Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-19
LOVE AND A
THANKSGIVING DiENER.

voice was mulneu ny uistahet, al
she was in the kitchen and Etiie
was In the front BEDROOM upstairs
lust airing the front b droom
ma.
ooh. didn't know but you was
stopping to look at that new dress
again. No time to stop now, with
all this Thanksgiving work { 90
Land aliyel are those pies buFningF
Ellie heard her dash to the cook
stove and open the oven door with
clang.
She improved the opportunity to
muifle the new dress in the old sum
mer one which protected it from
dust and hang it hastily upon it's
peg in the closet: Then her moth
er heard her sweeping the front
stairs with all her might.
Mrs. Hill shook her head. "l'l
Just bet she was standing still in the
middle OF the floor dong nothing,if
she wasn't admiring that new dress.
She's that absent-minded now,
what'll she be when she gets grown
up and thinking OF besux?'
Ellie was almost 10 and her moth
er had been married at Is hersell
yet she always thought of Ellie as q
schoolgirl.
Efie was cleaning the parlor
now. 1t WAS the day before Thanks
giving, but warm as late October.
The dead leaves rustled in the
light wind and patches of green
here and there showed that the
frosts had been light. Efiie began
to decorate by pinning punches of
pressed ferns and autumn leaves in
the Nottingham lace curtains. She
rehearsed scene to herself, as she
did so: "Of course we'll get to
church early tomorrow; pail man.
age that" she said. swell 60
traipsing up the aisle when only the
old folks are there. I'll know when
Granville comes in, though; I'd
know his step .anywherel" She
stood with bunch of gay leaves
poised in air; II DO hope pail set
back in TIL corner of tn pew, as be
does ometimes-then Granville can
see me right away in my new blue
dSess. He didn't see anything like
it in Cuba, if Lily Petit did say the
Cuban girls are so pretty. l never
cared for such dark compilations
myself. To be sure, Granville is
dark himself, but that is different.
I'll not look when he comes in; no,
I'll not turn my head even q tiny
bit. Then, after awhile, III just
glance across and smile at Dan Ar
cher-not much of smile, but it
will seem a good deal to Granville"
She started and ran a pin into her
finger, as her mothers voice reached
her:
"Whst you doing now, Ehie:
Pinuing th leaves on tia curtains?
Oh! l didn't know but what you'd
got t. studying again; it was SO
quiet in here. Well now, it does
look niceI'
Efie was working with guilty
haste now. Granville III be wait
ing to see US go out; l know that
she said to herself. "To think he's
been back two whole days and
havn't seen him yeti l wish we
didn't live so far. | wonder if he's
got the housewife / gave him yet?
Lily Petit says he told her he was
afraid 1 was kind of q fiift. Well,
goodness knows, he can let me alone
ifhe's afraid ofmei l cant help it
if Dan Archer does like meat least
l don't suppose I could, aud--yes,
ms, Pm coming right How!"
Thanksgiving day was clear aud
colder. Mr.. Hill limited at the pos
sibility OF snow, but then he had no
new dress to wear to church and
could think calmly OF falling wealth
er.
Evidently MIS-. Hill had some
thing on her mind; all during break.
fast she Kept clearing her throat and
several times while they were wash
ing the dishes she made as if to
speak, then closed her mouth once
more. AS she hung tie dishcloth
on its nail, she turned to her daugh-
ter: "See here, Efie, " she said, Il
guess you'll have to stay at home
this morning and get dinner. Your
pa wants me to go. His cousin,
Micael Hill, is coming over With his
second wife, and your pa thinks I
ought to be there. You won't mind
will you? 1t amt as if you had
anything special t. so for.'
Tears sprang to Ehie's eyes. She
turned her back silently, and her
mother accepted silence as assent.
"She don't mind" she said to her
husband, as they drove out of the
yard. 81 guess she thinks it might
rain an spoil her new dress. Well,
/ do want to see tn woman Jane
Hills husband has married. Oh,
Efiel" she called back, "don't get t.
studying and forget tn cranberries.
The herbs for til turkey are on the
right.hsnd shelf" her voice died
away in the distance.
Alone, Fife dropped her head on
the table and cried She must wait