The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-21

did it. And once he asked about Della,
but the young man made no satisfactory
reply.
A year had sped away since that last
happy gathering at Farmer Hosea's ma
nor, and again the good old parson was
announcing from the high pulpit a day of
thanksgiving, reunion and prayer. Della
Dingley was there and heard him, but she
buried her face in her handkerchief, and
sat motionless through the whispering
that followed while the other notices were
being read
Contrary to the expectations of the
Dingley family, Della and all the rest were
invited to dine at Farmer Hosea's that
Thanksgiving, and to emphasize the invi-
tation Farmer Hosea and wife came them
selves to invite them. and would not take
no for an answer.
I'VE have not seen you, Della, for so
many weeks, that you will be good for
sore eyes, said Farmer Hosea, shaking
Della's hand and touching her under the
chin, land, child, you must brighten up a
little, for somehow you don't seem to be
the girl you were last Thanksgiving
I'm not Della responded, though she
could have bitten her tongue off a moment
later for saying 1t.
The Thanksgiving greetings were a lit
tie strained that Thanksgiving day, but
Della among them. Della came late, just
in time for dinner and the Hosea folks
said that 1t was to avoid meeting Dick,
whom she had not seen in many a day,
and who had come back just in time for
Thanksgiving.
I've got a surprise for you, Della"
whispered Farmer Hosea as he took the
girl into dinner; but a look from Mrs.
Hosea shut up his gruf tones, and he said
nothing more until they We're seated
around the long abundant board.
On one side of her sat Farmer Hosea,
and on the other side sat Dick, and as
they touched elbows. Dick leaned over and
whispered something to Della which
might have pleased her if she had not
been so sad.
Now" said Farmer Hosea, rising, 'T
am going to begin this Thanksgiving din
ner with toast. Lift up your cider
glasses and drink the health of my son,
Dick, and Della. They have been apart
this last year, and now they are here
again, and we are glad to see them. Here's
to Della and Dick
The glasses around the table chinked,
and Dick and Della chinked with the
rest.
"Now, turn over your plates" roared
Farmer Hosea, who seemed to be possessed
with an irrepressble spirit of heartiness,
land get to work.! looking over at Della.
ne lOOked just III IlIIlet LOT lena, close
to his right hand, had turned her plate
and was gasping over the find beneath.
There on the smooth, snowy cloth was
glittering solitaire, and it needed no second
glance to tell her that 1t was the one
that she had lost year ago.
How did it happen, Dick?" she asked an
hour later, when they had time to talk
1t over.
''In the most pTosaic way" said he. "Old
Ann found 1t in the turkeys crop YES
terday. 1t must have lain twelve months
in the gravel path, and the old gobler saw
It just in time to gobble 1t up. But, Della,
did not wait for that. l came home last
week. l saw what beast 1 had been
when I accused you of giving the ring
away, and 1 thought it all over just in
time for Thanksgiving"
where are my children?' cried Farmer
Hosea, coming with heavy step toward the
bay window into which the lovers had
slipped. And together they answered
"Herew