The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-02-20

ON THE STEPS.
the front room on the first floor instead
of the rear hall rooms ON the third and
fourth floors.
Colonel McGregor was studying a
chess problem over in one corner, and
various little groups were formed
about the room. Blanche had just de-
Cided that the Ea!! room was prefera-
bic to the piano when Mrs. Casteton
transferred her attention from the
amOrous pair at the piano to the new
conner.
"Oh, Miss Philbricl;." she called
MAY l speak with you moment?"
Blanche came forward, wondering
what Mrs. CastletOn might have to
say. Evidently from the fat smile that
adorned the landlady's face she was
about to ask favor
Are you to he here for dinner
Thursday| went on Mrs. Castlet0n.
Its Thanksgiving" continued the
matron, seeing from Blanches face
that she did not understand. "All the
rest of the folks are going home for
the day or will spend it with friends"
Il have no friends here in the city"
said Blanche frankly, "And home is 50
dreadfully far away"
Home had never seemed so far away
as at that moment. She had left her
home when her father married again
There was 10 place she might call
home, not even the little room up
stairs.
Mrs. Castletons face fell at the an
nounCement. Il was thinking that If
you was going out, too" She explained
Il might let the servants have the day
out. Then we could have the turkey
and things on Sunday" she added as
proof that her motives We're not mer-
cenary.
Guy Blaisdel noted the girls embar-
rassment and came to her relief. You
have left me out of this discussion"
he cried gayly. I'm one of the home
less too | propose that Miss Philbrick
join me in the formation of the Society
For Making People Thankful"
Mrs. Castleton eyed Blaisdell appre
where his remarks would lead. Only
that morning he had led her on in
praise of the butter and had wound up
by declaring it to be the strongest but
ter he had ever tasted. Blaisdell caught
her glance and FASTENED to put her
mind at rest
This is an admirable order he ran
ON. Il know where there is a place
where they give real old fashioned
New England cooking. They are going
to spread themselves Thursday. If
Miss Philbrick will be my guest she
will make me very thankful and at the
same time she will make the servants
thankful, too by giving them a chance
to go to the matinee instead of worry
ing over an elaborate dinner for two
Will you come. Miss Phlbrick?'
For moment Blanche hestated. 1t
was not that she did not want to go
her soul revolted at the very thought
of Thanksgiving dinner in Mr.. Castle
tons gloomy dining roOm-but she had
not yet accustomed herself to the in
formality of dinner with compara-
lively unknown man without a chape-
ron.
She knew that Chaperons were not
considered necessary where girls earn
ed their own livb&E, still it seemed
little daring. But Blaisdelrs eager
face and Mrs. Iast!etoH's appealing
glance decided her. She turned to
Ploicdall with q littIn nod
II shall he most happy to accept
your invitation" she said, and Mrs.
CastletoH looked relieved. Thanksgiv-
ing and Christmas were her bugbears
Once in her own room Blanche was
amazed at her action. She had been
in the city for eight months, and in all
that time not once had she accepted
any of the numerous offers Of enter
tainment She liked Blaisdell better
than any of the others in the house
There was something fresh and whole
some about him, very different from
the assumed sOphisticatiOn of most of
the men. He was past thirty, and a
bald patch on the back of his head
was already beginning to be in evi-
dence, but he was still boy at heart,
and from the first Blanche had been
attracted to him.
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