The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-03-11
THANKSGIVING DINNER
BY MARY DAZZLING.


per SyndicateJ
N-no said Forest Harwood, medi-
tatiyely, there isn't anyone 1 can
think of. dear
Il have racked my brain, too, so
guess we1l have to eat our Thanks
giving dinner without guests this
year., said his wife
I'm sorry Bess and John couldn't
come, but they seemed to have
planned something of their own
Harwood went on.
They're going to be married in the
spring, | believe?"
Um-hu," mumbled Harwood, as he
became interested in his morning
paper
On the morning OF Thanksgiving
day Mrs Harwood announced that
she was going to church.
All right, dear; go ahead and I'll
run down to the pond and have try
at the ice. If l find any woebegone-
looking individuals who seem not to
be expecting bite of turkey. may |
bring them along?" he asked his wife
as she left for the village church.
"The bird is big and there are
plenty of trimmings Mrs. Har-
wood replied.
Harwood 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-
ercise when his eyes fell upon John
Adams.
I'll. IynIV
going out of town for Thanksgiving
dinner?" he exclaimed.
'I-yes, / had intended to, but 1t
all fell through" the young man re-
turned
Come along up to the house then,
and have dinner with US. Where is
Bess?" Harwood asked tactlessly.
"Bess? Ah-oh, she's having din
ner with some relatives, / believe"
John Adams managed to answer
Come on! Helen will be delight
ed. She's at church, as usual" And
Harwood fairly dragged his friend
home.
When Mrs HAYWOOD arrived she
was smiling broadly as her husband
opened the door for her. I've found
a guest for dinner! Guess who?"
I'm not a good guesser-but so
have T."
church alone and we sat together.
1t seems that she was to dine at her
uncle's-John's stepfather, you know,
but for some silly reason about Bess
she wouldn't go at the last minute.
So 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, burt my guest is none
other than John Adams, SO if it's din
ing with him that Marian is trying
to avoid, she's strictly in it.
Mrs. Harwood laughed. "AD we
need now is Bess to make it 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 it. She returned
in moment wringing her hands.
Worse and more Of it, It's Bessi
Shes in tears. Says she and John
were to have had cosy little din
ner at some romantic inn they both
knew about. 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
breaking up a family party at home,
q r,V-%x - - IL
niece, Marian, you know, was to be a
member and she refused to go with
him. They quarreled, had words about
Marian, and she's neartbroken, and
lonely and is coming to dine with US!
There! Can you beat it?"
It'll be some Thanksgiving" Har-
wood remarked in current varnacuIar.
Marian, the bone. of contention,
Bess and John, the quarreling lovers!
Fine company" returned Mrs. Har-
wood.
When all three guests were in the
house, Bess Burleson upstairs taking
OF her outer wraps, Marian Peck in
the living-room by the fire, and John
Adams scowling in the library, the
host and hostess met in the hall.
They're here" whispered Helen
in her husbands ear.
Forrest nodded Don't I know
it,"
I'm going to let it work itself out"
explained Helen.
And at that moment Bess descend.
ed the stairs. Marian stepped from
the living-room and John appeared
in the library door.
There was absolute silence as the
five looked from one to another.
What a jolly little party" said
Forrest, boldly.
"Oh-ah-yes-very jolly, very jol-
lyl" echoed John Adams.
And then and there there were ex-
plantations
And with that, thanksgiving and
congratulations were mingled SO close
~ that they could not be separated.