The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-28

Thanksgiving
They Had Reason to
Be Grateful.
By CLARISSA MACKIE
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

square in the eye.
"We will come to church as usual /
Thanksgiving morning." he said grim
~, 'but we can't be expected to give |
thanks for what we haven't received!' |
Mr.. Linton looked very grave indeed. |
81 am sorry, Mr.. Chandler, but your |
heart must be full of bitterness to die |
tate rebellion after your prosperous |
year. Your crops have been generous,
and you yourself told me that it has
been the best year you have ever
known"
"That's all very well, but you forget
that have lost my only son." remind
ed Asa.
The minister made an impatient ges-
ture Not lost, only estranged be-
cause you are disappointed in the girl
he married. If you only knew Rose
Lee as we know her
Asa turned abruptly away.
"Dick disappointed u.s." he said
moodily. Mother and l had planned
he was to marry Emma Hoops, his sec
ond cousin. Emma's property adjoins
ours, and all of it would have made
grand farm for Dick some day. EN-
ma was willing, but Dick married that
pretty fyaway thing from Preston, and
mother and | just shut the door In
their faces. No, sir, there won't be
any Thanksgiving in our house-just
plain everyday victuals!"
Asa trudged up the village street to
the postoffice, where his horses were
tied.
In the comfortable white farmhouse
/ his wife was watching for him at the
front window. Geraniums bloomed be-
hind the white curtains, and q nre
glowed in the great square iron stove
It was very warm and comfortaple
and coy there, but in the atmosphere
something was lacking.
Emma Hoops came over at shutdown
and found the Chambers eating sup
per. She was q small, fair woman
several years older than Dick Chan
\ dler and with very decided, independ
ent manner.
II "It's going to be colder, folks" sh'
| said breezily as she accepted a cupfu
| Of tea and cooky from Mrs. Chan
dler. "Can't persuade you chang
your minds and come and have Dime
with me tomorrow"
1--WE couldn't, Emma" protested Mrs
| Chandler. "You know why" she add
ed significantly.
"Cat's foot! shifted Miss Hoops COZ
temptuously. "You can't revenge you
self on the Lord by not observin
Thanksgiving! You can't do it!'
"Who il trying to-" demanded As
sternly. you're blasphemous. Emm'
It's a mockery for US to observ
Thanksgiving day, and mother and
amt going to. so there"'
you're a pair of obstinate Of
geesew declared Emma angrily. g.
you're setting out to enjoy yourselvt
being as miserable as you can, VIII
60 ahead I'm going to accept Cous1
Anne's invitation to eat dinner wit
them! Goodbye She flounced out I
the house and hurried home, whel
she scolded her cat cried little an
nm | then packed a basket of good thing
iii to take with her.
Hi Thanksgiving morning dawned grs
lil and cold, with streak In the nor
NIL that presaged snow.
I[H "Going to church. mother?" askt
F|I Asa as he arose from the breakfa
||l| table.
8|H "Of course, Asa" said his wit
||Ih whose eyes looked red with sile
4 weeping.
II|b "It's kind of cold. You better Dire
l|| warm" he warned as he went out
harness a horse to the buggy.
The church bells had hardly stops
pealing before a small red automobi
ran nimbly up the road and turn'
into the Chandler yard: Dick Cha
dler got out and helped his pretty viii
who carried big bundle wrapped
shawls.
Looks as though no one was home
muttered Dick as they went around
the side door.
There was no response to their ra
ping. and Dick performed trick
, his boyhood by entering the pant
window and coming through the hou
| to open the door.
| "Welcome, darling" he said cheeri
as he kissed his wife. Father al
| mother have gone to church, l thin
Let me see Emma's telegram on
| more"
| Rose placed her bundle carefully
| the sofa and took out crumpled MT
| sage which had reached them t
night before in their city home. WI
smile Dick read the characters
command:
! For heavens sake come home and spe
. the day with your folks. They say u
have nothing to be thankful for. Pr'
to them that they have!
COUSIN EMMA
"she must be a dear thing 81
. Rose over her husbands shoulder.
"she is" said Dick with queer,
e morseful feeling that Emma Hoo
y would have derided. Rose, dear,
doesn't seem a bit like Thanksgivi
Mother always made so many prepa
- tons for the day, and there ism
> thing in the pantry save boiled q