The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-28

eyes. 1T feel so-deceitful.' p she sobbed.
land unidentified, and don't want any
dinner. I'm not thankful for anything,
and hate the thought of turkey"
Mhen Hosamond's aunt came down neE
eyes. too Were red. I'm a BRUTE" said
the bachelor to himself.
Dinner Is served" the butler an
nounced. and Just then Bruce came back
'I'm sorry to butt in he told Rosa
moment?"
olning room. You go with Horace" she
Salos IN De there in time for the turkey
l oont want any soup or oysters"
30 wnlle In the dining room the older
couple faced each ether somewhat self
consciously, in the drawing room the
younger couple plunged straight into
"Rosamond." said Bruce the minute
they were alone, 1T love you. can't
stand the idea of eating my Thanksgiv-
ing dinner at one end of the square while
You are at the other. 1 can't face the
possibility that you may be saying yes
to Horace while I'm carving turkey for
lot OF cousins beg of you to wait
TO give me a chance-to give me hope"
And Rosamond, all thrilled and expect
ant, held out as long as possible. "a You
II didn't know it myself" Bruce admit
TED. I was asleep. knew you were
the the. most charming girl I had ever met.
ing when you spoke OF Horace-then
began to realize what life would be with
AS he stood there with all the pride of
his young manhood bowed before her,
she came to him. "It was you all the time
-Bruce-and Horace and I were just
playing game-to-wake you and auntie
up"
She made her little confession, hiding
nothing now because of her belief in the
fullneSs OF his love for her.
Just as the turkey was brought on, all
brown and cracking in its roasted rich
ness, Bruce and Rosamond came into the
dining room.
Pm going to carry Rosamond on"
Bruce announced proudly, "to my house
yet, and l want to tell them the glad
udings. Horace flashed upon him
radiant glance. Then you are engaged
to RoSamond?"
For which I give grateful thanks"
said Bruce, hurnbly.
The lovely auntie said nothing, she
also stared, then drifted away, knowing,
with the intuition of the weIl-trained
servant, that he was not wanted.
RoSamOnd kissed her aunt and Bruce
shook hands with Horace, then the young
folks left to make a hurried rush down
the square to the waiting cousins.
In the big dining room two Sta1d people
sat for a moment in silence. Then the
lovely auntie said: II am sorry, Horace,
that you should have been hurt-Rosa-
mond didn't realize
women never realize said Horace
how they hurt man. They think only
of themselves"
lovely aunt, apd her lips quivered-
Horace rose and went around to her
chair. The stately butler discreetly back
ed out through the door which he had
essayed to enter.
Beautiful lady, said Horace, you
have been cruel to melt was never Ros-
almond that I loved-but you would not
listen, so Rosamond and played game
to wake my sleeping princess
Then he, too, confessed. There's a box
of white roses in the hail." he ended.
i brought Il
may 1 go and get them?"
But the beautiful aunt, with some pres
ence of mind, motioned him to his seat.
We've got to go on with the dinner
she said, cor Stubs will wonder"
But Stubs didn't wonder. He knew.
And when after dinner he served coffee
in the drawing room, and saw the lovely
aunt with a white rose in her hair. he
went back and reported to the cook.
cornered dinners he complained IT
never heard of such a crazy thing-to set
a Thanksgiving table for three. I knew
the first time I saw him look at her.
that he'd make her marry him. But lshe
didn't know it nor he either, for the mat
ter of that. But Cupid did and that's
enough, and anyhow, I'm thankful. He
amt got a butler, and that gives me
place for keeps"
But Horace was giving thanks for more
than material things.
For the great gift of your love-" he
said softly, to the beautiful lady, as he
kissed her in the dimness and silence of
the stately drawing room.-(Copyright,
1912, by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndi-
cate.)