The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-12-05

ii A n kSG I'M ~ Ddy Hau
come and /, facing cutting I
wind, made my way thru snow
drifts to-a friends bome som-
two miles from Pipe City. The house
was short distance from the high
way and snow somewhat blocked the
walk. With difficulty reached the
porch, but imagine my surprise to find
no one at home. glanced at my time
piece; it was twelve o'clock. For
few minutes [ stood thinking of the
life man is doomed to lead. The bit
'terest Disappointment, thought ], is
confidence betrayed. For days had
mentally enjoyed my contemplated So
.cial conversation, and good things to
eat, at my friends home to-day. Alas!
came to be greeted-as l anticipated
by the glad hand of friendship-no! by
q closed door! Where was the warm
room, cheerful freside, rompfnR chill
dren, smiling wife, that my fancy had
pictured? Conjured in the mind TO
create hope for the coming day! The
day had come and l was alone on the
porch of the house in whichI had ex-
.pected to spend the day. How easy 1t
had been to mentally picture scenes
for this day; how changed was reality!
A hundred times-yes innumerable
'times!-I had hoped for future events
only to be disappointed when time
brought the hour. Each time had
resolved to guard against repetitions
of such incidents, but, resolutions are
.aeeting-human hearts are not ada
mant!
The snow was falling so that could
scarcely see where was going as l.
started to return to the city. In some
smanner lost my way. Perhaps this
was due to unheedfuiness, for, as
walked, mentally pictured happy
family gatherings, weli-laden tables,
and blazing hearths-sy mbols of
Thanksgiving Day. 4 Finally l heard
the whirring of q street car. was in
the city, thought /, but where? l
made my way to the car line, and man
aged to attract the motorman's atten-
zion. The car stopped and boarded
Tito be informed that the car was
bound for Fort Cules, and that / was
only eight miles from the city. How /
praised my friend, whose invitation
had occasioned such an experience.
The electric lights were cleaning
here and there when finally got back
to the city; yet it was four O'Clock.
Stepping from the car l FASTENED to
the Aero Club. How nice it seemed to
swing the revolving doors, Chamber IE
the stairway, aud enter the big, wide
familiar room. The picture before me
was now a reality. On the right were
several billiard tables; on the left {
dong bar; at the farther end was biz
blackboard where the races, in sum!
California, and other places, wer'
played; few feet from me was stair
way leading to the Aero Cafe on tn
third floor; while elevators at each sid
of the room were convenient for pa
irons desiring to be carried up to tn
cafe.
The,billiard balls were rolling; glasse
at the bar were clicking; voices ut tn
black board were calling for bets; elet
tric lights illumed the room; every on
was seemingly in the best of humor-
all conduced to Danish thoughts of tn
past few. hours from my mind; th
pangs of hunger seemed to have val
tshed; and friends: Here were man
of them. Some 1 had casually me
others never before seen. Yet friend
todayl What caused such an outwal
display of friendship? Was it the i
toxicating glamor go apparent? Tn
sense of forgetfulness caused by pre-
: ent hilarity, or what2 ! had no tin
to arrive at conclusions, for, as wo
dered, hand was laid upon my shot
der and turned to meet everybody
friend -Slivers! "Forget it!' said /
sToday's Thanksgiving and you appe
too gloomy to be presentable amo
the human brotherhood, let alone
ing thankfulp Immediately that ha
py-go-lucky feeling OF Slivers' seem