The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-26
The Epenine Story

Thanksgiving Dinner.
(By Mary Darling.)
'N-no." said Forrest HARDWOOD.
meditatively. there isn't any one
can think of, DEAR
II have racked my brain. too, SO I
guess We'll have to eat our Thanks
giving dinner without guests this
year." Young Mrs. Harwood smiled
at her husband as II the prospect was
not SO bad.
I'm sorry Bess and John couldn't
come. but they seemed to have
planned Settling OF their own"
HARDWOOD went on.
They're going to be married in the
spring. ! believer"
"Um-hu," mumbled HARDWOOD, as he
became interested in his morning pa
per. After that neither of them
thought of Thanksgiving dinner again
until the holiday.
On the morning of Thanksgiving
day Mrs. Harwood announced that
she was going to church, as was her
yearly custom. Fer husband was de-
votion itself, but he did not fancy
spending his holiday in church. There
was no better man to be found any
where, but he was one of the sort that
did not care for church.
"Al right, dear; go ahead and I'll
run down to the pond and have a try
at the ice. II 1 find any woebegone-
look individuals who seem not to be
expecting a bite Of turkey. may 1
as she left for the village church.
'The bird is big and there are
plenty Of trimmings" Mrs. Harwood
replied. Bring any one you like.
Good-by.''
HARDWOOD reached the pond to find
1t already black with crowds of skat-
ers. He joined them, and was about
to go home after an hours good ex-
ercfse when his eyes fell upon John
Adams.
You. John? 1 thought you were
going out of town for Thanksgiving
dinner" he exclaimed.
Ives. I had intended to, but it
all fell through" the young man re-
turned with a forced smile.
Come along up to the house then,
and have dinner with -us. Where is
Bess?" Harwood asked tactlessly. A
young mans detected attitude some
thing was wrong.
Bless? Ah-oh, shess having din
ner with sormE relatives, 4 believe
John Adams managedsto answer.
TOO bad you couldn't be together"
Forrest went on, ruthlessly.
'Ah-yes-ft is too bad
Come on! Helen will be delighted.
She's at church, as usual And Har-
wood fairly dragged his friend home. =
When Mrs. Harwood arrived she
was smiling broadly as her husband
opened the door for her. 1--WE found
a guest for dinner! Guess who?"
i I'm not q good guesser-but 80
have IT,
Mine is Marian Peck. She was in
church alone and we sat together. 1t
seems that she was to dine at her
| uncle stepfather. you know.
but for some silly reason about Bess
she wouldn't 60 at the last minute.
So I asked her to come to u.s.
Forrest began to look worried. He
said nothing.
What's the matter? Aren't you
pleased. dear?" asked Helen. anx-
iously.
"Oh-ah. yes but my guest is none
other than John Adams. so II it's din
ing with him that Marian is trying
to avoid she's strictly in it,
| Helen's brow wrinkled itself into
a veritable furrowed patch. She bit
John have fallen. out over Marian,
Forrest ?"
Harwood shrugged his. shoulders
significantly. II couldn't tell you.
Where Is Marian?''
| Coming at o'clock. And John?'
I'm the library glooming into a
newspaper
| Mrs. Harwood laughed. "An we
need now Is Bess to make 1t q truly
successful dinner party; Ell, dear
Next time we'll let well enough alone
and dine alone.''
! The telephone rang and the young
wife ran to answer 1t. She returned
in q moment wringing her hands.
| Worse and more of 1t. It's Bess!
She's in tears. Says she and John
were to have had a cosy little dinner
at some romantic inn they both knew
fabout. Her family hadn't been able
to get home from Europe. you know.
But some way or other she-Bess-
discovered that John would be break
ing up a family party at home. a
party Of which his stepfather's niece.
Marian. you know. was to be a men,
Der. and she refused to go with him.
rian. and she's heartbroken and lone
y and is coming to dine with us!
There! Can you beat it,"
''It'1 be some Thanksgiving!" Har-
wood remarked in current cernacular.
Marian. the bone Of contention,
Bess and John. the Quarreling lovers!
Fine company" returned Mr.. Har-
wood
I'VE seem to be the champion long,
distance breakers Of family parties
ourselves" Forrest said. ''I'1l 90 and
sit with John. and you can handle the
girls az best you can. I won't say q
/ word to him.
Don't! 1t il awful" And Mrs Har-
wood went to give orders regarding
the three extra guests at dinner.
When all three guests were In the
house. Bess Burleson upstairs taking
off her outer wraps, Marian Peck in
the living room by the fire, ana John
Adams scow1ing In the library. the host
and hostess met in the hall.
They're r re-" whispered Helen IN
her husbands ear.
Forrest nodded. Don't know It -
''Tm going to let ii work itself out"
explained Helen.
And at that moment Bess descend
4 ed the stairs. Marian stepped from
tho living room and John appeared IN
the library door.