubbish
on the floor. ard picking a book from the
nondcscript mass he turned over the
leaves.
Twelve plays out" he muttered to
himself; "hveof them probably lost" Only
that day he had sent his best and latest
comedy to the new English actor who
had arrived the day before. AS soon as it
was rehearsod las he DOUBTED not it would
bel he would send the others in rotation.
Fol months he had expected success to
come with the dawn of every new day.
and tonight as he threw himself on his
bed, hungry and brokcn-hearted, he real
lied the mistake he had made in living in
n dream. lie made firm resolutions to re-
form, but as his fingers clinched in new
born resolve his eyes strayed across the
way again. For the second time that
evening his heart stood still. Behind the
soft lace curtains of the Goldthwait man.
sion shadows of people fitted 20 and fro.
Inc house was inhabited again-but by
strangers, of course, he thought.
Thanksgiving Day found Jack poorer
and hungrier than he had ever been be,
fore in his life. For forty-eight hours he
had not tasted food, but he determined TO
breakfast in spite of the almost total
emptiness of his pocketbpok. He turned
his face toward the lower portion of the
city, determined to accept whatever work
offered itself, but it was n holiday, and
after several hours spent in tramping the
quiet streets Jack turned his face homo
ward AS he truGged NJ Broadway a
CHATTER on the stones behind attracted his
attention and n driverlcss cab dashed in
TO sight. An elderly man was gesticulat-
ing wildly from the window. With n
bound Jack responded. In another mo-
ment the runaway horse stood painting in
the roadway, and Jacks sinewy hand
was OH the bit.
one dollar to drive mi up to Del
mnnico's," shouted the man.
But your driver?" asked Jack.
Drunk in a saloon" was tic response.
Without another word Jack leaped III to
the cabby's seat and whipped up the
horse. 1t was the first time he had ever
earned a dollar by manual labor, and as
he clinched his teeth firmly n flush moupt.
ed to his checks.
When the once familiar restauron t
came into sight Jack thought, with nois.
ture in his eyes, of the many times he md
Dora had lunched in the great dining
room. AS he refined up before II. baT.
Garu and mud despatched, totally differ
ent from his old self, he started with
amaZeinent. There, standing on the side.
walk was the subject Of his dream-not
the Dora of old, with short frock and
curling hair streaming in tie wind. brt
the beautiful woman INTO which tha vo,rs
had changed her.
For a moment Jack could hardly re-
strain himself from rushing forward and
declaring his identity. But n thought of
MS clothes and his work made him stop,
he became as anxious to hide his face "a
lie had been n moment before to tel, his
name. 40
Dora and her father passed into ,ba
restaurant and Jack earned n second dol.
lar by getting q new driver Cor his mas.
senger's coupe. lie passed and rcpassed
TIE restaurant in an unsuccessful attempt
TO sc; another glimpse ot the woman bc
loved before he even satisfied his hunger,
II was dark before he went back TO his
httle room and stationed himself once
more 1T his window to gaze at the lights
in the G"ldthwait mansion. He was filled
with u conflict of love aud pride. lie had
no reason to believe that Dora had no.
forgotten him, but his lore for her was as
strong as ever. lie lonsed 30 go TO her
but the knowledge CT his poverty mud
shabbiness kept him beck.
The windows of The srca, old dining.
room were bright with light and ,bclr
raised curtnins gave him 4 clear Wow If