The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-04
LITTLE SUE

haven't any family. But ! made UP
my mind to have Thanksgiving tur-
key II l had to eat II alone. So
bought the things and had them
cooked. and last night. when I puiieu
down my curtain. l saw your light
gan to wonder what kind OF day
you would have. you and Piper.
knew you hadn't been in town for
supplies, and fancied you did not
dare leave the light So. A. could
not invite YOU to my Thanksgiving
dinner. l resolved to bring II to you.
ii was a case OF two lonely people
who might have little cheerfulness
and companionship II they could get
together.
WELL Sandy faltered. Il don't
know how ] am going to thank you.
/ did not suppose you knew l was In
the world; you always seem way up
above me, you know. with your books
and learning"
''oh. but like other things h< sides
| books. and now, II you will lend me
an apron. l will set the table and We
viii warm up the dinsrr and have our
| feast"
| Such a great feast II was with
| Piper to finish up the bones, Then
| came the dish-washing. In which
! Sandy did the hard part and little
| Sue the finishing of. Later there
| was a long hour Of talk, and at last
| little Sue announced that she must
| go. but Sandy urged her to stay .
| little longer. for her frank friendli-
ness. her absence Of self conscious
| ness made her very charming.
| When finally she insisted that she
must leave. the storm had advances
to y point which made her return
difficult; and Sandy. alive at last 70
the danger Of the situation. knew he
must get her back, or subject her to
| the kind OF gossip that went the
! rounds Of the little town. In her
attitude toward him he read only q
! desire to be a good friend. But the
world would not believe this. ana
| the gossips would have 1t that she
/ was running after him."
/ Yet he dared not leave his post,
! the night was coming on and his
/ first duty was to the light.
| He explained to her. Il am going
/ to have Piper go with you," he said.
II anything happens that you can't
/ get through you must send him back
/ to me. and l will come. even II I have
to leave the light"
| So away she went with Piper, q
little reluctant. at her heels. Sandy
| watched her until the faliin9 fakes
| shut her out. Then he went back to
! sit by the fire and dream OF her a.
i she had sat opposite. him at the tabaa.
1t was late that night when Piper
i came back alone. To hts collar was
fastened q note. in which little Sue
4 said that she had reached home safe
~. that she was none the worse for
I her long walk and much pleased with
/ the memory of her happy day.
4 Sandy turned the note and put II
4 away with his mothers picture and
4 the Bible his father had rfven him
After that he always stopped In to
see little Sue when he went into
town--he made his. loneliness and
hers his excuse. She greeted him al.
ways without self-consciousness and
seemed to put him on q basis OF
friendship which made It impossible
to talk of love.
But the day came when Sandy per-
sisted In talking Of love. He told
Sue of his own loneliness, ut doesn't
seem that 1 ought to ask you to 1.-Two
out there with me and Piper and tho
| light" he finished awkwardly, "but
! want you 10 much
Little Sue studied him grAvely. Il
am glad you told me-" she said. "but
i / am not quite sure that l want to
marry. I shall have to think about
It. Sandy.
And she Adid think about It and.
when the next Thanksgiving casne.
she cooked 0andy'o dinner in her own
home beneath the great light, and
Sandy and Piper. In adoriug attend.
anco, WATCHED her and loved her. ana
repaid her by their devotion for an
tho lCnolinesa Of past yeafu,