Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-11-27

woman with soft black eyes and a
sweet voice.
why, Job, | am glad to see you.
Walk in. I'll have TO give you a sent
In the kitchen, as there Is no tire in
the other ROOM
How coy you are here, Maryw
Then he plunged at once into his trou-
1 BILE. He told of his firm determination
| to give his usual Thanksgiving dinner
and his still iirmer resolve not to ac-
cept Abigail's proffered help
II want you to come and plan 1t all"
he said In conclusion you can have
all the money to spend and all the help
| you want. don't mean that You shall
work hard. VIII you help me, Mary?'
A delicate pink colored her cheek.
"Mrs. skinner what will she say?'
"It's none OF her business. Say yes,
Mary. Ill pay Won anything you like"
She raised her head d little proudly
"Of course will ask you no more than
broke in GLADLY:
(which means that you viii come.
| Thank you, Mary"
| All the way home Job Tanner was
contrasting the coy little house he had
| Just left with his own spacious but
lonely abode Meanwhile Mrs, Clemens
! was assuring herself that she was re-
garded BY her late caller only In the
| light of capable servant
She went to her field Of labor early
on the Monday morning before Thanks
| giving Sally was warm adInirer Of
! Mrs. Clemens and helped In her usual
careless fashion. All things for which
Mary asked were provided, even to
box OF cut flowers from neighboring
city.
Thanksgiving morning dawned, gray
and overcast About o'clock job en-
tered the house from the barn.
Miss Clemens, she said for you to
come In the dinin' room and see how
things looked" was Sally's greeting
When he opened the door he stood
speechless Tie old room was trans
formed into bower OF beauty. The
bay window was filed with evergreens
and adorned with yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS and silver leaved begonias from
Mary's home. The quaint old mahog-
any sIdebonrd was filed with choice
bits Of china and silver quivering
molds Of amber jelly, a massive sill
yer cake basket filed with slices Of
rich, dark fruit cake and bowl OF
scarlet carnations. The long table was
spread with fine linen and ornamented
with smilax and roses. On q low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was pyramid Of apples, oranges
and bananas.
1T all looks good enough to eat
And so do yon," he went on, noting
her well fitting brown gingham dress,
white apron and pink ribbon at her
throat. Mary, you make my home a
paradise. Stay here as my WIFE"
She grew very pale Twice she es-
sayed to speak, but the words died on
her lips. 1t was not until he came
nearer that she found her voice.
mo, no. You ask me because you
are sorry for me and your home is lone
". | cannot be your wife on these
terms"
Il do not see why you cannot. 4
will be good to you. Mary"
She smiled, although her lips quiv-
cred piteously. Il know you would,
Job. There Is something else
mot another many'
ooh, no. Please don't ask any MORE"
II have a right to know You must
tell me why you cannot be my wife"
There was grave dignity in his
voice that she could not gainsay. She
must tell him the truth.
Because | love you, Job Tanner
Nay. do not interrupt me You would
/. indeed be good to me, but know too
well the result Of a union where the
love is all on one side, and so will
not be your wife. Now. not word
more on the subject | have outraged
my sense Of womanly pride, but you
made me speak" And before be could
recover from his astonishment she had
taken refuge in the kitchen
The guests began to arrive in short
time. Job had no opportunity for an
other word with Mrs. Clemens. One
fact was plain to him Mary had re-
fused him.
Dinner over. there was an hour OF So
cial intercourse. Then the guests de-
parted. When Job re-entered the house
after seeing the last load drive off, he
found Sally washing the dishes.
Where Is Mrs. Clemens. Sally?" he
asked.
Sally paused. dishcloth in one hand
and a half washed plate in the other
Where, indeed?r He recognized the
tone as one that marked the height Of
sally's displeasure. 'She's gone home
driv off by that sister of yourn
Hump I'd jest like to give Abigail
Skinner piece of my mind. come
right near dom 1t, but Miss Clemens
the lamb-she begged me to keep still"
A little skillful questioning put Job /
In possession of the facts Mrs Skin
ner had entered the kitchen and plain
" expressed to Mrs. Clemens the sur
prise and indignation Of the family
concerning the widows presence.
"Said as how they were all sayin' as
how she was a-throwin' of herself at
your head" Sally went on. MARY