News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-11-25

| home in person. When it was tethered
to a stake in the back yard, Maria
could not vat declare that it was tive
| finest turkey she had ever seen, inf
nitely finer than any belonging to the
| house next door.
! But, alas, there was no chance for
| comparison. Others besides Marion had
I evidently watched the growth of her
! turkeys and took an interest a prOprie-
, taTy interest, in them. The next morn
! ing her turkey house was empty.
Marion cried. Here it was only two
days to Thanksgiving dinner and her
fathers long expected visit, and there
was a dearth of turkeys in Oreyille.
She was at an upper window gazing
disconsolately toward the empty poul-
try house when her glance happened
to stray to the yard of her neighbor.
She saw the turkey tethered to the
post Instantly she thought she recog-
nized it as her favorite gobbler. 1t WAS
case Of mistaken identity, but there
Is much of a sameness in turkeys.
All, so he was the thief! But where
were the others? Doubtless he had
made way with them. Here her tears
flowed again. 1t was a melancholy sat
isfaction to think how perfectly she
had diagnosed the strangers character
at that chaIce meeting so many weeks
before, but il was not q material COM
fort.
Meanwhile there was equal distress
in the house of Peyton. Marias sister
was ill., and she must come at once.
She had departed with many tears and
lamentations,
jasper after seeing her off had re
turned home in melancholy frame of
mind. No Thanksgiving dinner for him
now. He must eat at the hotel. And
the turkey?
Just then most brilliant idea came
to him. He had heard of Miss Carl
TONS loss Why not give her his tur-
key?
But very astonished face met him
next door, Was his conscience already
troubling him? Marion's cheeks were
scarlet with anger as the unconscious
young man presented the turkey in his
most polite manner
He had scarcely finished when the
avalanche fell. His turkey! For how
long had it been his turkey? Since last
night 1t was adding insult to injury
to return as a gift what he had previ-
Ously stolen.
Jaspers bewilderment had changed
to anger.
'You accuse me-me?" he exclaimed
incredulously. But it is only on a par
with your previous actions. Permit me,
madam to inform you that the turkey
arrived by express last night. You can
get the express agent to verify my
words. l can only hope that you will
enjoy my turkey as much as if it had
been one Of your own" And before the
girl could speak he had bowed ironical-
ly and was gone.
1t was the next evening that there
came a timid tap at Jaspers door. 1t
was the girl from the next house. Her
long lashes hid the dark eyes and the
scornful mouth trembled Only the
nose still tilted ggravatingly. Il have
come" she said in very small voice,
''to say that | am sorry. The express
agent told me how your aunt had sent |
it. They have caught the thieves who |
stole my turkeys"
Jasper was silent 1t was undoubt-
eddy cruel OF him, but he had suffered |
much.
The girl vent on bravely, though |
there was a choke in her voice: And
come to ask you whether you
won't come over and have some of your
turkey with us tomorrow. Father will |
be home, and | know he will be glad |
to meet you. Won't you come"
Jasper saw tears shining behind the
long lashes. His heart beat strangely
as he took her outstretched hand. Il
shall be glad to come" he said quietly.
But it took Maria long time to get
used to the new state of affairs
A ThnuksEfying Fable