Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-11-20
T See You've Ordered the Specials"

M See You've Ordered the Specials" 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 I sit here?" he asked, pointing to the vacant chair opposite her.
 "Yes. do," said Lydia quickly. "Tm all alone. I'm kind of homesick, any way" she admitted, as her eyes shone little mistily. "They make a regular fuss over Thanksgiving day at home. I'm from the country. you know. And I guess Pm still a bit of a youngster. It's my first Thanksgiving away from home"
 And you're here, you poor child" said MT. Courtney, who was possibly two years her senior. "Of all the God 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 MT. Courtney, "and pumpkin pie and cider. l see you've ordered the specials. Well, l T nj nh0 suppose they haven't any pumpkin" They ate their dinner and each talked of the times at home-other Thanksgivings.
 "Do you come here often fa asked Mir. Courtney.
 Almost always" she answered. "I ] wasn't going to come tonight, and then I thought I would. I've never seen you here before"
 "No, it's my first appearance, though I guess I 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? I mean 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-aw who's sick. She lives in the country and so he'd be all alone I guess he meant it kindly, but somehow 1 just felt kind O queer about going"
 "Thank God you did," said Mir | Courtney with a sudden burst of re- lieiot1s fervor. "Wife and two kids and a mother-in-law-al to fool you with! Why he's not even married! pity the poor creature who would ever marry him.
 'T've seen him cycling you" he con tinued. And I've said to myself often If he lays a hand on her Tll-' Tried | to work on your homesicllnesS Ugh " Miss Johnson had turned crimson. "I've always been home Thanksgiving before,' she murmured again. She had talked good deal to Ned Court ney in the shop and the girls had leased her about him. But he had never asked her out" She felt mis- Serably friendless.
 .Listen," she heard him say, "I've cared TOT you ever SlllCe you lISi stepped into Jones & Cushing's, and I'd like to see you step out. My fa- ther's ready any day to hand over the farm to me, and the farm life IS the real life. Will you-will you-in lit tie while. marry me? Mir. Brown can fire us both We'll never be at his mercy again on Thanksgiving day. We'll have country Thanksgiving and we'll let the kids eat all they want that is-later on" He grew uncom- fortably red He had been rushing a litsle too fast.
 Lydia looked at him first full mo- ment, then looked away.
 "I've always wished you cared for me-" she said softly to the empty table opposite.
 That's enough" said MT. Courtney, well make up for this, beginning with Christmas"
 "Anything else" murmured the waiter for the third time.
 "Oh," said MT. Courtney. "black cof- fee for twO!"
 Copyright. 191s Western Newspaper Unon.)