The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-27

She stood "afar of" with her hands
folded in her white dimity apron while
Ihad ushered in the stranger.
Il think l am little faint" he said,
sinking into the comfortable seat near the
fire and letting his head rest on his hand,
while dilapidated cap dropped to the
floor
Halle WOODBURY. was on the other side
OF the heavy portiere but the voice start
led her and she peeped through. When
she saw the strangers attitude. however,
she came into the room.
Are you ill? ?" she asked, cor only faint
from hunger
1T is hunger, madam" he answered,
without looking up.
Hurry Genie!" said Miss Woodburn,
solicitously, 1.-The stranger is nearly fam
ished.' Then she went for reviving
draught. Here" she said, drink this;
You will feel better
But he did not take the proffered cup;
he looked up instead. 81 am hungry of
heart" he said, with ptiful information;
ten years of soul famine, Hallie!"
With a glad cry of recognition Miss
WOODBURY. threw her arms around the nice
tramp's neck.
20, Ned Vickers; it is you" she said, JOY
ously.
1T is what is left of me-" he answered,
brokenly. Il have come back to be for
given"
There is nothing to forgive!" exclaimed
Miss WOODBURY., ''and you must not go
away again, Ned, dear" kissing his fore
head where the snow-damp hair waved just
as it used to do.
But, Halle, you don't want me if I've
gone to the bad. No; l only came back to
be forgiven, though do love you as of old"
Miss WOODBURY. hid her face on the shah
by coat and Thad hurried away to the
kitchen, closing the doors softly after him.
What is it, now" asked Genie, ungra
cously, not understanding the look on his
face.
"Why, it's Ned Vickers!" answered
Thad, triumphantly, "and l came away to
let them get acquainted all over again"
After awhile Thad slid quietly into the
dining room with the Modified Genie in his
wake
"Thad," said Miss WOODBURY., smiling
happily, this is an old friend of mine. He
will be our guest tomorrow and we will
have Thanksgiving after all Show him
to the south guest chamber and when he
is ready bring him down at once; the cof
fee will be waiting
He is my dear old love-" she explained
to Genie later; ''but presume you don't
quite understand"
20, yes, ma'am!' answered the maid,
fitting about like butterfly and blushing
like a peony.
"How, Genie? You have no lover"
20 yes, ma'am, l have" came the an
swer, shyly.
Indeed! Who, Genie?
"Thad, ma am" simpered the girl, in con-
fusion.
well, Genie" and Miss WOODBURY. took
the girls face between her palms, don't
ever send him away, then"
"That l won't, ma'am!" exclaimed she.
Il won't be such "a"
IAN IDIOT" finished Miss Halle. 'Well,
heaven has been better to me than | de-
serve, Genie, and ! will begin my thanks
giving tonight"
When the nice tramp came down for his
coffee Miss WOODBURY. exclaimed, in sur
prise: "Why, Ned Vickers, you have de-
ceived mel
And hadn't he! AS he stood there laugh
ing, dressed in the latest style, with a
CLEAN of gold in his attire!
Forgive me, Halle" he said, and he
stopped to kiss her, as in the olden days.
II wanted to surprise you; then, too,
wondered if you could love me in tramp
ish apparel"
"Well, you've found out" she answered,
gayly. Then she looked lovingly at him
over the coffee-urn and said, softly: ITO
morrow will. indeed, be a real Thanksgiv-