Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-04
The Argus Daily Story
A Thanksgiving Dinner-By Clarissa Mackie
Copyrighted 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

was sure that every one was dressing
she stole downstairs to the music
room and opened the piano. She loved
these half hours OF music when in the
sound proof room she played softly TO
herself, dreaming as she played.
When she had finished with q dain-
ty. airy thing that seemed to express
her own light heartedness she went
to the library. The evening papers
would be here, and 1t was a favoritS
gathering place for the women before
dinner.
She was we'll within the great room
before she was aware that II was al
ready occupied and that her presence
was an intrusion. Langford Dale was
standing there. one elbow on the high
mantel shelf and his head thrown back,
looking down at Lena Gilbert with a
rather surprised expression on his face.
Lena. dazzling in pale blue. with her
golden hair piled in a mass of puffs
and curls at the back of her head.
stood before him with flushed cheeks
and dropping eyes. AS Felicia entered
Lena was saying:
81 received your note. Lang, and
am here"
The little scene smote sharply upon
Felicia's happy mood. and the rosy
veil was torn from her eyes. Before
either OF them had noticed her pres
ence she had vanished. Back to the
music room she few. her fingers crush
ed tightly in her palms.
When she stopped in the middle OF
khn o,,l hav hn
saw her own reflection in the long mir
Tor. All In white she was, like a
bride, and her face was as waxen as
the white lilies of the valley on her
bosom. Those were Langford DGle'S
favorite flowers.
All at once she laughed shortly and
tossed the flowers from her. She cross
ed the room TO another door and en-
tered the small conservatory. Here
she deliberately chose a brilliant scar
| let poinsettia blossom and placed it
| gave color TO her cheeks and lips
when she went to the dining room.
! Felicia did not glance at Langford
! Dale, who had taken Lena Gilbert in
! to dinner She talked vivaciously to
/ Jimmy Folsom and excited vain hopes
| In the breast of that much smitten
young man. She did not notice that
| Langford's handsome face was pale
| and set or that Lena's eyes flashed
terrible anger and contempt and that
the two did not once address each 9TH
err. but couversed with their neighbors
at the table. Felicia's heart was bleed
ing and sore at the faithlessness OF
one whom she thought worthy of her
| love.
After dinner Langford found her
alone for an instant and approached
her. Felicia" he was whispering
eagerly. when she arose and, with a
whitening look at him. crossed TO Mrs.
| I.indsay's side. where she remained
the rest of the evening.
Good night and goodby. everybody.
I'm going on the early train tomorrow
morning. called Lem Gilbert merri-
ly as they all parted at the foot OF the
stairs at bedtime.
As they crowded around Miss Gill
bert. each one adding his or her word
Of regret at her going. Felicia over
heard Jimmy Folsom speaking to Lang
ford Dale. you going on that early
train. too, Lang? You said you were
leaving in the morning, but isn't it
lust bit--eh?' he chuckled disagree
ably.
Don't be an ass, Jimmy" growled
LangfoTd
well, you told me half hour ago
that business suddenly required your
presence in town But Felicia did
not hear the rest She said goodby to
Lena Gilbert and then went up to her
room. the unhappiest girl in the world
if one excepted Lena Gilbert
Just as midnight was striking in the
hall below Lena came tapping at her
door. May l come in, FeliciaT' she
inquired In strained voice.
Certainly" called Felicia. who sat
in her dressing gown before the fire.
If there were traces of tears on her
cheeks she had forgotten to remove
them. and so she and Lena Gilbert
stared at each others woebegone faces
without word At last Lena brought
a crumpled sheet OF paper from her
bosom and laid 1t In Felicia's lap.
Nora found this today. ! thought
1t might be for me. and | waited, but
it was for somebody else. He had blot
ted It and thrown 1t aw0y, intending
to write another before dinner. Don't
have any misunderstanding over the
matter; it's horrible TO be unhappy"
without knowing exactly what It
was all about except that Lena Gilbert
was In deep grief about something. the
! girl that Langford Dale loved consoled
the girl who loved him so vainly until
Lena recovered her old pride and in a
measure Der spirits and left Felicia to
OPEN the note.
TO Felicia the note must have an
immediate Interpretation. Under that
irregular blot was name. Whose
She took a wet sponge and washed
the blot away. There under the dark
splotch Of washed out ink name was
scratched deeply. Now the note read:
Darling Felicia
And the blot on Felicia's happy
Thanksgiving day was washed out
Nov. 4 10 American