The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-30
BY JANE OSBORN

after an eight years courtship, Doro-
thea had promised Peregrine that "af
ter her affairs were settled" she might
marry him. Apparently things hadn't
been settled yet. One year the excuse
was that the house needed painting
and another that one Of the tenant
houses on her farm had not been
rented.
But to these excuses Peregrine was
used. And he was used to the hesita-
ton she showed when he telephoned
in the morning-it was only since an
open stretch of land five miles away
had been suddenly converted into an
army encampment and young men in
khaki swarmed the few lanes and viii
lage streets of the place where Pere-
CRIME owned and kept the only store
that there had been real change in
her manner.
OF course Peregrine wasn't jealous.
Surely Dorothea had too much sense to
take a really sentimental interest in
any of the boys in camp; Dorothea,
who was forty. Still the boys took up
time that Peregrine felt ought to be
devoted to him.
1t was about one month before
Thanksgiving day when Peregrine re-
ceived his first real shock, however.
IT suppose it'll be convenient to
come over tonight?" he asked. And
Dorothea fatty told him it would not.
You see, some of the boys in camp
have been quarantined and I'm fixing.
up some of my plum butter for them.
It's in two-quart jars and 1 have to
heat it up and pour it into jelly glasses.
That's the way they like it. There has
been an appeal for things for the boys
in the infirmary and they want things
that can be sent right to them. And
you know my plum butter isn't SO
bad" Peregrine smacked his lips and
assured her that it certainly was worth
eating. $50 you see 1 can't very well
take the time"
That night Dorothea did more than
re-can plum butter. When she had
finished that task she went to her
writing desk and wrote letter, which
she read over several times with ap-
parent satisfaction. Then she wrapped
up the two dozen jars of plum butter
she had got ready, and tied each neatly
with a bit of red ribbon. In one she
inserted the little sealed envelope.
Each wrapped jar was then wrapped
again in a bit of stout paper. tied
neatly with a cord and the contribu-
ton was ready.
The next day early she hitched up
her old mare to the older buggy and
toted the two dozen jars out to the
hostess house at camp, where she
smilingly left her contribution. There
is something special in this package"
ceived them. You might keep it
separate. and If there is one of the
young chaps that needs special cheer
ing you could give it to him."
The month that followed was hard
one for Peregrine and, if truth must
be told, it was hard for Dorothea.
There was the usual daily telephone
call, but there was something in the
tone of Dorothea that betokened pre-
occupation, and in the tone of Pere-
CRIME there was an insurmountable
note of pique.
r.
giving there was no usual call at all.
Perhaps that was because there was so
much Thanksgiving buying going on
at the grocery store. But there was
another Gala call that Dorothea had
been expecting for weeks. =
"Say, I'm the chap that got the
plum butter" came cheerful voice.
1T sure was some butter and got the
note asking me to come to- Thanks
giving dinner il I didn't have any
place else to go. Well, haven't-and
any way If you make plum butter like
that wouldn't miss your Thanksgiv-
ing dinner for anything"
Dorothea was all a-tremble with ex-
element. She asked the soldier boy
| if he wouldn't bring a friend, but he
assured her that he wouldn't because
| most of the boys who were able to
get off and didn't go home were being
entertained by the mems local club.
| She gave very full directions as to
| how to get to her house, assured the
| boy that she was just a good-natured
old maid and told him to come for a
| l o'clock dinner. Then she hurried
about her kitchen making prepara-
lions for a dinner that would have
sufficed a dozen. She had no doubts
| that there would be three at table.
| Peregrine always came. She listened
| all the morning for the ring of the
phone that did not come. She felt
| that she would lower her dignity If
she phoned to him and asked him
when for eight years he had never
| missed phoning to her a day.
| Dorothea cried little on her pill
low that night. She assured herself
| it was excitement over her expected
| guest. Perhaps it was for another
| reason. After all when one has had a
certain telephone message every day
for eight years just the failure to re-
ceive it is enough to unsteady the
nerves.
For some reason Dorothea had
vague misgivings during the morning.
She was not looking forward with SO
| much pleasure to her dinner guest as
she had expected to. She had hoped
Peregrine would be there to help en-
terrain him.
At just 1 o'clock, when the old
house was redolent with the savory
aroma Of roasting turkey, the guest
arrived 1t was Peregrine, and Doro-
thea, still wearing her kitchen apron
threw her arms around his neck and
shed few tears of joy on his
shoulder.
| I'm almost sorry that some one
else Is coming" she said. ut would
be so nice if you and 1 were just here
together. 1t seems just like those first
| Thanksgiving days. Besides, with al
the other boys down at the clubhouse
, t-singinS and shouting as they would
, with no women about may be {
little dull for him.
Peregrine was laughing
/ I'm him." he announced b1untly
You see, it is this way" and he pro
duced the little white envelope tina
he had been wearing next his hear
for several days. "a young soldie
! came in and asked if I'd allow any