Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-30

Misunderstanding at the half hearted
snowfall and the November dullness of
a New York side street-wondering
somewhat whether, after all, he was
doing wisely in throwing away his
chance of going home to the other end
of the state for his Thanksgiving din
ner.
Whether the event would Justify his
decision or not would depend on n
young person over there, across the
street, n bewildering damsel of Can
ada, whose business for the winter in
New York was to study the church or
gan. Mr.. Middleton, having, very much
to his own satisfaction, established
himself as one of three at the same lit
tie table with her in Mrs. Flanagans
dining room, where he ate twice day,
would gladly have improved the occa-
sion of n holiday and the opportunities
offered by common sentiment of be-
ing left out in the cold world.
Naturally enough the young mans
eyes wandered to the front of Mrs.
Flanagans house, and instantly he
saw that something very much out Of
the common was going on. In fact,
Middleton saw that crowd was gath
ering outside Mrs. Flanagan's, and the
occasion of the crowd was evidently
huge furniture van. Furniture was be-
ing carried out of the house-not mere
bedroom furniture, but strange and
problematic articles which Middleton
associated with Mrs. Flanagan's dining
room.
"Well, II there isn't that crazy old
majolica jardiniere she sets the ice
water orr he CALCULATED. by lingo,
they're evicting her-and-and her
It's high time for me to drop in"
ignoring the expectant grin Of the
crowd and stepping over heap of
dirty burlap on the sidewalk, he dodg-
ed in through the doorway, between
moving refrigerator and a waiting wire
cot, and, as he entered, q grlish voice
somewhere behind the refrigerator
called out, "Oh, Mr.. Middleton"
80 glad you've come" Lillian Nc
Kay shouted, clapping her hands.
"Hurrah. What are you looking at my
hair for? It's a sight, | know. l
haven't had time to do it up. Say,
isn't it n shame? And they wanted to
take my piano. If you please! Now,
you're a lawyer. You can settle the
whole thing for poor Mrs. Flanagan,
cant you"
Il 10, pIn IL md
the question for us-for you and Mrs.
Latour and me-to settle is, Where are
we going to get our Thanksgiving din
ner?'
Yes, know, and you might have
gone home to Buffalo
I'D rather be just where l am" said
he young man.
Thanks" she said, and then she
went on in n hurry: Cant you do
anything 10 stop them, Mr.. Middleton
How can they turn her out like this
when she told them she would pay this
very afternoonV
did you know about 1t this morn
Ing" Middleton asked her. passing
over the question of law.
was when | was practicing over soma
dreadfully difficult things they gave me
at the college, and in walked two
men Oh, Mrs. Flanagan. Come here.
Here's Mr.. Middleton. Perhaps he can
help you"
Mrs. Flanagan had just emerged
from the darkness of the back stairs, q
pale, black haired woman, with gilt
terlng black eyes.
mo, child" she said. "Mr. Middle
ton can't help me. don't know where
all you children are going to get your
dinner today and tomorrow, Thanks
giving day, and after you've paid mt
In ADVANCE
ooh, that'll ~ all right, Mrs. Flana
gan" said Middleton.
Never mind, Mrs. Flanagan" sale
. Lillian. well manage about the din
ner. | declare" she went on turning
upon Middleton naughty and uplifte,
chin with a very aggravating dimpl
in the middle of it, this is the frs
s Thanksgiving | was ever in the States
and think you Yankees ought to b.
ashamed toto let Mrs. Flanagan b.
treated like this
( 1T Is an unfortunate coincidence,
Middleton said in low voice. but
don't think it can be fairly imputed n
national disgrace. Mrs. Flanagan
where are you going tonight?
'Me, child? Why, l couldn't tell yo
q that to save my neck. If l only ha
10 time to look around"-
r. Yes, | know. But as it is, where ar
u you goingY" the young lawyer persis,
c ed, land where are your boarders &C
ingy
"All my boarders that had room
n here are gone, child-all except thi
one sweet angel" meaning, Of cOurs,
=. Lillian.
: Il have an idea, Miss Mckay" MID
g dleton exclaimed, quite as If somethin
d new had juA occurred to him-whic
Il was deceit.
y Then, for goodness sake, out wit
a itw
!. "Why, you see, so many OF us room
u ers over at Anderson's take our meal
!, here that we shall be in pretty gener'
" distress IL Mrs. Flanagan goes of
d That would be bad for the Anderson
y wouldn't it? Very well. Why not |,
l. Mrs Flanagan come over and occup
= their kitchen"
srrb,y hovon't opy dining room V.