Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-11-30
A Thanksgiving Dream
BY Gertrude ROderm0nd.
By w. NJ. HerSchel

ny OcGtru0c kO0crmO0O.
I'm powerful glad to see that al
light in the window-it's like the light
o Heaven in this November drizzle,
muttered the old New Highlander to him
self, stretching forth a hand scanned
with pillow wrestling. to extricate an UNI
brella twisted in some bushes.
Farmer Sloan had seen that light in
the window for the past two years, but
not until now had its real significance
dawned upon him, and he sighed.
81 WISH" he unused aloud, ''that had
half the faith in that ar boy that Marthy
has. Two years this Thanksgiving since
he went away, an Marthy--but pshaw
all mothers are like that-still some
times it makes me little shaky-what
if should be mistaken after all? Now,
that thar CANDLE" gazing intently at the
speck Of shining light becoming lighter
as the distance diminished, sis thar for
Joseph. I dreamed last night that he
wuz home agin, an swan I'd ALMOST
forgive his getting off with the fowl
money if he'd come back tomorrow
just to reward the love back O. that
ar light"
For a moment he took a mental sur
vey of the pies and buildings seen in the
pantry in the morning, and wondered
why it was that Marthy had spent so
much time in getting up the little cup
cakes no one ate but Joseph. He has
tened his tagging feet until he gained the
heights and entered the old colonial
kitchen, lighted by blazing walnut logs,
piled high in the huge fireplace.
"Wall. this is comfort" and stepping
to the fireplace. he dropped into high
backed rocker. Mother, motherw he
called.
SIS that you, fayther?" called CHEEKY
voice from an upper chamber.
Before he could reply she ran lightly
down the stairs and was standing beside
him. A sigh of relief echoed through
the warm kitchen, and he rose with an
enthusiasm and agility that would have
done credit to twenty-one, and folded
the pretty, thrifty little housewife in his
arms.
"Who's a-comin' tomorrow, mother?"
he asked.
ELIZA; and many times my heart
would have broken but for her faith and
cheering words, and this, in the face of
the fact that her intended husband was
driven away as thief upon her wedding
day, proves Joseph made no mistake
when he decided to add a daughter to
our household. She will be here to-
morrow, and 1 have fixed up Joe's room
for her"
A shadow crossed the old mans face
as he gazed intently at the fire. After
an interval of painful silence he rose,
gave a weary yawn, then kissing Mar
thy on either cheek, slowly climbed the
high, narrow stairs and went to bed.
Sitting alone in the freight, strange
thoughts thronged that mothers mind.
Two years before there was a scene in
Farmer Sloan had entered the house,
calling to her from the porch that he
had laid the market money upon the
kitchen table, and babe her take care
of it. She was busily carding wool in
an outer room, and did not heed the COM
mand. Finally she assembled the stairs
and going straight to the kitchen table
looked for the money, but not trace of
it was visible. The kitchen door had
been left open-certainly by her husband
and she called impatiently to Joseph,
who was dressing in an upper chamber
to take Eliza upon the last drive she
was to enjoy as Miss Eliza" and think
ing he was playing one of his childish
pranks upon her, she called in a voice
unusually harsh. The young man hast
ened to her, his eyes flashing fire.
Mother, do you think 1 am a boy
-, in, oryS
Before she could speak her husband
her pallid face surmised the cause and
roared:
"Joe. hand out that money!
Father, I swear before heaven and
mother, have not touched your money
have not seen it.
The old man strobe forward and
erasped his son by the collar.
"None O. that" he roared, "give I'D
that money, or you leave this house for
ever, an that gal for whom you have
stolen it will never darken these DOORS"
"Oh, fayther don'tw shrieked the ter
rified wife. Joseph never touched that
money-I'll never believe it!'
'sYou lie?' cried the father, enraged to
the verge of insanity.
Instantly the strong young man Crap
pied with his aged parent, and 'clutching
him by the throat forced him into the
chair upon which he had been sitting,
shouting:
"Take that back. father! Take that
back or I'll choke the breath out of your
body"
Like lightning the mother wrenched his
strong hands from her husbands throat,
and flinging her arms about his neck,
held him as in wise.
'tJoe-my darling baby. for mothers