The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-24


"You must have known the place
was leased for ten years"
"Yas-and IL you ever collected
any rent from Seedy Jones' you did
we'll"
Il haven't collected it-yet" said
young Thatcher quietly.
"Hum-going to live there?'
"'Yes, IL / ever find the way"
The postmaster smiled iouiishiy
and called a Iounger from the lis
tening group on the porch You
going past Secdy Jones old place,
Lennie, you might show this gem
lehman along-there's a good hotel
here II you don't find accommoda-
lions at the Horn O. Plenty"
John Thatcher drove away in an
ancient automobile that roved dis
tractedly about the road and finally
came to a schambling halt in front
of a large house set III the midst OF
evergreen trees and thick shrub
berry.
laughed the youth called 'Lennie,
as ne turned his rafting machine
about, might before Thanksgiving
and u deserted house,
g5ohn Thatcher was silent as he
surveyed his inheritance. Dreary,
indeed. and so different from the
picture Of it carried In his heart
since he Ras o young lad. His
grandfather fran had been the
pride OF the countryside then, and
now, when fortune had ceased to
| smile upon young John, he had
turned TO the farm.'
He would go back to that, alone,
perhaps( but it would only be for
q while-Helen Main had promised
to marry him when he could sup
port her, and he had proudly told
her that he would claim her on ST.
Valentines Day. Horn O. Pien-
ty" farm had been his dream of
fortune, and he found this!
BY 8 o'clock he had learned the
worst-bare rooms ill-used and un-
clean, decaying porches and a peep
tpE the locked furniture stored
Way, down to the very last toast
ing fork, where they had been plac-
ed when his grandfather died and
the place was rented.
II wonder what Helen would say
- he thought miserably as he
went back to the. fhotel. In the
morning he had a short note from
Helen's fatheH we will motor out
to your farm this morning. Give US
Thanksgiving dinner"
John Tatcher's lips snapped shut
as he crammed the letter into the
fire. So Helen's father really knew
the condition of the farm and was
putting him on his mettle. They
would arrive at noon. lie had five
hours to work and so little money.
Well, 1t would be a homemade
ThanksgiVing-the best he could
dpI and give thanks for that! 1t
was a slender chance, for James
Main was rich and prosperous.
Nennie Brown and his car took
I6m Thatcher out to the old place
with a load of purchases, II guess
there's plenty of wood outside there
and my folks have some barrels OF
big red apples-lll, bring some
! over" said Lennie when he heard
II OF the expected guests.
The old Thatcher place echoed to
Z the flying footsteps OF the two
young men. From garret to cellar
they went; the old pump sQueaked
a swater was needed to mop up the
floors OF tho big dining room and
the kitchen after vigorous sweep
ing. Then breadth of rag carpets
from the store in the attic were laid
down, and furniture carried down
LA round walnut dining table and
chairs, baskets of lavender sprig,
ged china and k~itchepware and q
cedar chest gave up tahlecloths and
napkins, yellowed with age, and
! some OF the old Thatcher silver.
who says womens work is never
done +" groaned Lennie as he rub,
bed the silver knives and forks.
81 hope they will like this fried
chicken" mutered John rs he bent
over the great fire in the kitchen
fireplace, where they were cooking
over somO iron trivets they had dis,
covered In the attic.
"Guess those sweet potatoes are
about done," said LennIe, as he
drew them from the ashes. I'm
goin out 10 bet aome Of those vel
low and brown chrysantehmums tc
put on the table. and sOmo mort
wood. Ma sent over some jelly ant
cream, an" the dor closed on the
list OF Mre. Browns generosity.
At twelve o'clock John Hatcher
loked arouid at the comfortable
dining rom, which began to seem
like home, with Its blazing fires OF
the wide hearth. This is q good
SsEipning," thought John Hatcher
CLrthey will come nov they can sec
that I'm starting US a good provid.
Yer, anyway"
Then he heard the horn or the
Expensive car that brought tht
Mains, and suddenly overcome By
1.-THE wealth and position Of the cir
he loved, the place scanned poo
and.shabby and his efforts fruitless
But It was his home, and he squar'
bed his shoulders. looked ut the love
ly' table with its flowers its Grim
SON and purple fruit, and the brigh.
hearth FIRE.
at is perfectly wonderful" Heller
said over and over again, while hel
parents nodded approval. They
amiHnRiy watched the two younE
people as they hurried 10 and fri
putting tho meal on the table-they
investigated the house and asked