Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-02

fore entering, and Mrs. Thomson
heard the heavy tones OF q mans
voice.
Cousin Sary, I've got somethin' to
say" Martie began as soon as she OPP
ened the door. It's somethin' surpris-
in, SO you better be prepared"
Mrs. Thomson looked up question
ingly The girl sat down, unbuttoned
and threw back her jacket, took on her
hat, and, holding it in her hand, went
on in a slow. hesitating way that was
utterly at variance with her usual
abrupt manner of speaking.
That's Tom Hester waitin' out
there. He came home from York
State to-day, and he Is goin' back FRI
day. Him and mes been engaged to
be married nigh bout two years, but
Tom had bad luck bout work, and so
we waited. Now's he's got good
place, and I'm going to marry him
Friday mornin' and start back with
him on the noon train, that's ALL"
Martie was right. Her news was
surprising, so much so that her cousin
sat staring at her in speechless aston
| ishment.
Yes, that's ALL" the prospective
bride repeated, evidently displeased at
the quiet manner in which her infor-
nation had been received. Il went
home and told ma and Tillie, then l
thought I'd have to let you know that
I'd quit. I'm goin' back home now,
cause ma and air goin' to town right
early in the mornin'. Two days hain't
long to buy your weddin' clothes and
have 'em made, but we'll have to do
the best we can
"Why, Martie, I can't get along
without you," Mrs. Thomson cried.
There's our Thanksgiving dinner
and"
"Oh. yes, that makes me think. Ma
and Titles folks can't come, cause
we'll have to work every minute.
There won't be any one but the Camp
bells and Dave Merchant. You can git
along. You wouldn't have me give up
Tom and all our happiness together
for your Thanksgivin' dinner, would
your"
mo, no, dear child" and Mrs.
Thomson's resentment vanished be-
fore the unusual softness of the 9TH
er's voice II am glad, so glad that
woman's dearest joy has come to you
that of loving and being loved!"
She forgot her own disappointment,
and hustled about, aiding Martie in
her preparations for departure. The
clock strrsx twelve before the girl was
ready. Even Martie was a little af-
fected at the leave-tahing, and she
shed few tears when, in addition to
her wages, Mrs. Thomson pressed into
her hand a shining eagle.
For a wedding gift, Martie," she
said.
Then she went back to her lonely
fire5ide, and unused over the disas-
trous fate that seemed to attend upon
her plans.
81 do hope Flora's folks will get
here before David comes" she thought.
1T would be so embarrassing, especi-
ally after what he said the other night.
The train does not reach the village
until half-past ten. Well. all / ca dc
is to tell Will to drive fast Nov i
must go to bed, for will have plenty
to do tomorrow"
Thanksgiving morning dawned,
clear and sunny. The bare branches
of the trees that surrounded the Thorn
son farmhouse were outlined in deli
cate silvery tracery against the brill
liant sky, while their russell foliage lay
heaped along the drive.
Within Mrs. Thomson was moving
briskly about. BY the time she began
to look for the return of the team she
had sent to meet the Campbells, all
, was in readiness. The chicken pies
, were in the warming closet OF the
stove. potatoes, cabbage and squash
were ready for the kettles, and the two
, great turkeys were browning in the
oven which they had shared with a
huge Indian pudding, golden-hearted
and spicy. Pies, cakes, platters OF cold
meat. pickles-all were waiting, while
the long table in the dining-room was
, gay in snowy damask, china, silver
and glass.
Mrs Thomson, in a brown merino
cherry ribbons and large white ap-
: ron. stood looking eagerly up the road
"They will be here soon now. Dear
me, there Will De only SEVEN VI uS, anu
there is enough cooked for fifty. Per-
haps / can coax Flora to stay until
/ next week. Then I-why, there IL
: Will, and he is all alone"
She ran breathlessly to the gate tc
3 meet the hired man. He tossed hel
an envelope, saying laconically:
r This come, but the folks didn't"
9 1t was a telegram from Flora's hus
band. With loudly-beating heart
r Mrs. Thomson read:
e "The children have scarlet fever
e Not dangerous, but disappointed.
FRANK CAMPBELL"
t She re-read the few words, ther
looked imploringly around. Will hat
3 driven on to the barn, so she wa!
Q alone. What could she do?
J. II can never entertain David Merch
!, ant, and no one else" she said to her
: self. Think of our sitting down Il
a those two enormdls turkeys, to sa!
e nothing of all the rest. It's too ride
d ulous, or would be IL 1t was anybod.
r else. It may be that something will
y happen to keep David at home. Oh
4 but that would be worse than to hav
him comet"
: She went slowly back to the house
It Here the sight of her waiting Dime
}. was too much, and sitting down on tn
n roomy lounge, she buried her face In
| - haxy IAt