Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-22

Ahru. IL ulThlu sue Will never nave
5000 to come, though"
"You don't know. Maybe Provi-
dence win open way for her." said
Martha Butterworth, suddenly losing
her bitterness, II know of somebody
who Ia tired OF It and wants to leave"
you mean your" cried Mrs. Lloyd.
Martha nodded. "If do, your sister
ran have my membership"
"Oh, OH" cried Mrs. Lloyd delighted.
~, shat Ia good OF you, Martha But
terworth II you don't change your
mind Hannah will spend the best
Thanksgiving she ever hadW
II 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 It, Mrs. Loyd--and, no, don't
want you to thank me- It's not be-
cause I'm kind hearted, for Pm not
I'm dreadful bitter do 1t gladly be-
cause want to go away from here"
Those are the words that Martha
Butterwortb spoke, but even as she ut
tered them she felt tremor OF fear for
the future. In leaving the detested home
she was throwing away the last de-
Tense between Der frail body and-the
poorhouse. for 1t might be that in the
end now.
On Thanksgiving day there was to
be a feast In the long dining room
downstairs, and the housekeeper. Mrs
Green. had prepared all the good old
fashioned yiands that 90 to make up
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner
In the morning there was 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 halr was nuffed prettily over
her ears. Her cheeks were flushed,
and she actually laughed several times
during the meal. and she felt better
for II.
After the long dinner was over the
old ladies' gathered In the stiff splsn.
dor Of the parlor. where a great fire
had been klndled 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
30 h.. ..ta w.rNNk - as.A III
ting down before It 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 a melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years
II was her husband Darius. favorile
song and one she had played for him
times without number. Now her voice
was somewhat broken. but II was stlll
penetratingly sweet, and It pierced
through the walls Of the home, and
man passing deJectedly along the side
walk heard II. 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 nRain and looked strangely.
doubtfully, at Martin ButterwOrth.
who was still at the piano.
Somebody wants TO see you, Mrs
Butterworth." she said mennlngly.
"Some one to see met" Martha was
surprised for most OF the censorlous
relatives were dead or had long since
removed TO other states. and shc had
few friends She walked down thp
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 II 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 NJ
him with unbelieving eyes. for II 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 be could do
was TO take himself away where he
couldn't do any more harm to his
wife's interests or happiness. or
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
a 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 80 called worth
less certificates" When he had re,
gained the fortune he had lost he
went back to bis old home only TO find
TINT his wife had disappeared nfter
ave 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 II
thing to be thankful for" said Martha
remorsefully
"Thisll be the hnppiest Thnnksgiv.
ing my sister Hannah ever had"
confded old Mrs. Lloyd 70 the women
about the hearth fire. Martha Butter