The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-11-21


ems herself. She was plump little
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 seat
In the kitchen, as there is no fire in
the other room" 4it!, "a A H.
How coy you are here, Mary!
Then he plunged at once into his trou-
BILE. he told of his firm determination
to give his usual Thanksgiving dinner
and his still firmer resolve not to ac-
cept Abigail's proffered help.
II want you to come and plan it 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. Will you help me. Mary?'
A delicate pink colored her cheek.
"Mrs. Skinner-what will she say"
tits none of her business. Say yes
Mary. I'll pay you anything you like
She raised her head little proudly
"Of course l will ask you no more than
any one else"-- she began, but be
broke in gladly:
(Which means that you will come
Thank you, Mary"
All the way home Job Tanner was
contrasting the cozy little house he had
just left. with bis 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 a warm admirer OF
Mrs. Clemens and helped in her usual
careless fashion. All things for which
Mary asked were provided, even to a
box Of cut flowers from neighboring
city. Il
Thanksgiving morning dawned, gray
and overcast. About o'clock Job en-
tered the house from the barn. 4t15a
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
speeches.. The old room was trans
formed into a 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 sideboard was filled 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 low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was a pyramid Of apples. oranges
and bananas .-. Is
1T all looks good enough to eat
And so do you" he went on. noting
her we'll fitting brown gingham dress
white apron and pink ribbon at hel
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 or
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
ly. | cannot be your wife on these
terms"
II do not see why you cannot.
will be good to you. Mary"
She smiled, although her lips quiz
cred piteously. Il know you would
Job. There is something else"
Not another MANI
ooh. no. Please don't ask any more y
~ 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 toe
we'll the result of union where the
love is all on one side, and so ! will
not be your wife. Now. not a word
more on the subject. have outraged
my sense of womanly pride. but you
made me Speak" And before he could
recover from his establishment 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. t.B
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 half washed plate in the other.
"Where. indeed?" He recognized the
tone as one tnat marked the height Of
Sally's displeasure. "She's gone home.
dry 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
ly expressed to Mrs. Clemens the sur