The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-11-29

he was thinkin of Cindy all the time
Now. ! want to know If you have any
idea she'd care If he should come.
thought I'd ask you fore | said any.
thing to her. Martin. he told John not
to put the team out till he knows, an.
If 1t would be agreeable, he's goln right
back after Robert"
II reckon she'd be glad to have him
come" said Martha. "Oh. Sary. meb-
be it'll all turn out right yet. Who
knows? He-he amt married. Is he?"
mo, he amt. an | don't b'lieve he
ever will be If Cindy don't have him.
answered Sarah. He blames himself
for what happened. He jest the same
as told me SO. Call her in an ask her
if she's willin he should come"
"Cindy, come in here a mint, won't
you?" called Martha. In f1utter of de
lightful excitement. Dear me. Sary
| feels if somethin was goin to hap
pen, Wouldn't it be jest splendid If
they should make up?"
whats wantedY' asked Lucinda.
"Cindy," said Martha as solemnly
as If about to inform her of some
body's death. somebody's come back"
Lucinda started and her cheeks grew
pale. She opened her mouth to speak.
but no words came.
Hes over to Martins and Sary
wants to know If you'd find any fault
with havin him come over to eat
Thanksgvin dinner with us. 1t don't
seem jest right to let him spend such a
day there alone, does itY
"Why shouldn't he Gomez" said LII
cinda But it hardly seemed to either
of the women as If she spoke to them.
Indeed it hardly seemed TO her, as she
stood there face to face with the fact
that after many years her old lover
had come back, as If she was not alone
with that one thought.
"Oh I'm so glad" cried Sarah. I'll
run right out an tell Martin"
Lucinda ran up to her chamber to
think it all over alone. AS she shut the
door she heard the sound of bells, and
looking out, she saw Martin driving
swiftly up the hill road on his friendly
Grand How the bells rang!
He had come back. He was coming
therel She would see him again. would
hear his voice and feel his hand clasp
ing hers as in the old days when they
met each other after these long years
of separation As in the old days.
Perhaps not. There might have been
changes of which she knew nothing.
But they could AT least meet as friends.
Suddenly a sense Of all the sorrow
these vanished years had held seemed
to force itself upon her as she had
never comprehended it before. and she
laid her head down on the window sill
and cried. BY and by she aroused her.
self.
This will not do she said as she
looked at herself in the glass She al
most stared at the face she saw there.
1t was not like the face she had seen
there this morning. This face seemed
almost radiant.
The clock was striking l / when John
junior sang out that Uncle Mart is
comm back, an there is man with
him"
There was a general stampede of
youngsters for the front door. Lucinda
felt wild impulse to run away. But
she did not. Martha and Sarah helped
her to pass the ordeal of the next few
minutes by being very demonstrative
and talkative. thus drawing attention
from her. She raw Robert Grant come
into the room; She saw him shaking
hands with all the grown folks and
smiling at the wondering eyed chill
drrn and was dimly conscious of an
idea that il would take him years and
years to get across the room to where
she stood. Then all ut once Martha
spoke and said:
AN here's Cindy. She's glad. with
all the rest of us. to see you back, Rob
ert." and then she felt her hand clasp
ed close in Roberts hand once more
and heard him say:
I'm glad to see YOU
Only few simple words, but they
might mean so much or so little.
When they were seated at the dinner
table. Martin happened to notice all at
once that Lucinda didn't look familiar.
"Why, Cindy. what's become of moth
ers breas'pn?" he asked. II haint
seen you 'thuut it afore sence | can re-
member"
81 don't know what has become of
It," answered his sister II lost it yes
terday. I'd give anything If l could
find it."
Just at this juncture the pumpkin
pies were brought In.
"These are Cindy's pies" said Mar
tina. when I've said that, know
you'll want a piece"
"Or two pieces, more likely" answer
ed Martin. Let me see, you used to
Hike Clndy's pies, Robert. | s'pose you
hain't forgot how they tasted?'
Il dou't believe | have" answered
Robert as he took "plece" and fell to
enjoying it,
All at once he put his napkin to his
mouth, and John Junior. who was en-
during the toftures a boy always expe.
riences when he has to wait. whispered
10 his Cousin Tidy that he guessed that
feller'd bit his tongue or something.
How bright and pleasant ii looks
outsidew Robert Grant said to Lucinda
after dinner. Don't you want to take
walk
81 think little of this bracing
Thanksgiving day air would do me
good" she answered and went up
stairs after her bonnet and shawl. Her
heart was all in n fiutter again. "Yo
ought to be ashamed of yourself!' sh