The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-08-15
Jacks Return
BY Mrs. + M. Howard
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles)

sic, and | should have been here ear
lier. but company came last night.
aud | could not get away"
"A bright faced girl had entered
and was taking off her wrappings as
if perfectly at home in the farm
house. Marion Ainslie was a charm
ing girl. with the faculty of attaching
warm friendship to herself from young
and old.
Uncle Jerry's folks came and stop
per over on their way to Watertown
to spend Thanksgiving with Ell" she
explained "They wanted me to go.
too, but Thanksgiving isn't quite the
same to me anywhere else but here"
NO, Marion, nobody can fill your
place." the bony old hand, withered
and worn In service for others,
smoothed the satiny slack hair caress-
ingly. IF you was really my own
darter l couldn't set more store by
you"
A crimson flush overspread the soft
brunette cheek.
You haven't heard anything from
Jack yet, have you, Marion?"
mo, auntie, not word she sighed
"Just a year ago to-day, and it seems
like ten"
What was It, child, that set him
off so?' asked Mrs. Barber, gently.
thought when you wanted me to hear
it you'd tell me-"
why, Aunt Hepsie, didn't you
know" the girl raised her head with
a look of astonishment. Il supposed
of course that he had told you the
whole foolish story, or ! should have
spoken of it long ago"
Not word, dearie. He only came
in one day, his face all white and set,
TO tell me that he was going, and that
all women were tiirts and deceivers.
thought for awhile that you had nit
tened him, but I've put two and two
together since an changed my mind
why. you know, auntie, | was in
innate with Dolly jenkins about that
time
There, | knowed that tormented
widder had something or other to do
with It," interrupted Mrs. Barber en-.
ergetically
And she kept telling me OF the at
.entions which Jack was paying her
On the sly, and intimating more than
she really said, until at last ! taxed
lack with it, and-you know how
quick Jack is, auntie?"
Yes, ready to go off the handle at
minutes warnin an then too proud
20 own that he's in the wrong"
And he wouldn't give me word Of
satisfaction as to whether she had
told the truth or not, only that II |
had commenced distrusting him 30
soon we might as well part first as
last, with other speeches which cut
deeper still Oh, 1t was SO hard, Aunt
Hepsie, when I loved him SO. He ac-
cused me of being jealous, but it was
not 80. l only thought 1t best II he
really cared for her, to have the mat
ter settled rightly before it was too
late"
MY poor little girl; and that wild
der" with detestation I'm every tone,
she's been after him thicker'n mush
ever since she took off her mournin 4,
an all her grievance Is that he would
have nothing to say to her"
"Yes, | know that, now that It's too
late, Aunt Hepsie, but there's no use
crying for split milk" bright tear
trembled on the long eyelashes "and
will try and not spoil my Thanksgiy-
lng with tears"
AT length the cooking was all done,
the big turkey dressed and ready for
stutfng, and the rows on rows of pies
and rich, plummy cakes, the pan of
1oughnuts and the heaping platter of
cup cakes and another Of jam tarts,
suggested Il large gathering on the
morrow.
There were the chambers yet to put
N order for the guests, and Marion
took that part OF the work while Aunt
tIepsie rubbed the silver and tidied
The kitchen
Everything was already spotlessly
clean. for Aunt Hepsie was an immac-
ulate housekeeper, but there were
pitchers to flll, a little looping back of
curtains and arranging OF furniture
to do, and Marion attended to It all.
humming a song as she did 80.
In Jacks room alone, no preparation
was to be made. for Aurt Hepse
would use the room for no one but its
owner; but Marion went in there with
4 lonely feeling in her heart. tho song
lying upon her lips as she did so
Suddenly u thought came to her
she woudd prepare Jacks room too.
is If he were coming with the rest,
and with nimble fingers she busted
and arranged everything in the best
possible order.
The house began to fiji with merry
crowd Of relatives at an early hour on
he morrow. for Thanksgiving din
ner at Aunt Hepsie's was treat to
young and old
Marion was making her company
bow to the young clergyman, and as
she carried his overcoat and hat into
| he hallway, she gave the children per.
mission to go into the chambers.
And please don't be rude or noisy, -
| she said. warningly, for Auntie Hep.
sic has a headache this morning"
The young minister was Just ex.
| planning the difference between a
| spiritual and a merely intellectual be.
| lief in Scripture. when frightened
! rio Of children came scrambling dowl