The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-01-26

affaid 70 ssy that. Mr.. ButterWcesA.
ItS flying In the face Of Providence
. say such things. I've got dsfer
who II crazy to come here and stay.
only she hasn't got $500 to buy her
way. II she was here with me we'd
- perfectly happy. and you're srowl
ing because you have to stay here"
Martha stared at her. your sister
wants to come herer' she asked I'm
eEo0ulously.
~Yss. It's . nice, easy life. and
wS've always had to WORK Dreadful
hard I'm afraid she WIN never have
o600 b come. though"
You don't know. Maybe Provi-
Aence vim open . way for her," said
Martha Butterworth. suddenly losing
her bitterness. II know Of somebody
Who u tired Of Il and wants 70 lsave."l
"You mean your" cried Mr.. Lloyd.
Martha nodded. III do. your sister
en- have my membership"
~Oh, Oh" cried Mrs. Lloyd delighted
b, that il good Of you. Martha But
terworth. II you don't change your
mind Hannah viii spend the best
Thanksgiving she ever had! n
Il shan't change my nina. said
Martha decidedly. You can write and
TN her she can have my half Of the
room on Thanksgiving day. Don't cryl
about Il, Mrs.. Loyd-and. no. ] don't
want you to thank me. It's not be
cause I'm kind hearted. for I'm not.
I'm Dreadful bitter. I do 1t gladly be
cause I want to 80 away from here.
Those are the words that Martha
Buttsrworth spoke. but even a. she ut.
tered them she felt trem0r Of fear Tor
the future. In leaving the detested home
she was throwing away the last de
tense between her frail body and-the
poorhouse. for It might be that In the
end now.
On Thanksgiving day there was to
b Q feast in the long dining room
downstairs, and the housekeeper. Mrs..
Green, had prepared all the good old
| fashioned viands that 90 to make up
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning there was q 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
q purple bow at the throat, and her
brown hair was duffed pretttly over
her ears. Her cheeks were flushed.
and she actually laughed several times
during the meal. and she felt better
for It.
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
fingers strayed into a melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years
It was her husband. Darius. favorite
song and one she had played for him
times without number. Now her voice
was somewhat broken. but 1t was still
penetratingly sweet and 1t 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.
Nrs. 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 mer Martha was
surprised for most Of the censorious
, relatives were dead or had long since
few friends. She walked down the
!. long room. her small figure erect and
: her head held with the proud poiss
: that marked her In spite Of all the
grief that should have laid 1t low.
A man was waiting In the dininR
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 al
. him with unbelieving eyes. for 1t wal
her husband. Darius Butterworth. II
!, another instant she was In his arw'
: and Darius was telling his story.
One Of the women relatives bad
scolded Darius well that day whel
ruin fell upon him. and she had tolt
: him that the best thing hs could d,
: was to take himself away where b,
couldn't do any more harm to hi
= wife's interests o. happiness. O
course the relative was sorry after
ward. but then Il was TOO late. 70
! poor Darius had taken his WORTHLESS
mining stock and departed for tn