Phillips County herald., 1921-11-11
a Real
thanksgiving g
byFrederick Hart
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II don't see why he didn't writer
said Mrs. Haldcn petiishly. "Of
course I'm glad he's coming home for
Thanksgiving, and all that, but he
might have given me longer notice.
But that's just like Bob-always drop,
ping in like tornado, with no more
than telegram the day before he
cOmes-and how I'm TO get his room
ready, simply don't see! l have the
dinner to attend to. and goodness
knows It's hard TO get things these days
without making preparations for an.
other guest. II he'd only written
All he had to do was to sit down
week ago and write"
snow, mother, don't get all wor
Red" pretty Barbara Halden Slipped
waist. Il know you've n thousand
things TO do. and Bobs coming makes
II harder-but you just 20 ahead and
manage the dinner. I'll fix his room
and everything"
Bless your heart, dear, run along
and get 1t ready. I'm always gald to
See Bob" Her speech was cut short
by the abrupt exit Of her daughter
who danced on up the stairs. followed
by her mothers call. BE sure aud
put out the smoking tablet You
know how Bob likes his pipe"
"All right, mother dear-I will.
And Barbara sped To the little room
under the caves TINT had been sacred
TO Bob Holiday since the time. two
years ngo, when he had first come
10 their town To practice law and had
taken up his residence under Mrs
Halden's hospliable roof which he
declared almost offered comforts
enough TO make him forget that he
ever had hal any other home.
Since that summer. when he had
saved Mrs. iinlden's little savings and
her home from the clutches of grasp.
Ing syndicate OF real estate sharks.
he had been like son 10 the good
woman. She had let him do very
much as he pleased around the house
and had even limited at his paying ne
board. hut Bob had Insisted on giving
her what he termed n ridiculously In.
adequate sum each month.
When success brous!i; him fame and
fortune he had refused 10 take up 9th.
cr lodgings. claiming that he enjoyed
the home cooking aud the home nsso.
elntions uf the little brown house near
the edge OF the town more tlnn he
could ever like the gnrish splendors
OF n hotel or the loneliness of bach.
elor apartments.
For the pust two months he had
been trnve,,Lg In the West on a big
raj. oad ease. His sudden wire. re-.
cclved the dny before Thanksgiving.
hnd been the first npprlsnl of his re-.
turn that Mrs. lIaldcn had had.
Now as she buslly arranged her
kitchen In preparation for the manu-.
featuring of n dinner that should sur.
pass all her former efforts In that
line. she blessed the cinnee that
brought "hcr boy" ms she called bob,
home nj the holiday senson. while she
ou,wnrdly felgned great Irritation ut
his unc.remonlous announcement of
his return.
Meanwhile. up In Bob's room. Bar.
bnrn was husily putting things
struigbt. spreading Glenn linen on the
bed. arranging the cover On the dress.
or. seeing thni the smoking tabl. wns
supplied With matches and trays for
Bob's cyerpreseni pipe. nnd generally
making things fresh and sweet for the
reception of her hero, For Barbara.
Bob wns u good denl OF u hero. though
she would hardly have confessed II.
even to herself.
She attacked the dresser Inst of nil.
Intending To take out of the drawers
nny odds pnd ends that might be In
them md leave rpnce for shirts, col.
lars and other articles OF masculine
apparel.
Tile big lower drawers were empty,
nnd beyond n quick glnncc In search
of fEani dufi she did nothing 10
them; but vnc Of The small top draw.