The Newtown bee., 1897-12-03
The Home Circle.
Esther Keeps Thanksgiving.

Esther Keeps Thanksgiving.
THERE WAS REAL SURPRISE IN IT-BUT
THE OUTCOME OF THE STORY WAS
QUITE sATIsFACTORY.-EM LOUISE
CIRCUIT IN THE SPRINGFIELD REPUBLI'
CAN.-THE OLD HOUSE.
The old house was half-hidden by neg
lected shrubs and briars, which in their
seasons adorned it with riotous bloom. 1t
belonged to an age before the spirit of I'M
rest had taken possession of the land,
when the soul had leisure to increase its
charms of faith, hope and charity. The
glamour of the past could easily envelop
it with a dreamy fascination; yet the
greater number of strangers passing
down the street, absorbed in their own
pursuits, doubtless saw only weather
beaten exterior somewhat inharmonious
with the fine landscape around it. A few
might glance at the fashion OF the colo
NAL times, admiring the once elegant en-.
trance with the quaint carving above it !;
possibly a rare imagination, throbbing
with the pulsations of common hearts in
everyday lives would people its desolate-
ness with vague echoes of human exist
ence, and catch the mellow tones of affec-
ton or the hushed voices Of grief still
whispering among the old rafters.
Not often did Esther Keep permit her
busy, methodical life to indulge in retro
spection. But as she looked upon them
one rare October morning, the gloomy
shadows haunting the forsaken rooms
disappeared under the genial influence of
healthy heart; while the reflected radi-
ance of memory lighted her face with
quivering sunbeams of morning life and
Joy, as she heard the old walls resound
with happy voices.
Great-grandmother Phebe Bliss came
there as the bride Of Israel Wolliston.
They were married in the best square
room" of their own new house. Then,
years afterward, Betty Wolliston, the
beauty Of the town, with roses in her hair
and on her cheeks, tripped out one hazy
June morning to the well-the same well
still there, with the old bucket pathetic
in It's decay. She let her pail Idly swing
on her arm as a song dubbed from her
heart. Harrison Keep, sauntering down
the shady street, saw the strong white
arms, barred to the elbow, skillfully guide
the sweep, while the bright eyes silly
peeped through the dropping lashes, and
he was suddenly stricken with thirst.
Pretty Betty became bride in the won
derful square room, and was whirled
away to distant city. The shadows
again gathered as across Esther's mental
vision fitted bride that was to be one
Thanksgiving day, and was not. But jus
then young girls voice, imbued with a
CHEEKY spirit, floated up to her window,
and simultaneously new idea leaped in
to her mind.
'Dorcas'' Esther called. "Cousin |
Dorcasl am going over to Hannah Be-
miss.
Hannah, just going In from the garden
with hands full OF late flowers, saw Esther |
In the distance. "Jared, she said sweet
ly, ESTHER Keep Is coming. would
not be surprised II she wishes TO see me
alone.n
Since Hannah's zeal the year before in
arousing the women of Parkerville to live
up to their privileges, when their combin-
ed effort carried the town election Of
school officers, conservative Jared Bemis
had been In quite state Of agitation.
The little man looked quite distressed at |