Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-02

pull1uuy unu qulfcfcu Will Bilel anu
shame. and the two girls stood star
ing In silent dismay at each other.
IF you'd rather not sell it"-falter-
ed Mary.
The lady hesitated again.
81 really need to sell it" she confess
ed at last, still very low. "I-you see
there was only the ranch when my
husband died a few months ago, and
OF course It's a fine oner" She straight
ened with an almost defiant pride.
But until I can sell It we really
haven't much to live on
"We haven't nuf1n'r' walled the
small boy. "You said we'd have a
F~anksgivin' dinner! You said soT
The little mother weakened yisibly.
and then hardened herself.
"WeT have the pudding. dears. Now
don't you say another word" She
turned hastily to the girls. How shall
I get It to you? Do you want It
dressedf There's a neighbor who was
going to kill It for me. When it's
ready I'll send 1t right to youths
evening-if you'll leave your address,"
There was nothing left the girls but
to agree miserably to this and go away.
But the impulsive Mary whirled sud-
denly back.
Haven't you any relatives to go to-
until you sell your ranch, I mean? 1t
doesn't seem right"
my husband hadn't any relatives.
He was an orphan. And when I mar
ried him, seven years ago, my father
He couldn't forgive me. We were so
young-I was a freshman In the college
here, My father thought 1t was so
foolish, and he didn't like Tom, though
Tom was so good to me always. But,
you see, now that he's dead I couldn't
ask my father to take me back. 1t
would be like disloyalty to Tom"
But If he'd ask you? Does he
know that he's dead?" faltered Mary.
~ don't know. He lives just down
here In Santa Maria. He may have
heard, but I didn't tell him. I couldn't,
you know"
For once Mary said nothing at all.
and Louise was left to falter sorrow
fully:
I'll wish-I wish we could help
you"
Once outside the hedge, Mary seized
Louise's arm excitedly.
"Oh, It's the thrillingest! It's just
like a story. Well invite 'em to our
dinner, and reconcile 'em, and Oh,
don't you think we could3 Say that
you think we could, Louise!'
MARY, you haven't gone crazy, have
your Louise stared In alarm at her
excited chum.
"Oh, / know her father, don't you
see? He's an old widower-rich as
rich-and he lives all alone In Santa
Maria, right "a our town, you know.
And he had a daughter who went to
our college and eloped, or just the same
as eloped, and was pretty and charm
ing, and he'd forgive her. and
her husband vas proud"-
But see here. What do you mean?'
I'm going to ask them to our din
ner."
you couldn't. You know you
couldn't. What would the old man
think? And how could you invite her?
1t would seem as If she were a pau
per-"
ut wouldn't. I'm going back now"
When the pretty lady appeared Mary
spoke very timidly.
We've remembered that neither of
us e roasted q turkey"
The lady's face expressed a curious
mixture of relief and disappointment.
"Then you don't want the turkey
after ALL" She turned to fetch the 81
that had just been given her, but Mary
stopped her.
1T isn't that. It's just-you know
how, don't you? It's mean to ask you,
but you were a college girl yourself,
and we're all alone. We're going to be
In a p%rodigious mess If we try to do it
all ourselves-and it's SO gloomy eating
alone! If you could only come and
help us out! Oh, could you do 1t and
really have fun out of it? You could
bring your pudding If you liked. oh,
please say you will! We liked you So
and the children-and 1t would be such
a Jolly adventure"
Mrs. Davis colored slowly and search
ed Mary's face for some hint of a char
liable motive In this invitation or for
some touch of a ~patronizing air. But
a ~patronizing air was what no one had
ever seen in Mary Lewis, and Mrs.
Davis saw instead a face of the frank
est pleading.
"T1l be so glad to comer' she cried
in her own glrlish way.
Mary Lewis walked home as one
who treads on air.
isn't it the story bookest thing you
eve heard of? l feel so absolutely
excited-and so happy! Aren't you
happy, Louise Baker? Isn't it,
See here" objected the less san
guine Louise, "it's all right to invite
that pretty, cute little lady and those
dear little youngsters. But what's the
rest of your program? You said Won