The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-29
EVENING STORY
Thanksgiving Ships.

nariOnal nOll0ay IN South America,
once in Old Mexico, and last year in
,, where the great Twin Butte dam was
crawling snail-ike across the valley.
Yet today. when the car in which
he was speeding across country to his
Thanksgiving in the city broke down.
he told himself that this was the worst
holiday of all.
81 would rather stop in the Sahara
or the Andes" he muttered, while
the man worked with the engine and
he looked about him. 1t was a haunted
country for him. Scarcely a mile from
where he sat he had first seen Annette
Hale. He remembered coming into
the brightly lighted hall of Fanshawe
Lodge chilled from a long ride in the
darkness, on the eve of that other
Thanksgiving, the lights and the gay
chattering crowd making him feel that
he was from another world. He had
raised his eyes and the babbling in
his ears dulled away to an indistinct
murmur. A girl. in yellow and white,
with deep gold hair piled above her
white forehead and a half smile just
touching her brown velvet eyes and
soft lips, came down the stairway,
poising lightly on her satin-shod feet
as she touched each step. Brandt
terflies that used to float over the
blooms in his mothers garden.
That night had been one of dreams
for Brandt, but the succeeding days
brought no fulfillment. Annette Hale
was elusive. much in demand. Brandt
had gone back to the desert, where
there was no pfAce for golden butter
flies-back to live thru desolate days
and nights. 1t all came back to him
as he sat there in the clear crispness
of the November morning and realized
that he could see the chimneys of
Fanshawe Lodge above the trees,
across the valley.
The driver with oil-streaked face
came around the car.
mo use. she'll have to be lowed
home. I'll start back after another
car. There's an old farmer and his
wife living over the hill where you
can stop until 1 get back You can't
miss the place, once you come thru
the thicket and out on the Spring Hill
road"
The man departed, and Brandt
crossed grassy meadow which had
once been clear. but where the trees
were growing in, and came to the
farmhouse. Set back from the road,
behind row of giant elms, with
quaint gables. built-in porch and
weather-beaten walls. with great
bushes crawling close to it and a
gnarled orchard at the back: it spoke
OF generations of peaceful living. And
then. The coor opened and Annette
Hale stood there. with welcoming
hands. Not the golden butterfly Of
the stairway, but a dearer, fireside
vision, with golden braids wound
about her head, and soft gown of
autumn tints.
Mr.. Myrick! didn't know that
you were in the country. And with
your travelling things! Were you
starting to hunt for Thanksgiving,
too?v
Way he replied, as he clasped her
hands.
Then he told her Of the accident to
the scar and his Interrupted journey.
y am sogry if it inconveniences
you, she said, but I am glad, too,
in and meet my Aunt Cherilla.'
The living room was old -timey, with
a rag carpet, wallpaper of an ancient
pattern Of stiff bouquets and brilliant
peacocks. and comfortable rockers;
and Aunt Cherilla Vane proved to be
one would expect to find in such
home, in her holiday gown of gray
silk, with creamy lace lappets held at
her throat by an exquisite cameo, and
in her soft eyes the light of arrested
heart.
I'VE are only three today and will
be glad for fourth she told him.
Eliza was grumbling this morning
because the turkey is too large"
When Aunt Cherilla had hurried
away to confer with Eliza. Brandt
turned to Annette.
Tell me, Miss Hale. by what good
fortune do 1 find you here?" His
eyes swept the quaint room from the
red geranium in the window and the
cat curled on the chair beneath them,
back to the witchery of the girl.
'',IhrRa wears a
the house party side-also, 1 was just
out and society had gone to my Mead.
Today you find out the Aunt Cherilla
side of my nature. She and Grand
mother Hale were like sisters. and so
long as grandmother lived I spent ev-
cry moment that could with her. in
my fathers boyhood home, mile
from here. But mother was afraid 1
would grow up to be a holden, so
would have to go back to governesses
and stiff little walks in the park, and
poky drives behind fat carriage horses
How 1 would sit like a little lady, as
they always told me, staring at Mi
chaePs broad back. while the heart
and soul of me would be out here,
riding with Reuben in the hay wagon,
teeding chickens or running thru the
woods to see Aunt Cherilla and nibble
ner seed cookies.
I believe I have always done that.
At INTERCHANGEABLE the places 1 go,
am remembering this-Aunt Cherilla
With her knitting and Uncle Nathan |
With his paper. and everything so still !
md simple and good. But no one un- |
1erstands-"
The protesting voice was hushed by !
| deep one, thru which ran a thread |
II emotion"
lone man understands. Miss Hale, |
or my real world is the world of |
simple things" |,
The whole day merged into such |
perfection that no part of 1t could be |
Iepa rated from another. The old-time |
east, with the ideal host and hostess;
Ind opposite. the girl whom he had |
,ut out Of his heart so long ago. The |
1.-THE figure. springing up to aid the |
ieavy-footed Eliza, perhaps standing /
reside his chair in some deft service. |
moved him thru and thru
AS they dallied over their plates, he /
rev them to tales of Annette's child |
food. until he could almost see the
title girl with viz hof nd ~;-