Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-14

The door was opened by Mrs. Glenn
ems herself. She was a 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"
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
cept Abigaips protfered 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 NEAR that you shall
work hard. Will you help me, Mary"
A delicate pink colored her cheek.
Mrs. Skinner-what will she sayP'
Its none Of her business. Say yes,
Mary. I'll pay you anything you like"
She raised her head a little proudly.
"Of course | will ask you no more than
any one else she began, but he
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 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 a 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 we're provided, even to a
box or cut flowers from a neighboring
city.
Thanksgiving morning dawned. gray
and overcast. About 8 O'Clock Job en-
tered the house from the barn.
Miss Clemens, she said for you to
come in the dinin' vol 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, quiyering
molds of amber jelly, a massive sill
yer cake basket filled with slices of
rich. dark fruit cake and a bowl Of
REPRESENTATIONS. TIE long sabfe vas
spread with fine linen and ornamented
with smilax and roses. On a low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was a pyramid of apples. oranges
and bananas.
ut all looks good enough to eat.
And so do you" 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
1y. | cannot be your wife on these
terms"
81 do not see why you cannot. l
will be good to you. Mary"
She smiled, although her lips quiv-
cred %pjteously. II know you would,
Job. There is something else"
mot another manY'
"Oh. 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 a grave dignity in his
voice that she could not gainsay. She
must tell him the truth.
Because l love you, Job Tanner.
Nay. do not interrupt me. You would
indeed be good to me, but know too
we'll the result of a union where the
love Is all on one side, and SO | will
not be your wife. Now, not a word
more on the subject. l have outraged
my sense of womanly pride. but you
made me speak," And before he could
recover from bis establishment she had
taken refuge in the kitchen.
The guests began to arrive in a 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-entcred 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?" He recognized the
tone as n that marked the height Of
Sally's displeasure. she's gone home.
driv off by that sister of yourni
Humpi I'd jest like to give Abigail
SkinneF a piece Of my mind. I come
right near dom it, but Miss Clemens
the lamb-she begged me to keep still"