Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-15
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Tlpo Dinners
ByJESSIE DOUGLAS

TDITH HOLLIS put the last pin in
~ her hair It did look well. The
red crepe dress that she had paid more
for than she cared to think about was
spread out on the bed.
Still it was worth 1t, she decided For
fhis was no ordinary dinner, this
Thanksgiving dinner down on Eleventh
street in the exclusive part Of the city.
She could almost zee herself stepping
across the sea of polished floor, into the
long, dim, flower scented room where
Mrs. Barlow would smile graciously,
and Helen would give her butterfly
kiss as though she were a member Of
the family. And then John would rise
and take her hand; she felt a little
shiver Of happiness as she could almost
fancy that strong grip of those brown
fingers. His blue eyes never held any
thing but the most friendly light, but
his smile and his drawling voice could
pull at her heartstrings. If only-if
only he would see that she could fill a
position in house like that, grace any
table, charm any guests.
She could hear old Drew announcing
"Dinner is served, madam" and she
could even see the round, candle lighted
tab'e while elaborate course after course
followed each other, and only turkey
would give hint that this was the de-
scendant Of the Pilgrims day of Thanks
giving.
Somehow I, never seem to know John
barlow, we just talk and laugh and
then it's time to CO., Edith thought ;
he Just sees the outside of me. And
yet II it's pretty enough outside II
ought to help she soliloquized.
Brown eyes and brown hair and an
alluring dimple placed at her mouths
corner. Tall with something of the
qHick grace of bird in the turn Of her
mead, she was pretty.
And yet there were great many
pretty girls, all Of them Ellen's friends
and all of them frequenters of that
charming old house.
Her thoughts stopped abruptly for
ssomething had fiickered past the win
cow and she saw that 1t WAS q falling
snow drop. 1t was queer how In that
moment another picture came TO claim
A little, old fashioned house, with q
worn stone doorstep. across which one
Stepped into parlor where the breath
% balsam and the warm air from the
franklin stove puffed out to her.
a She could see little, old fashioned
nsure, with blue apron about her cozy
waist, bending to baste the turkey ir
the kitchen; she could see square
painted table with a place set for one
On the best clover patterned tablecloth
Turkey, Drowned to perfection, and
potatoes and turnips and CLASSY round
eranberries and golden pies that waitec
nor consumption. And only one per
eoh to eat them, little round woman
win CHEEKY brown eyes and hands tha
were rough and work worn.
can't do ~ Edith choked. "Not
ior all the John Bartows in the world
tSFsides he's never even looked at me
ne never will I"
bhndly she felt in the closet for hel
Sa', and when she had unearthed q
timetable, she saw that she would just
aSve time 70 catch the IL :01.
she sent wire at the station to
tell the Bartows she was going home
anu when the train was gliding past the
sgiy stretches of salt marshes she sank
PACK vita sigh. How could she have
wrought of neglecting her mother OH
thanksgiving Day? She had writer