The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-11-28


the general air of prosperity and ease
which enveloped her during the brief
hour had created a new unrest In her
mind, and the men had rounded out
the meal by inviting the two girls to
go to the theater the next night.
Nellie had fairly jumped at the sug-
gestion. Theater on Thanksgiving
night2 Why. that was the time when
folks stayed at home. She knew what
would happen In her own home. Tom
and his mother would come to dinner
and In the dusk Tom would take his
mother to their tiny fat five blocks
away and then come back for a two
hour visit with her Tom always went
home early because he had to be at
the shop every morning at 1880.
The theater and afterward a supper
just like this luncheon! The tiny parlor
at home turned dingy and dull by com
parison. When she and Tom went to
the theater, which was rarely enough,
they sat In the upper gallery and d.
vided their attention between the
boxes and the stage, the play and the
wonderfully gowned women on the
floor below.
And what was that Jennie Mills had
said? With her figure she might wear
such gowns, eat such luncheons every
day-be the real thing!
She worked during the afternoon like
girl In a daze Customers found
fault with her. and the foorwalker
echoed their complaints. She was
tired and irritable when she started
for home. 1t was raining, a cold. wind
driven northeaster, and she had no
umbrella. AS she ran across the street
to tii- subway entrance she was al
most knocked down by a hanson
whose fares consisted of a fur clad wo-
man and a silk hated man, who swore
roundly as he saw the girls narrow es-
cape. Nellie's hand trembled with
nervousness and anger as she bought
her ticket. With her figure and face
she might be sitting In hanson some
day instead of lodging one. But there
was Tom. Oh, dear. Why had she
been so hasty? She had been warned
plenty times enough about marrying
In haste and repenting at leisure. To
be sure, she had known Tom six years.
A man stepped on her foot In the
crowded train, and she drew in the
injured member with a scowl that was
scant reward for the mans apology.
1t was dreadful to have to ride twice
a day In this mob.
The man seated next to her drew
away from her, and she turned to see
that he was endeavoring to protect a
tissue paper covered parcel from the
crush of swaying strap hangers in
front of him.
Say, look out. will your he said
sharply to the long llmbed youth who
threatened the parcel as the car stop
ped suddenly. Then he turned to Nell
lie, with an apologize smile:
~ don't mind the crowding SO much
usually, but these flowers are for my
wife, and, by CORY, I'm going to get
'em home safe II l have to fight for
'emw
Nellie looked at him in surprise. His
hands were work worn, his clothes
clean, but we'll worn, his tie distinctly
rusty. But his happiness was infec-
tious.
Tomorrow our wedding anniver-
sary. Amt 1t fine that 1t comes on
Thanksgiving day this year? | tell
you It makes me think how much more
than ordinary have to be thankful
for. My wife's Just back from the
AL NoY
and we're celebrating double tomor-
row. tell you, young woman, it's
fierce to live three weeks alone with
the woman you've loved thirty years
lying twixt life and death ten blocks
away. | used to get so nervous some
nights I'd go and walk up and down
In front Of the hospital where l could
watch the light in her ward So l
thought we'd celebrate special this
year, and | bought her some flowers
real flowers out of a real store, not
those bargain punches on the corner.
And ! got maidenhair fern stead Of
the Boston kind. She always did love
too-ope of those bonbon dishes wo-
men are crazy about. It's glass with
gold grapes on 1t, Just as tiny and fine!
I got 1t at good store, too, and | bet
that violet box they packed it In will
tickle her to death. Funny how some
women set store by little things like
that. This is my station. | wonder II
l can get through without breaking
the stems"
Nellie looked after him with perr'ex-
ed eyes. Thirty years-and this man
with the rusty tie, the oft cleared suit
and the obviously slender pur q was
buying flowers from a real store for
the woman he loved. The man on the
other side rose to leave the car. drop
ping his paper, Nellie picked 1t rp.
Somehow she did not want to think,
Big black headlines caught her eye
Countess Sues Her Husband
For Divorce. Cruelty Beaten. Her
Pride Rebels"
And the countess had a lovely fig
ure and a charming face and ate ex-
quisite lunches every day In the year!
Nellie laid aside the paper and star
cd straight ahead until the guard call
ed her station; then she went forth In
to the storm. with shudder. She
came back to grim realities. 1t was
cold and rainy-and five blocks to her
home. Suddenly by the glare OF II pea