The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-11-21


| downstairs. and the housekeeper. Mrs
Green, had prepared all the good olt
| fashioned viands that go to make VI
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner
In the morning there was a delicious
odor of browning turkey. and all thu
inmates Of the home gathered in tn,
sitting room and discussed othe
Thanksgiving dinners that they hat
partaken OF under happier and NOR,
favorable auspices.
Even Martha Butterworth seemed t,
have forgotten her sorrow, for she hat
put on her best black silk dress will
a purple bow at the throat, and he
brown hair was fuffed prettily owe
her ears. Her cheeks were flushed
and she actually laughed several time
during the meal. and she felt bette
for it.
After the long dinner was over tn,
old ladies gathered In the stiff splen
dor Of the parlor. where a great FIR,
had been kindled on the hearth, ant
they told stories and jokes. and Their,
were much laughter and funma king
Then Mrs. Green asked Martha But
terworth to play something for them.
To eyerybody's surprise Martha wen
to the piano without word and sit
ting down before it played one thing
after another until each old lady hai
had her favorite piece played or hel
favorite song sung At last Martha's
fingers strayed into melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years
1t was her husband. Darius, favorite
song and one she had played for him
times without number Now her voice
was somewhat broken. but it was still
penetratingly sweet, and 1t pierced
through the walls of the home, and q
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 plano.
Somebody wants to see you, Mrs
Butterworth." she said meaningly.
"Some one to see meY' 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 inyestigat
ed every mine until at last he found
one that really held out 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 be had re-
gained the fortune he had lost he
went back to his old home only to find
that his wife bad disappeared after
FIVE years. and while ii 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 Il,
thing to be thankful for" said Martha
remorsefuIly
''This'l he the happiest Thanksgiv.
ing my sister Hannah ever had
confided old Mrs. Lloyd to the women
about the hearth fire Martha Butter
worth's going to leave. and Hannah'a
going TO take her place"