Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28

if they are to have an experience meeting.
l can send Ben; | can trust him."
A sweet flush went over the fair cheek as
she remembered that somewhere near the
bottom Of the blue china rose jar Ben was
mentioned as "the" blessing of her life.
And all Orne had mentioned the matter also,
but little differently, when the prophecy
went forth that wedding bells would ring
before Christmas"
Uncle Leonard was preparing to go over
to the hall when CHEEKY voice came mer-
rily through the kitchen doorway Miss
Lena wants the blue jar; some sort of a
Thanksgiving institution. She forgot it this
morning"
"All right, answered Uncle Leonard from
the sitting-room, where he was putting on
his overshoes. He was very busy with a
refractory buckle and did not notice that
Ben went lightly upstairs and hurried out
with the desired article in trice.
By and by the buckle was adjusted and
Uncle Leonard came out and cogitated.
"The Thanksgiving institution, " he said,
half aloud; chat means NIarcia's extra
mince jar. Blue, yes, of course. As if I
couldn't find that Jar In the darkest night,
as many years as I've known where it sets.
l reckon the pies must a. given out, or
suthin'."
Uncle Leonard waddled down cellar quite
briskly for him. He meant to meet the ex-
igencies of the case if possible for he knew if
Marcia wanted that jar it must be forth
coming
Twenty minutes later he came putting into
the hall, and, not seeing his wife, deposited
the precious burden on the end of one of
the long tables, where it stood in state,
tlanked on either side by stack of odorous
pumpkin pies.
More than one curious glance rested on
Uncle Leonard's addition to the dinner; but,
as no one was quite certain, nothing was
said until the meal was well under way.
Then Penelope johnson, the one inquisi-
tive maiden lady of Orne, who sat next to the
mysterious dish, gingerly lifted the en-
broidered DOYLE with which Uncle Leonard
had covered it, and, seeing the label, con-
cluded that the choicest of preserves re-
posed therein. Having settled this to her
satisfaction, she beckoned to Lena, who was
fitting like bright butterfly about an ad-
joining table; then, turning back the DOYLE,
she waited, inwardly glad that Providence
had cast her lines in such plentiful place.
AT that moment Aunt Marcia, seeing
something was expected, came forward from
where she was dishing cranberry sauce, and
Penelope called her attention to the matter
AT sight of the familiar object Aunt Mar
cia's face was q Study in scarlet" There's
some mistake" she managed to say, gather
ing up the pride of her life and bearing it to
the anteroom.
The elderly danes of Orne smiled knowing
ly as they recognized the famous blue re-
ceptacle, but they could not tell the why Of
the wherefore for tho Rfa of than,
Aunt Marcia was Inundated. The smile
which went around the feminine circle cut
her to the heart.
But Penelope, unwittingly, resolved the
smile into demure little litter by curious
ly wondering where she was going to with
them preserves?"
That's Leonard" snapped Aunt Marcia,
half crying, nodding to the array of cloaks
IN the corner. Ii it wasn't Thanksgiving
I'd haul him over the Goals for this; but
then stepping short to think-"what pos
| sessed him, anyway"
Wiping the tears off her face, she suddenly
| concluded that she didn't understand it at
all. She would wait; hidden things would
be made manifest; the Scriptures said So.
Then some spirit of mischief whispered
And pride goeth before fall"
"Well," said Aunt Marcia, with quivering
lip, II wish l had gone to church,
when Lena counted some 40 white-winged
slips called special blessings she felt that
the discordant note had died somewhere be-
tween the rose jar and Ben's loving heart.
And she whispered: ooh, that all men
would praise the Lord" etc.
! ButAunt Marcia was only thankful, really,
flor this Thanksgiving day."
| When il oil came out concerning the
thankful institution" Aunt Marcia smiled
a queer, quiet smile and said, softly: II
knew it was Leonard, or the Lord"
Then she looked SO curiously over her
glasses at her spouse that, although he had
a dozen questions at his tongues end, he
only smiled blankly and held his peace.
And not a dame of Orne ever guessed why
that Thanksgiving jar faded into obscu1ity
| or why Aunt Marcia was different, from that
| THANKSGIVING day henceforth.