Graham guardian., 1918-01-18

Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate.)
Miss Hortense Yates.
"Raynor College, RaynortOwn.
Have at Inst sold business to great
advantage. Have sublet apartment
here to Colin Dare, and will spend
the winter in travel. VIII spend
Thanksgiving with you at Raynor.
Love from father"
This was the telegram that Mr..
Yates wrote week before Thanksglv-
Ing. 81 just couldn't boil 1t down to
ten words, mamma" he said to his
wife as he read 1t. 'But the times
come when we can be q little lavish,
now we've retired"
'Hortense certainly will be surprised
poor girl" answered Mrs. Yates.
"She couldn't afford to come home
for the short holidays. Something In
her letters sounds as If she thought
you had been feeling hard times
that's why she didn't spend the money.
When she learns what a wonderful
disposal you have made Of your busi-
ness, won't she be surprlsed2"
shed be more surprised If she
didn't get the telegram"
"You don't mean, papa, that you'd
just go out and surprise her? Well,
what wonderful idea"
"AIr. Henry Yates, 701 West Ninety.
ninth street, New York city: Have
earned little money tutoring, and
have decided to come home Thanks.
giving. Love. Hortense."
Hortense struck her pencil through
word here and there to get her tele-
gram down to ten words, and then
paused, with the pencil in mld-air.
"They would be lot more surprised
If didn't send the telegram" she re.
flected. "Whnt wonderful idea"
AS an aid In effecting perfect sur
prise, Hortense rejoiced that she had
in her possession a latch key for the
small city apartment, where her moth
er and father had made their home
since four years before she first fitted
off to college. She arrived at three
o'clock the afternoon before Thanks
giving, and, suitcase in hand, passed
quickly by elevator attendants to her
parents apartment on the second floor.
1t was not surprising to her that no
one was home. Wednesday was her
mothers club afternoon, and she some-
times remained out all afternoon, and
then met her husband downtown for
dinner. Hortense hoped this was to
be the case this afternoon, for then
she would have more time for perfect
Ing the plans that she had In mind.
'Hortense found her little chintz-
, trimmed bedroom in immaculate at
tire, and, having quickly slipped on
comfortable house dress, rolled up
ler sleeves and donned an apron, she
hurried out to the kitchen.
Down on her knees before the ice
box, she opened the door and shifted
and peered curiously into Its interior.
"Poor old mumsy," she said to her.
self. rs she beheld a meager broiling
chicken, a few apples and onions and
small measure Of potatoes. "Times
have been hard with dad, and she
didn't even have turkey"
Hortense recalled that her mother
had written, some time before, saying
that they expected to have quiet
little dinner together on Thanksgiv.
Ing" but she thought that her hearty
young mother and father had planned
to feast off single squablike broiler
brought tears to Hortense's deep blue
eyes.
She counted her money carefully,
folded her return-trip ticket and a
few new dollar bills into little purse
that she put, for safe-keeping and be-
yond the temptation of green grocer
or butcher, in little pocket beneath
the folds of her bodice, and then count.
ed out So besides. "That1l get some
sort of SPREAD she said, IF l go to
the inexpensive places and make good
bargains" She found an empty mar.
ket basket, and having put her coat
and hat on, slipped her arm into the
basket and sailed forth.
1t was as HOrtense supposed. Her
mother and father did not return for
dinner, and she worked interruptedly
on at cranberry sauce and small