The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-04
By JEROME sPRAGUE.
Copyright 1911. by Associated
Literary Preaa)


Literary Presa)
On the morning of Tha nksgi1aHS
Day Sandy Marks. the lighthouse
keeper. surveyed with disfavor tne
cold gray scene which lay besore MIN
when he opened his door.
1T Is a nice thing for a man OF my
are" he grumbled. Ito eat boiled
bacon and dry bread on day wnen
all the rest of the nation Is eating
turkey"
Az a rule his pride in his work had
kept Sandy Marks contented, he had
been happy when his appointment
as keeper OF the light had come, anu
he had enjoyed to the utmost the
first few weeks that he spent In the
pretty house furnished for his use.
There had been a time when SANDY
had thought Of marrying. But some
how he had not found his ideal Wo-
man. He had. had a dream OF some
wonderful beauty, whose loveliness
should shine like a star In the ouiet
Of the little home In the shadow OF
the lighthouse. But he knew no sucn
woman.
He sighed a little as he went ABOUT
his work. He wondered II any one
thought Of him.
II guess it is just you and me TO-
day Piper," he said to his shaggy
dog as they came in together from
the chilly out-of-doors. and SANDY
prepared to read week-old paper.
The paper reminded him OF httie
Sue Salter. She was the teacher al
the little town on the mainland. she
was demure little thing. ike q
brown wren. and 1t was she VINO nao
| sent the paper to Sandy. He won
dered why she did it. He had never
| paid her any attention. because In q
sense, he stood in awe OF her learn
! ing" He was a plain man and mol
| a, man OF books. Indeed little Sue
Salter was the kind OF woman thai
| Sandy would have liked to marry
| but he had not dared think OF her al
[ his wife. How could he ask her to
keep his house? She would be above
| common tasks. He laid the paper
| aside with sigh, and then went to
| the window. A light snow was fall
! ing and the strip Of sand looked de-
| serted and bare. Suddenly Piper
| barked.
what is it old fellow?' Sandy
demanded.
| Sandy went to the door and OPEN
| ed it. Coming swiftly up the path
he saw a woman. She had on a
! rubber coat and soft felt hat, and in
her hand she carried basket.
| "Of all things" he exclaimed and
went down to meet her.
TT is Sue Salter" was his wonder
ing remark as he came up to her.
| She nodded gayly. She was out OF
| breath. and her cheeks and her eyes
were bright. Il thought perhaps you
| couldn't leave the light" she said
$50 l brought you some Thanksgiv-
ing dinner"
| Piper shifted Mt the basket with
an air Of interest. "He smells the
| turkey" she said.
you don't mean Il! You haven
brought turkey" Sandy cried incred'
| ulously.
| Yes. have"
! Sue opened the basket apd pro
| duced the good things. Besides the
| turkey, there were cranberry sauce
and celery and mince pie. and al
| the other things which belong to the
| feast OF the festive day, all cooked
| and ready to serve.
| "And you walked all the way with
| this heavy bAsket?" Sandy said. 81
| can't understand why you should Dc
such q thing for me-"
and looked at him. II thought you
would be lonely" she said. land I
know what loneliness II. Nobody
asked me to have Thanksgiving din
nsr with them. It Just happened %.
| and I haven't any hard feeling. be-
cause know II 10 family day. and