The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-01-07
"cooi-morning." he said. pleasant.

accent. Then. waving branch and
hat, she passed on. replying to lis
smile timidly.
He mentioned her at lunch. All"
said Hal; "a-a-ahl" as II he hal
found something especially delecta-
bic on his plate. That's Vincenza
And I'll bet she's the prettiest girl IN
California"
Everyone at The table promptly
agreed. Austin fel. something ike
surprise over this singleness of
opinion. Even Miss Scott and Dor
othy came out with no protesting
butts"
That evening as he was sitting be-
side Mrs. Thorburn in the music
room. listening to Dorothy's facile
rendering of Grieg sonata, the el-
der woman turned to him suddenly
ana rested hand on his arm.
II think you've been happier than
usual, these two days" she said.
Don't you keep too close to YOUR
work and your home, Mr.. Knowles 7''
Work, yes" answered Austin.
But can scarcely say l have a
home. lit is empty"
You choose to have /. So"
Austin was silent moment Then
he said, 1--WE turned forty and I've
never thought of filling my wife's
place. Perhaps it's not gallant to
say it, but I'm afraid the place
couldn't be filled"
You're wrong" began Mrs. Thor
burn. decisively. There are many
young women who could make you
happy, cheer you, look after you-oh.
every man needs looking after. And
then, son or daughter, would
give you new interest in lite"
That's true"
Across the room still seated at the
piano, and coaxing something Won
derfully pathetic from the Ions key
board was Dorothy, dainty picture
in her gown of flowing white.
Mrs. Thorburn saw the direction
of his look. Dorothy is never in
terested in very young men. seldom
in older ones" she said. II like to
see her evident pleasure in your
company. / hope she'll help to make
your stay a very pleasant one"
When she got up to move over to
the Lamberts, chattering together in
a corner. he stayed where he was.
For a second time he was thinking
along new lines.
Later he held a conference with
himself. and felt Just trife disap-
pointed at the thought that Mrs.
Thorburn was descending to match
making.
THE Thorburns don't need
money" he sail decisively. 1t
wouldn't be a purchase. The idea
was so abhorrent that he determined
ly put 1t aside and fell asleep think
ing Of possible changes in the dec
orations and furnishings of the big
stone house on the avenue.
1t was early morning when he
awoke and looked out, Austin
dressed hurriedly and quietly made
his way out upon the broad lawn.
Then he pulled his soft hat over his
eyes, settled his coat and made eff
down the carriage road, walking
briskly.
To reach the creek was easy. But
once on its edge he looked up at the
house and felt that the long PULL
back would be less difficult after a
refreshing cup of coffee.
Breakfast over at the little Mexi-
can restaurant, he started homeward
leaving the tracks, this time, and
following trail that led through a
smasl field of alfalfa. When The
woods were reached he settled him
self against log in the sun, and
looked down upon the town toward
which a pigmy freight train was
crawling, AMI upon the fringed creek,
and the small, fenced alfalfa fields
bordering the lane.
And then-gobble, gobble, gobble.
He glanced along the trail Some
turkeys were coming into view, and
beyond them, a wide bobbing hat.
When Vincenza appeared, driving
the LATEST gobbler before her, Aus
tin rose. 'Out early with your tLr-
keys, see," he began. You're Miss
Vincenza. Mrs. Thorburn has spok-
en- of you. I'm staying at High
Court for few days"
She hal been standing very still
while he talked. modestly watching
him. Now she smiled frankly, and
nodded. Yes, / know Mrs. Thor
burn" she said. "All the time,
ladies and gentlemen come from the
city to visit her. Sometimes / see
them-I go up TO the house to take
turkey. maybe, and then see item