The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-01-06
THANKSGIVING DINNER
BY MARY DARLING.

"N-no," said Forest HARDWOOD, medi-
tatively, there isn't anyone can
think of, dear"
II have racked my brain, too, SO l
guess. We'll have to eat u 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, I believer"
"Um-hu," mumbled HARDWOOD, as ne
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 n III
run down to the pond and have a try
at the Ice. If I find any w~oebegone-
looking individuals who seem not TO.
be expecting q bite of turkey, may
bring them along?" he, asked his Wire
as shedeft for the village church.
"The bird is big and there are
plenty of trimmings" Mrs. Hat
wood replied.
Harwood reached the pond to n
it already black with crowds Of skat.
ers. He joined them, and was Q
to go home after an hours good ex.
ercise when his eyes fell upon John
Adams.
"You, John? I thought you were
going out of town for Thanksgiving
dinner?n he, exclaimed. i
dyes, / had intended to, but II
all fell through" the young man re-
turned.
"rCome along up to the house then,
and have dinner with us. Where ID
Bess?". Harwood asked tactlessly.
"Bess? Ah-oh, she's having DIN.
ner with some relatives, l believe
John Adams managed to answer
"Come on! Helen will be delight.
ed. She's at church, as usual ana
HARDWOOD fairly dragged his friend
home.
When Mrs. HARDWOOD arrived sne
was smiling broadly as her husband
openedf the door for her. I've found
a guest for dinner! Guess who|
"I'm not a good guesser-but SO
have /" IS.
mine is Marian Peck. She wasein
church alone and we sat together.
It seems that she was to dine at her
uncle'sJohn's stepfather, you know
but for Some silly reason about Bess
she wouldn't go at the last minute.
So I asked her to come to us."
IL Forrest began to look worried. He
said nothing.
whats the matter? Aren't you
pleased, dear?" asked Helen, anx-
iously.
"Oh-ah, yes, but 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. AL we
need now is Bess to make tia truly
successful dinner party, ehh, 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 a. moment w%ringing 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 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,
a party OF which. his stepfathers
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 heartbroken, and
lonely and Is coming to dine with us!
There! Can you beat it,"
It'll be; some Thanksgiving" Har'
wood remarked in current varnacular.
marian, the bone Of contention,
Bess and John, the quarreling lovers!
Fine company" returned Mrs. Har'
wood. y@. -.
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. and John
Adams scowling in the library, the
host and hostess met in the hall.
They're here" whispered Helen
in her husbands cal.
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 n to another.
What a jolly little party!" said
Forrest, boldly.
"Oh-ah-yes-very jolly, very jol-
ly!" echoed John Adams.
And then and there there were ex-
plantations.
And with that. THANKSGIVING and