The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24


she cut the flowers and twice she spill
ed the sueculent juice when she basted
the turkey.
Ten O'clock Graham must be at Ged
Harper's! Half-past! There came a
knock at the door. but Helen dared not
move. Her mother hustled back to
the kitchen, puzzled look on her face.
"Lawzee, Helen" she whispered, clos
ing the door carefully. its the man
got valise. l wonder if he's
But Helen was out of hearing. At
the front-room door she paused to gain
time-and courage.
Graham stood with his back to her.
staring intently at letter in his hand.
He turned abruptly.
well, he's gone!'
"Gone!" Helen echoed the word
blankly. What had she said or done
to rouse Warmers suspicious?
Left on the l0:47 train last night"
continued Graham's blunt, unwavering
tones. This bag and letter he order
ed Mr.. Harper to send to you"
Mechanically Helen took the letter
and bent to open the bag. But her
thought was of Graham. Was he men-
tally accusing her of duplicity? She
gave a sudden gasp. The bag was FILL
ed with papers. Graham knelt beside
her, a light of triumph illuminating
his stern face. She tore open the let
ter. read it hastily, and then with
great sob dropped her face on her
clasped hands.
Graham watched her in silence;
then the veins on his throat and wrists
stood out like great cords and an ang-
ry light shone in his eyes.
What had Worrell done--added to his
other crimes the unforgivabie sin of
| breaking this girls heart? And the
man who would have protected her,
had he dared to ask the right stood
tensely watching the b-shaken figure
| before him.
Miss Maitland"
She raised her head. and at the great
joy in her face Graham felt a load fall
from his heart.
Read it, she said simply, and hand
| ed him the crumpled letter.
MY Dear Friend: I told you yes
| terday ] would not bore you with the
story of my life. To tell you the truth,
lacked the courage to tell it. But if
you will take this grip to the Manhat-
tan Security and Investment Company,
Inc, and turn it over to Mr.. Forbes,
| the president, he will doubtless give
| you all the information obtainable re-
garding my iniquities. am trusting you
with this because / know I can, and
with something more. l want you to
see my mother. and tell her what pass
ed between us yesterday on the point.
AS for myself, I'm going after that
chance. Where-never mind You'll
hear from me in time-when I've some
thing decent to write. I've known for
months / was fool, but it needed just
you to show me the way out l hope
the knowledge that you've done me a
good turn will add zest to your Thanks
giving dinner, and that your mother
won't think me unpardonably rude to
thus break our engagement. Yours
faithfully and gratefully.
Grover Worrell."
The moist sheet f1uttered from Gra-
hams hand to the floor, and he grasp
ed roughly the curved back of Mrs.
Maitlands ancestral chair.
"Helen!"
The girl raised her beautiful gray
eyes to his in wonder at the tone.
"Helen. you don't eare?"
A puzzled lcok came into her face.
Don't care-what?"
That he has gone?' There was
world Of entreaty in his voice. Her
eyes fell.
mo" A mighty wave of JOY thrilled
her and a spirit of mischief rang in
her next words. mot If you'll have
Thanksgiving dinner with us. We
have places for four, you know"
| Then Graham forgot the Worreil
case, the property of the Manhattan
Investment Company scattered at his
feet, the fact that he had never told
! Helen of his love. He simply held out
his arms-and she understood.
| .
Mrs. Maitland had just brought in
| the turkey. and was holding the cafv-
| ing knife aloft with a contemplative
| air, when she remarked with startling
abruptness.
well, If this hasn't been the queer
| est Thanksgiving day ever put In.
Who'd ever thought of your coming ali
the way from New York to eat a
Rhode Island turkey? declare. it's a
wonder this whole dinner amt burnt
to a cinder."
"It has been a surprising series of
events" answered Graham, with ala
most boyish enthusiasm. "All day yes
terday l was dreading that Thanks
| giving dinner at the cafe. 1t just goes
| to show that sometimes one cannot tell
what he has to be grateful for until
almost time to carve the turkey. And
then blessings come thick and fast.
Allow me, Mrs. Maitland. as your fu-
ture son-in-law, to relieve you of that
task"
And Mrs. Maitland weakly relin-
quished the carver, murmuring faint
ly, "Well, Helen Maitland this does
beat all. You might have told me-
How could ], mother dear, when !
didn't know 1T myself?"