The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-24
published by Special Arrangement
A Neutral Thanksgiving
By CLARA LOUISE BURNHAM.
Copyrighted 1898. by Clara Louise Burnham)

1
| the sound of trolley diminished in the
| distance. What has become of the child?
| It'n be dark before the next car comes
along"
The child she was watching for was forty
years of age, but that mattered nothing to
| the faithful woman who, for twenty-five
| years, had kept house for the Vain
wrights, and taken care of Esther's creature
comforts. To Deborah she was still the
same girl who had been the youngest,
! brightest creature in the house when she
came into it a quarter of a century ago,
and who was now the only one left.
Esther's sister Lucy had married. and
| lived in the city adjacent to the suburb
where the Wainwright homestead was To-
Gated Recently Lucy had died, after years
of invalidism, leaving a daughter of nine
| teen years of age, and it was at the sum-
mons of the dead womans lawyer that
| Miss Wainwright had gone into the city to-
day.
Poor dear! I'll be glad when it's all
| over" soliloquized Deborah. Miss Esther
haint had so to say a scrap O. comfort
since Mrs. Dyett went-stayin' there at the
house with Kitty, and SEEM after things,
putin away and givin' away It's the sad
dest work a body can do. L s'pose she'll
bring the child right home here. and after
while things will be real pleasant. It'll be
grand for Miss Esther to have young
companion in the house instead of nobody
but an old woman like me to talk to from
mornin till night"
The good creature was conscious of a
| twinge of jealousy, one that had been oft
repeated in the last few days. as she medi-
tated over the changes that were sure to
| come.
While she still cogitated she caught sight
of a straight, slender figure walking with
firm quick steps up the stree.
There she is now. and Kitty amt with
| her-yet" she muttered with relief.
but yoI do look tired. child!' she added
| as Miss Wainwright came in; and with
motherly fingers the housekeeper began
unbuttonng the jacket of her mistress S
snug tailor suit, her old heart Fastening APP
prehensively as she saw signs of unusual
| agitation in the beloved face, now pale, and
with set lips.
Indeed l am tired Deborah" replied the
newcomer, dejectedly. II have but one am
bition-tea.'
Dear heart, if tea is all!'
The old woman waited on Miss Vain
wright with devoted attention as she sat
| at the Widespread table, speaking from time
to time to coax her mistress to try some
dish or to have more of some dainty, but
Esther Shook her head.
More tea only, Deb, more tea. I've been
driven to drink She shook her head and
poured again from the dainty teapot with
a hand that was unsteady.
Its those lawyers, drat 'em! returned
| Deborah, Indignantly.
mot altogether. / suppose Lucy is more
| to blame than the lawyer"
The housekeeper stared and grasped her
clean apron with both hands, astonished at
a reference in this tone to the departed.
why, what has Mrs. Dyett done?' she
asked.
she has put a request in her Will that
well, it has surprised me-"
Il see it has, poor dear Do try some o
the salad
Il have looked forward to taking Kitty
as my own daughter Miss Wainwright ex-
amined her dainty cup as she spoke, ito
planning her life and making her happy"
Just so; / s'pose you had"
"Well, it seems shall be obliged to share
her with another guardian"
why who is it?" The housekeeper fell
with righteous Indignation into her mis-
| tresss mood. kitty hasn't got anybody
else but you-you her own aunt and she the
very Twin picture o you. Mrs. Dyett al
ways admitted it,"
THE picture of what 1 was, perhaps. I
can see it myself; but I'm forty, Deb the
addition was made YEARLY, and tonight L
feel ninety
You're just as pretty as you ever was"
returned Deborah, stoutly. There's no
body should know better than do how you
look You're quiet in your ways. You spat
back your hair hattern you used to and
wear your hats too plain, but if you'd give
yourself a chance like the other girls and
let your curls out you'd hold your own with
anybody"
Miss Wainwright's smile had trace of
bitterness.
Eyes, Miss Esther, / tell you if you'd fix
up and wear kind O ruffiy things and feath-
ers Kittyd only be the bud and you'd be the
rose Don't talk to ME about feelin ninety;
amt but sixty myself. Now, do tell me,
Miss Esther" her tone changing from ag-
gresson to sympathy, what you mean.
Come sit in the big chair by the fire and
heat your feet. You're just beat OUT
Miss Wainwright, her head leaning obedi-
entity against the cushioned chair, and her
eyes on the blaze. gave long sigh.
Yes, I'm disappointed to the core, Deb"
but Mrs. Dyett dldn [ nave any friends
close enough to give Kitty to EN-. Your
all the aunt she's got in the world"
You forget she has an uncle"
You don't mean to say'-ncredulously-
she's left that little girl to a gay worldly
bachelor? Lucy wasn't crazy, was she?'
Kitty isn't a little girl except to US"
Miss Wainwright spoke in an even, monot-
onous voice. "She is nineteen years Old
But in the name o. common sense amt
you her natural protector and guide?-and
| she the image of you!"
Il am to have her half the time and he
half"
Land @ liberty! What did Mrs. Dyett do
| that for?''
Probably out of loyalty to her dead hus-
band and his family.
| It's Il fool arrangement" announced the
| housekeeper. why, he won't know what
to do with the girl. Perhaps" hopefully,
| perhaps he'll refuse to act"
| Wainwright, regretfully. She would will
| ingly have dispensed with her niece's dim
| pies, have seen the curling tendrils of hair
| straighter-aye, even have been willing
| those merry eyes should squint, IL such
/ plainnesS and Obliquity would have alienated
| Judson Dyetts critical admiration. and
| made him willing to give her full possession
| of their joint ward.
| What had beauty ever done for herself :?
! 1t had not prevented her from losing the
| lover of her youth, even before the world
knew that they had plighted their troth
The bliss. the misery, of that time swept
| over her in a strong wave now as she sat
! in her big chair, made weak by her agita-
/ ton.
Deborah was smoothing. the ringless hand
/ 80 h. t~s-