Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-22

ri See You've Ordered the Specials"
much going on today. Have your
choice of tables" And with flourish
Mr.. Rast still retained his manner of
to please.
Lydia Johnson took her seat and
looked at the menu. 1t was just about
the same as usual, but Mr.. Rast had
been true to his boast There on the
top was an additional sheet of thin pa
per, reading in watery ink, Special
for Today" Below was "Thanksgiv-
ing turkey and cranberry sauce.
Squash pie, apple cider"
Lydia ordered them, scarcely MOTTO
ing that they were little special in
price, too.
Olives and celery were put in front
of her and a small dish of relish. She
tasted some and as she put down her
fork she saw Ned Courtney entering.
AS he caught sight of her his eyes
frightened and his step became more
buoyant. 'May sit here?" he asked.
pointing to the vacant chair opposite
her.
Eyes, do" said Lydia quickly. "Tm
all alone. I'm kind of homesick. any,
way" she admitted, as her eyes shone
fuss over Thanksgiving day at home.
I'm from the country, you know. And
1 guess I'm still a bit of youngster.
It's my first Thanksgiving away from
home"
"And you're here, you poor child"
said Mr.. Courtney, who was possibly
two years her senior. "Of all the Cod
forsaken places in the world. the city
takes the lead on a holiday when
you've no special pals-and when
you've been used to the other kind. It's
my first Thanksgiving day here"
Mother makes an awful fuss over
the day." said Lydia. "And pop is just
as bad Always jokes we're not going
to have turkey and we always do, Of
course"
"Of course" agreed Mr.. Courtney,
] "and pumpkin pie and cider. see
you've ordered the specials. Well. l
guess I will too. Squash pie, eh? :
suppose they haven't any pumpkin
They ate their dinner and eack
talked of the times at home-otlser
Thanksgivings.
"Do you come here often?" asked
Mr.. Courtney.
"Almost always" she answered. IL
wasn't going to come tonight, and then
/ thought 1 would. I've never seen
you here before"
"No, it's my first appearance, though
I guess 1 know all the other places
like this. One of the boys told me
about it at the office. Where did you
think you'd go? Imean tonight, If you
hadn't come here?"
"Mr. Brown asked me to have dinner
with him. He said his wife and two
kids were up with his mother-in-law,
who's sick. She lives in the country
and so he'd be all alone. I guess he
meant it kindly, but somehow l just
felt kind O. queer about going"
saThank God you did," said Mr..
Courtney with sudden burst of re-
lligious fervor. "Wife and two kids
and a mother-in-law-a,l to fool You
with! Why he's not even married:
pity the poor creature who would ever
marry him. He's asked all the girls
in the office to go out with him. He
threatens TO fire 'em If they don't &C
cept, but if they're any good at theil
| r.
besides it would look queer to the part
ners.
awe seen him eyeing you" he con
tinued. "And I've said to myself often
If he lays a>hand on her I'll Tried
to work on your homesickness Ugh )!
Miss johnson had turned crimson
"Fve always been home Thanksgivin:
before" she murmured again. Sh'
| had talked a good deal to Ned Court
ney in the shop and the girls hat
teased her about him. But he ha,
: never asked her out" She felt mis-
erably friendless.
Listen" she heard him say, "Tv'
cared for you ever since you frs
) stepped into Jones & Cushing's.- ant
I'd like to see you step out. My ia
theirs ready any day to hand over tn
farm to me, and the farm life IS tn
real life. Will you-will you-in a lii
file while. marry me? Mr.. Brown CA
= fire us both. Well never be at hi
mercy again on Thanksgiving day
Well have a country Thanksgivin
e and we'll let the kids eat all they wan
that fs-later on" He grew uncon
fortably red. He had been rushing
little too fast.
Lydia looked at him first full me
4 ment, then looked away.
= "Ive always wished you cared fo
d me-" she said softly to the empt
e table opposite.
:. "That's enough" said Mr.. Courtne,
:, well make up for this, beginning wit
p Christmas"
anything elseT murmured til
e waiter for the third time.
"Oh," said Mr.. Courtney, "black co
5 fee for two
S Copyright. loIs. Western Newspaper Unioni
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