Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-07

"Oh, OH" cried Mrs. Lloyd delighted
ly, that is good OF you. Martha But
terworth. II you don't change your
mind Hannah will spend the best
Thanksgiving she ever had"'
Il Shan't change my mind" said
Martha decidedly. You can write and
tell her she can have my half Of the
room on Thanksgiving day. Don't cry
about II. Mrs. Loyd-and, no. l don't
want you to thank me. It's not be
cause I'm kind hearted. for I'm not.
I'm dreadful bitter. l do il gladly be-
cause 1 want 10 go away from here"
Those are the words that Martha
Butterworth spoke. but even as she ut
tered them she felt tremor OF fear for
the future. In leaving the detested homo
she was throwing away the last de
Tense between her frail body and-the
poorhouse. for 1t might be that in the
end now.
On Thanksgiving day there was 70
be feast in the long dining room
downstairs. and the housekeeper. Mrs.
Green, had prepared all the good old
fashioned viands that go to make up
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning there was n delicious
odor Of browning turkey. and all the
inmates of the home gathered in the
sitting room and discussed other
Thanksgiving dinners that they had
partaken of under happier and more
favorable auspices.
Even Martha Butterworth seemed to
have forgotten her sorrow. for she had
put on her best black silk dress with
a purple bow at the throat, and her
brown hair was fuffed prettily over
her ears. Her checks were flushed,
and she actually laughed several times
during the meal, and she felt better
for 1t.
After the long dinner was over the
old ladies gathered in the stiff splen-
dor Of the parlor. where a great fire
had been kindled on the hearth, and
they told stories and jokes, and there
were much laughter and funmaking.
Then Mrs. Green asked Martha But
terworth to play something for them.
To everybody's surprise Martha went
to the piano without a word and sit
ting down before 1t played one thing
after another until each old lady had
had her favorite piece played or her
favorite song sung. At last Martha's
fingers strayed into n melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years.
1t was her husband, Darius, favoT1te
song and one she had played for him
times without number. Now her voice
was somewhat broken, but IL was still
penetratingly sweet, and II pierced
through the walls OF the home. and a
man passing dejectedly along the side
walk heard 1t, stopped short and lis
tened, and when the sound OF the
piano died away he mounted the steps
of the home and rang the bell.
Mrs. Green. the matron, came into
the parlor again and looked strangely,
doubtfully, at Martha BUtterwOrth.
who was still at the piano.
Somebody wants TO see you, Mrs.
/ Butterworth" she said meaningly.
Some one to see me?" Martha was
surprised for most of the censorious
relatives were dead or had long since
removed to other states. and she had
few friends. She walked down the
long room, her small figure erect and
her head held with the proud poise
that marked her in spite Of all the
grief that should have laid It low.
A man was waiting in the dining
room-a tall, white haired, pale faced
man, well dressed and prosperous look
ing. He looked once at Martha and
held out his arms Martha stared at
him with unbelieving eyes, for It was
her husband. Darius Butterworth. In
another instant she was in his arms
and Darius was telling his story.
One of the women relatives had
scolded Darius well that day when
ruin fell upon him. and she had told
him that the best thing he could do
was TO take himself away where he
couldn't do any more harm to his
wife's interests or happiness. OF
course the relative was sorry after
ward. but then It was too late, for
poor Darius had taken his worthless
mining stock and departed for the
west, where for years he struggled for
living, while he patiently investigat-
ed every mine until at last he found
one that really held out a prospect of
paying dividends to its trusting stock
holders. That was the beginning OF
the fortune that Darius had piled up
from several Of his so called worth
less certificates" When he had re-
gained the fortune he had lost he
went back 10 his old home only TO find
that his wife had disappeared after
five years. and while It was known
that she had entered a home some
where she had taken no one into her
confidence. Darius had been wander
ing disconsOlately through the street
that Thanksgiving night when he had
recognized his wife's voice singing
"And believe that ] didn't have
thing to be thankful for" said Martha
remorsefully.
"ThlsH be the nappiest Thanksgiv-
ing my sister Hannah ever had"
confided old Mrs lloyd 10 the women
about the hearth fire. Martha Butter
worth's going 10 leave, and Hannah's
going 10 take her pla"e."