The Forrest City times., 1900-11-23

to happen. It happened. It was . few days before Thanksgiving. Juliet took downtown car and appeared in Romeo-John's little office in mid morning. She was greatly agitated.
 "0h, Romeo-Johnw
 "Yes, dear; save your breath--you'u need it." he said, soothingly. Tt came this morning. The postman brought"
 No, boy. I've got it in my pocket"
 l They read the little perfumed note together in silence. Then Juliet read it again. aloud. Her voice sounded ] Frightened.
 My dear Mrs. m, m, write at this late date to accept your kind invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. am sure you will excuse the tardiness and rejoice with me when I tell you it is my little Reginald's unlocked for improvement in health that makes my acceptance possible now. The children are all greatly delighted at the pros"
 Skip it, skip it-that's piling it on, my dear" groaned Romeo-John. Juliet smiled weakly. V.
 "After all, it's a relief. Romeo-just to know there can't anybody else ac- cept," she murmured. ''The dining-room is ten by thir- teen," he said, relentlessly. "Oh, 1 know it, I know it!" .l. my dear''
 But in the end he comforted her. What else could he do? He got her down on his knee and swung her about tenderly in his swivel chair. She essayed a subdned little smile by and by.
 And we'll call in at Mir. Pitchers on the way home. Romeo?' eve will that, my dear" And order a-20-pound one, Ro- meo? Children are so hearty, you know" 'Twenty-two pounds, dear. There's one hanging up there this minute"
 -and-Romeo-" And, Juliet?"
 "Th-three chickens?" Four
 He was bent on making the comfort complete. He laughed with loud cheerfulness and made a good many inferior little jokes to see her laugh. But the dining-room haunted them both mercilessly. 1t was ten by thir- teen-ten by thirteen-ten by .thir- I teen.
 | II have it!" Romeo-John exclaimed, suddenly, with sigh of relief. Well have two tables of it, dear. I'm sure I'll sit at the second ta--" I "Romeo-Johni"
 Well, l don't see what else we can do," he muttered, diminished.
 'I do-I've just thought Oh, Ro- meo, it's an inspiration." she, cried. ''Stop going round quick and listeni Don't you know how we've said we wished there were double doors be- tween the dining-room and parlor- don't you know it. Romeo-John? Well, that's it. That's the inspiration We'll have a carpenter come right away and cut it. We can run the table through; don't you see we can? Then | I'll hire slim. up-and-down girl to wait on us. Mrs. Dooley's got one just the right size. It's so lucky l haven't engaged Ann Mary Flint yet she's so hither-and-yon.''
 .'She could crawl under" murmured Romeo-John, absently.
 The carpenter was engaged and the turkey that weighed P pounds. Moth. CT, John and the girls came over and i helped about the pies ard the pud- ding. There was great activity in the little fiat. A certain amount of resig, nation was born and grew slowly as the days hurried to Thanksgiving day After all, there were obligations They would be discharged, anyway And it would teach them a lesson in morals.
 And I won't let it be an expensive one to Romeo, either" Juliet thought setting her little white teeth together with a click. i've decided that fur eloaks won't be in style this winter!" Annie Hamilton Donnell, in Country Gentleman.