The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-26
ATHE DAILY
SHORT STORY

= Gopyffght, 1913, by the AdcC!urS
Newspaper Syndic2te9
- RANSDT MYRICK had come back
w TO his old home at Thanksgiving
u time with lively antfcipattous,
hut found that three years had chang
"a the map Of his little world. once
he azd spent his national holiday IN
south America, once in Old Me1lco'
ay,d last year in the glittering wastes
~ the Southwest where the great
Twin Butte dam was crawling snall-
IKE across the valley.
yet today, when the car IN when ne
waa speeding across country to MS
~ Sksgfving in the city broke down,
lfIcEdId himself that this was the WORST
81 would rather stop in the Sahara
or the Andes" he unuttered. While
t,e man worked with the engine ana
Ne Looked about him. It was haunt
ed country for him. Scarcely mile
h6m where he sat he had first seen
Annette Hale. He remembered com
M into the brightly lighted hall OF
; Fanshawe Lodge chilled from long
ride IN the darkness, on the eve OF
that other Thanksgiving, the ugnts
and the gay ehattertng crowd making
him feel that he was from another
world. He had raised his eyes ana
the babbling in his ears dulled away
to an irdistinct murmur. girl IN vel
sSoyy and white, with deep gold hair
Siled above her white forehead and
6aIR smile Just touching her brown
velvet eyes and soft lips, came down
die stairway, posing lightly on her
Skatin-shod feet as she touched each
step. Brandt thought Of the golden
and white butterflies that used to
noat over the blooms in his mothers
That night had been one OF dreams
for Brandt, but the Succeeding days
brought no fulfiIlment Annette Hale
. was elusive, much in demand Brandt
had gone back to the desert, where
there was no place for golden butter
Nuies-back to live through desolate
DAYS and nights. Il all came to him
as he sat there In the clear crispness
Of the November morning and realized
that he could see the chtmneys OF Fan
Shave Lodge above the trees, across
the valley.
The driver with ony-streaked face
came around the, car.
mo use. she'll have to be towed
home. IN start back after another
Acar. There's an old farmer and his
WIG ONoE ZIG ILL WuSLS SOu Ceh44
, atop until get back. You can't miss
th3cket and out on the Spring Hill
road"
The man departed, and Brandt
crossed a grassy meadow which had
once been clear, but where the trees
were growing in. and came to the
far house. Set back from the road, be-
hind a row Of giant elms, with quaint
gables, built.in porch and weather
beaten walls, with great bushes crowd
ing close to It and a gnarled orchard
1t the back, It spoke OF generations OF
peaceful living. And then! The door
opened. and Annette Hale stood there,
with welcoming hands. Not the gold
en- butterfly OF her stairway, but a
dearer, firestde vision, with golden
. braids wound about her head. and a
soft gown OF autumn tints.
's1Ir. Myriclk! didn't know that
you were IN the country. And with
your travelling things! Were you start
ing to hunt for Thanksgiving. too?'
NJ feel as though had found it any
way. he replied. as he elasped her
hands.
Then he told her Of the accident to
the car and his interrupted journey.
am sorry II II Inconvenience
you" she said, "but am glad, too,
else might not have seen you. Come
In and meet my Aunt CheriIla."
The living room was old-ttmy, with
q rag carpet wallpaper Of an ancient
pattern OF GttR bouquets and brilliant
peacockG, and comfortable rockers:
her Aunt CherfIa vane proved to be
Just such z sweetfaced old body as
one would expect to find In such a
home, IN her holiday gown Of gray silk.
with creamy lace 1appets held at her
throat by an exquisite cameo, and In
her soft eyes the light OF arrested
youth Her greeting warmed Brandt's
heart.
we are only three today and VIII
0e Slao for a fourth" she told him.
Eliza was gFumbling this morning be-
cause the turkey Is too large
When Aunt Cherilla had hurried
away to confer with Eliza, Brandt
turned to Annette.
Ten me, Miss Hale. by what GOOD
tortune DO I tind you bere?' His ewes
swept the quaint room from the red
geran1nm IN the window and the cat
CURED on the chair beneath them
back to the wItchery Of the gfrl.
ThTee years ago You knew me-
uom the house party sfde-alSo. I was
Just out. and society had gone to nv
head. Today you find out the .Aun,
ChertIla' side OF my nature: She and
grandmother Hale were like sisters.
and 20 long a. grandmother lived /
spent every moment that could with
her. n my fathers boyhood home. a
mile rom here. But mother was
afraid would grow up to be- a holden,
30 would have TO go back to gov.
erneSses and stiR little walks in the
park and poky drives behind fat car
riage horses. How would sit like
q litlO lady rs they always told me.
/ staring 1T MichaeIEs broad back, while
the h0aTt aud soul OF mo would be out
here-T4dtng with Reuben IN the hay
wagon. Feeding chickens OF running
through the woods to see Aunt Cher
ma and nfbble her seed cookies.
4 believe have always done that.