The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-30

MARTINS folks 10 here" said Martha
putting her head out OF the kitchen.
"Tell 'em I'll be In as soon as I've tend.
ed to the turkey"
Lucinda went into the sitting room
to receive the guests. The air was full
Of kindly greetings and good wishes as
she shook hands with the newcomers.
They seemed to have brought the very
spirit Of Thanksgiving with them.
"Where's MarthaT asked Sister ga.
fah almost as soon as handshaking
was over. II want to see her about
somethin the worst way. In the kitch.
en-? Well, then, I'll 60 right in. You
stay here an see to the children, Gin
dy, while I'm gone"
For the lan's saker' cried Martha as
Sarah appeared In the kitchen door.
'How do you do, an how's all the
folks"
"Quite well, thanky," responded Sa
rah, with proper politeness, which was
instantly put aside as soon as the door
was closed behind her and the two
were alone. martha Pettibone, I've
got some news for you. You can't
guess who came to our house las
night"
ELDER Hogaboom," ventured Mar
tha.
ELDER Hogaboom, indeedp' exclaim.
ed Sarah. 81 knew you'd get way off!
You'd never think Of the right person.
Twas Robert Grantr'
"For goodness sakew cried Martha.
"Air you RELY in earnest, sary2 1t
don't seem as II 1t could be SO. Cindy
an I was a-talkin about him yesterday
an wonderin what had become of
him."
"Yes, tits So" answered Sarah, ian
he's there now. We tried to coax him
to come over with us, but he said he
didn't knows 'twould be agreeable, but
he'd IKE to the worst way. jest know
he was thlnkin of Cindy all the time.
Now, want to know II you have any
idea she'd care IL he should come.
thought I'd ask you fore I said any
thing to her. Martin, he told John not
to put the team out till he knows, an,
II It would be agreeable, he's goin right
back after Robert"
81 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 ain't married, is hep
mo, he amt, an l don't b'lieve he
ever will be II 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
IL she's willin he should come" #
"Cindy, come in here a mint, won't
your called Martha, In a futter of de.
lightful excitement. "Dear me, Sary,
feels II soinethin was goin to hap.
pen! Wouldn't 1t be jest splendid II
they should make upT
whats wantedr' asked Lucinda.
"Cindy," said Martha as solemnly
as II about 10 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 IL you'd find any fault
with havin him come over to eat
Thanksgivin dinner with us. 1t don't
seem jest right to let him spend such a
day there alone, does it?"
"Why shouldn't he comeT' said Lu.
cinda. But II hardly seemed to either
Of the women us II 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, MS IL she was not alone
with that one thought.
"Oh, I'm SO glad" cried Sarah. "Pn
run right out an tell Martin"
Lucinda ran up to her chamber to
think 1t 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
errand. How the bells rang!
He had come back! He was coming
there! 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 separationi AS In the old days?
Perhaps not There might have been
changes Of which she knew nothing.
but they could Mt least meet as friends.
Suddenly sense of all the sorrow
these vanished years had held seemed
to force itself upon her as she had
never comprehended 1t 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 II when John
Junior sang out that "Uncle Mart is
comm back, an there is man with
him."
There was q general stampede Of
youngsters for the front door. Lucinda
felt wild impulse to run away. But
she did not. Martha and Sarah helped
A.