The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-11-20

poultry and vegetables in the provis-
ioners' windows. He had hardly fin
ished his tour of inspection, and Sc
lected as good variety as the late
ness of the season afforded, when Fred
reappeared.
By means of a few questions tact
fully put, Westlake soon had a fairly
correct idea of the condition of the
Hawkins larder, together with the in
dividual likings of the little Hawkin.
ses. Ere the steeple clock hard by had
struck eleven, the strangely assorted
couple were making their way toward
Asylum lane. The axles of the little
express wagon fairly creaked with the
weight of the boxes and bundles en-
trusted to it.
Their very appearance was para
disc of anticipation to Fred. One of
the packages, from which a pair Of
claws protruded, could contain moth
ing less than a turkey; there were po
tatoes and turnips, beets and celery,
onions and sage, assorted cakes and
crackers, and in the end Of the wagon
sundry brown paper bags which the
boys Imagination fondly pictured as
containing candies, (some chocolates,
be boped,) nuts, bananas, oranges,
popcorn, figs, and perhaps some chew
ing gum: What glorious dinner!
The heart of the college man, itself
youthful, beat with pleasure at the
boys delight, and the long expected
dinner at the Merivales. even Helen
herself, was for the moment forgotten.
Several other persons, bent on like
errands of charity, were met with in
crowded city quarters, and Westlake
began to feel himself quite a philan-
thropist. The feeling increased as
they stopped before an immense wooden
tenement house, and we're ushered into
the dark, i'll smelling hall. Laden
with the bundles, they were greeted
at the top of four flights of stairs by
the washwoman herself, pale, tired
looking woman of forty or thereabouts,
who thanked Westlake with full eyes.
The student hesitated before accept
ing her invitation to dinner, but think
ing that he might be of service in
amusing the children, he consented to
stay. He found plenty to do. The
junior Hawkins, frail, half starved
little fellows as they were, seemed to
be endowed with full sense of their
duties as hosts, and proceeded to en-
tertain the strange visitor in manner
which left him little time to think of
anything save the art of self defense.
Andy, the wide awake four-year.old,
reported the progress of the dinner to
the others at frequent intervals, taking
hasty trips to the kitchen for chat pur-
pose.
The eagerly awaited moment came
at last. Dinner was ready, and such
a dinner as the children made of it!
1t was we'll worth the cost, Westlake
thought, to see them eat and watch the
pleased look on the mothers face.
How the turkey disappeared! 1t was
turkey for relish, turkey for entree,
turkey for dessert. Surely no one bird
ever before did such signal service
to humanity!
Amid the clatter of the meal a low
rap at the outer door was unnoticed.
A louder knock brought Mrs. Hawkins
to her feet Her face showed plainly
that the visitor was not unexpected.
Westlake was helping the boy nearest
him to fourth slice of turkey, aud
looked up just as the new conner en-
tered the room. His knife nearly
dropped from his hands. There be-
fore him stood Helen Merivale, sur
veying the group with a wonder equal
to his own. A basket which she car
ried on her arm indicated that she too
had come on a mission of charity.
"This is indeed a surprise, Mr..
Westlake," she said, after she had re-
gained her composure, "I'm afraid my
journey has been in vain," she added,
with smile, glancing at the swiftly
disappearing viands.
mot so far as am concerned" said
Westlake, meaningly, and Helen
blushed.
At Mrs. Hawkins earnest invita-
tion, Miss Merivale consented to drink
a cup of coffee after her long walk.
Westlake made several unsuccessful
attempts to catch her eye. Was she
really offended or hurt, or was it all
mistake? The question was soon to
have a reply. Fred felt it his duty to
converse with the guests.
"That was pretty girl l saw you
with tue other day, Mr.. Westlake," he