The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-21
A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE.
(The End.)
By AUGUSTA PRESCOTT.


Copyright, 1897, by Ryman Interview Syn
dicate
Richard Hosea was the most prosperous
farmer in New Hampshire. His cattle
grazed upon thousand undulating slopes
of the White mountains, and his horses
were the sleekest and plumpest in the
clear air regions
Farmer Hosea's special pride lay not
in his farm possessions, but in his only
son Dick, who was as fine a fellow as
ever traced his ancestry back to the May
flower Pilgrims.
Dick Hosea had been to an agricultural
college In Wisconsin, and knew more
about politics and farming" his father
said than the President of the United
States"
The belle of these White mountain reg
ions was Della Dingley, a beautiful girl,
the daughter of a neighboring house. Della
had been to Mount Holyoke and had come
back knowing cookery and trigonometry.
And, what was of more Importance to
this Massachusetts, section, she had come
back with the heart of Dick Hosea in her
keeping, sent to her in the numerous let
ters Dick had written Della while she was
away at school. Yes, Della and Dick
were engaged to be married.
There was to be a special reunion at
Farmer Hoseas abundant farmhouse this
Thanksgiving day, for it was at this
time that the engagement of the young
people was to be formally announced. 1t
had been limited at before, but now the
relatives knew that the time had come
for the formal announcement. They
guessed it from the hints thrown by Mrs.
Hosea when she invited them to the an
nual reunion. And they more than guess
ed it from the gruff happiness of Farmer
Hosea at the prospective Thanksgiving
dinner.
On Thanksgiving day. when the wagons
rolled up to Farmer Hosea's front door,
deposting their loads of guests, Della
Dngley stood inside the front door in
good New England style, assisting Mrs.
Hosea in the hand shaking, and pointing
the guests upstairs, where they could re-
move their hats and make ready for the
feast. On Della's hand there shone big
solitaire and when congratulated upon her
engagement she smiled and twirled the
ring with blusing pleasure.
After dinner Farmer Hosea rose and
formally announced the engagement of
his beloved son Dick to Della Dingley.
Then all rose, and with good New Eng
land cider drank the health of the pros
pective bride and congratulations to the
fortunate Dick.
This formality soon broke up in a frolic
and Della found herself surrounded by
the young people, who fiocked around her
10 see the ring, which they could now
mention freely.
Several times Della took it off to show It,
and once she handed it to a neighbours
son for his inspection. When he gave it
back to her he placed it on her finger
sighed and pressed her hand. Della
snatched her hand away and looked up
quickly only to find Dick Hosea's eyes
fixed upon her. AS the neighbours son
withdrew Dick stepped up.
Don't take off that ring again, Della"
he said shortly. IF you do you will lose
it, and ] shall not forgive you"
Encouraged by the spirit of fun, and
feeling that the others were watching her
Della retorted
II shall take the ring off again, If 1
please and"-here she hesitated, but
catching the laughing eyes of the neigh
boris son, added, land don't care if / do
lose it,"
OF course she did not mean it, but the
words were spoken
The games became more boisterous, and
Della and Dick led many merry party
round the house to the chestnut trees ana
back into the apple orchard, carrying out
the Thanksgiving fun.
II was late when Dick put Della into her
fathers sleigh and jumped in beside her.
But as he did so he whispered:
Della, have you got your ring?'
And Della. touching her finger, felt that
the ring was gone
The next day Dick Hosea surprised his
father by asking for furlough from farm
work long enough to take a trio to Alaska:
and Farmer Hosea, who denied his son
nothing, hesitated only minute then
gave a generous check and his permission
TO remain away as long as Dick thought
best. To be sure. he wondered why Dick