The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-26

children alike. a small, solitary horse
man was seen galloping over the hill
toward Beechham.
Mercy on us!" fretted grandma, aH
soon as the minister's blessing had been
said. where can Robbie be? To think
OF boy OF that age being late for
Thanksgiving dinner!"
But the Drowned turkey came on. the
mashed potatoes, the celery. the cram
berry sauce and spiced peaches, and then
came the mince and pumpkin pies, the
cider and the hickory nuts. but no Rob
appeared. The minister's family be-
gan to get worried, but Mrs Framing
ham said that whatever had happened.
one thing was certain, Rob had not
missed good dinner He has prob
ably stopped at the Hopes, with Dave"
she guessed.
OF course. he has" assented the min
lister. land it's all the worse for the
Hopes, and all the better for us. you may
| be sure!"
But Rob was cantering along the six
mile road to Beechham. Up and down.
hill and along the pickering brook he
went. The Jolly pumpkins smiled at
him from the brown Cornfelds, where
they were piled up in orange-colored
mounds, the crows cawed at him, the
wayside dogs barked. and the waddling
geese OF the Dutch settlement Kissed at
him. On. on he went, and never said
whoa. until he refined up in front Of
Squire Bradford's big. square house 10
The outskirts of Beechham.
"A boy to see me? Halloa, Rob-"
and oh! the returned hero had on his
'atigue uniform. and he was looking
trim and soldierly and handsome, you
may believe! His mother chung TO his
arm, and would not let him leave her
sight. even when Rob plead for a mo-
ments interview of a private nature.
Out had to come his whole story. and
the young soldier laughed as he tossed
q letter into the fire and said:
"All right. Rob, | was just going to
send a note to Miss Carr, telling her OF
my arrival. and then was going over TO
see her this evening. but now will wait
and surprise her tomorrow morning. at
SCHOOL,"
Come in and have some dinner" he
added, seeing the boys wistful gaze
through the open doorway into the din
ing-roOm. where the remnants OF the
Thanksgiving feast were being cleared
from the table.
Ind ~ 70 Al f,tr y otr q, J,t,b .
ever else was good in the Bradford's
house. and soon refreshed and heart
ened up by the brilliant success Of his
enterprise he started for home DOH
making up in energy and ambition to
get back 10 her pasture. for the lack Of
such inspiration as oats can give-for
no one at the Bradford's had seen Rob's
borrowed steed. as she had been tied to
the orchard fence, well out of sight
Rob took his secret to bed with him
that night. Dave might be able to guess,
but only old Doll could tell where he
had been that day, he reflected. and he
was glad old Doll couldn't talk
Morning dawned, crisp and cold.
There was a smoky fire in the long box
| Ike stove in the schoolroom. The chill
| iren came into the place slowly, and al
most moodily. Miss Carr greeted them
| with calm face, but her eyes told the
story of the homesick day and sleepless
night just passed.
At half-past nine the first class in
arithmetic was called to recite There
| came knock door. Miss Carr went
| to open II. book in hand There was a
| glimpse of something blue, and then,
what do you think that teacher did?
She deliberately walked out into the
hall and shut the door behind her.
| The children sat in their seats and
waited There was great buz2ing and
whispering. and Rob dror.ed down into
the aisle, and rolled around, laughing
In about ten minutes-the school had
become most shockingly disorderly by
this time-the door opened. and Miss
Carr came in sedately Her eyes were
ike stars. her checks were Ike pinks.
and she was smiling.
Children" she said. you are granted
holiday. school is dismissed"
Then there was hurrying to and fro,
and much yelling The teacher rode In
state to her boarding place. her soldier
sweetheart leading his horse and walk
Ing by her side. and teacher and children
afterward agreed that there was never
before quite such a Thanksgiving holi-
day as this belated one in the time OF
war and alarms