The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-17
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4, heart. She was the same busy, tender
| mother but she avoided tete-t-tete
| hours with him, pleading duty az htf
! exCase Tor hari ysng away when ne be
| gan to question her about the OLD
/ friends.
Busang the night the snow Tell over
everything, ana when tRiip opened
his eyes ana looked out OF the long
o4o-iasAloneo winaow by mis- bed ne
feIt that he--and all the "orla~-hao
much 10 lie thankful for. The pure
white Blanket with its sparkling sur
lace spread over eveiyihing for miles
around and the green OF the fr trees
alone lent color to the picture. Inc
Roland house stood tar away from
neis nors back in a WONDERFUL old
garden,
fniip sat before the big cracking
logs ~aen he heard the nrst sound
Oh sic Is nbeiis IN the distance. lie lis
teneu 4HtSndg ana the jingle grew
clearer. ii VAS coming up the long
uriSewaS. lie sat erect. Perhaps II
WAS He4ena. OR IL might bc his aunt
ana uncle.
IN a moment the great front door
swung open and he heard hiE mother
greet Hetena Taylor. lie went quick
~ toward the han and met them IN
the srchsay.
It's three Years day. Philip,
Helena was saying when he took ner
hand.
The time hasn't done much to you
anyway the young man returned,
Y gu can be thankful for that, can't
she. mother" he asked
Mrs. Roland looked up at the tall
girl and the eyes OF both women
filled suddenly with tears. Phtitp
n ha had
he said He turned toward the IRE.
They both followed. his mother with
her arm about the girl.
Philip" his mother began when
they stood looking down into the
flames, the Years you just spoke OF
have done more toto Helena than
you know. she--she-''
Il lost Bob two years ago, Phil"
Helena finished.
For few minutes no ors said a ,
word.
4 did not tell you dear. the
mother began. because it has always
been my policy to keep everything
but happy news Of home from you
Then. year ago when Helena came
to stay with me for u week or two. |
learned something ! had never even
dreamed of-~that you had once cared
for her
Philip started as Ii he would have
spoken, then ne drew himself to-
gether
Later by comment. II silent, con
sent We decided to wait until to-
day to--to let yon know. Helena has
always been with LIS on this day, and
poor Bob, too, when he was here. !
Somehow, felt you would rather |
have us tell you together. dear" The |
little woman looked up at her big son /
and understood that she had done the
right thing in his eyes.
The arrival of the other guests pre-
cluded the continuance of the init
mate conversation and the trend of |
things led them all To gayer channels
and holiday making
1t was not until Uncle Joe and |
Aunt Mary had followed their hostess +
to the upper regions that Helena and |
PhfiIp were alone together.
j told mother yesterday that | |
Ws'uid finish this year at the academy,
take on more cruise and then return
10 look over any girl she might have
picked out for me To marry" the
young man said, looking at Helena.
"A capital idea she said. gayly
That was yesterday" he added. :
so you said"
May l say furthar-to -day-to-
night" he asked, earnestly
Helena did not answer. her gayety
had deserted her.
While / was on another cruise
years ago~-you slipped away from
me. l lost YOU. Suppose this timssl
choose port duty, home-and your
Wiil you marry me. Helena p
And when she had promised he told
her II was his first really thankful
Thanksgiving since he left home. for.
as he explained, he had come home
only to ind her and be unable to get
her. Nothing else had seemed worth
being thankful for, he whispered to
her.