The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-15
THE DAILY
Two Dinners.
By JESSIE DOUGLAS

EQe REQ Grape 2 kIdt nAS
hA paid more for than she cared
to think about was spread out on
the bed.
stllI IT was worth It. she dsctd-
ed. For this was no ordinary din
ner, this Thanksgiving dinner
down on Eleventh street in the ca
! elusive part Of the city.
She could almost see herself
stepping across the sea Of polish
ed floor, into the long, dim, flow
sr-scsnted room where Mrs. Bar
tow would give her a butterfly
kiss as thought she we're a mem
Der Of the family. nd then Jonn
would rise and take her hand;
she felt a little ShiveT OF happi-
ness as she could almost fancy
that strong grip OF those brown
fingers. His blue eyes never hold
anything but the most friendly
light but his smile and his draWl-
ing voice could pull at her heart
strings. II only--if only he would
see that she could ill a position in
a house like that, grace any table.
cnGfm any BuesS'
She could hear old Drew an
Snounc!ng. Dinner IS served mad
am" and she could even SEQ the
round candle.lighted table while
elaborate course after course fol-
lowed each other, and only a tnr-
key would give a hint that this
wat the descendant Of the Pill
grims' day Of Thanksgiving.
"somehow l never seem to know
John Barlow VIII ojust talk and
laugh and then It's time to go(,"
: Edith thought, he Just sees the
outside Of me. And yet II its n
,Spretty enough outside, it ought to
&lp.' she soliloquized.
krown ayes aud brown hair and
an alluring dimple placed at her
mouths. corner. Tall with some
thing of the quick grace Of a bird
in the turn OF her head. she was
pretty.
And yet there we're a great man
pretty girls, all OF them Ellcn's
friends and all OF them frequen-
tiers OF that charming old house.
Her thoughts stopped abruptly
for something had nickered past
the window and she saw that II
was a falling 10Y drop. II was
queer how. in that moment, an
other picture came to claim her.
A little, old fashioned house.
with a worn stone doorstep, across
which one stepped into n Parlor
where tho breath OF balsam and
the warm air from the Franklin
stove puffed out to her.
She could. see a little old fash
Toned fislre. with a blue apron.
about her coy waist, bending to
haste the turkey in the kitchen:
she could see n square painted
table set for one on the best
ciover.patterned tablecloth.
Turkey, Drowned to perfection.
and potatoes and ruruips and
CLASSY rnnnd cranberries and gold
en- pies that waited for cOnsump-
ton. And only one person to cat
them. a little round woman with
CHEEKY brown eyes and hands that
were rough and work worn.
~ can't do IT." Edith choked.
''Sot for all tho John Bartows in
the world; besides he's never even
looked at me-he never wilt
BMndly she felt in the closet for
! her coat. and when she had I'M
eaTthed u time table, she saw that
she would just have time to catch
the 11:0l1
She sent. a wire at the station
to tell the Bartows she was going
home and when the train was
GLIDING past tho ugly stretches Of
salt marshes she sank back with IA
sight. How could Bhe have thought
OF n%eglecting her mother on
Thanksgiving day? She had writ
ten that she could not be homeb
but now the surprise would be all
tho nicer.
Across the aisle, she felt some
ones eyes on her, and turning she
gave a little gasp.
"Why, what are You doing here ?
I thought you" si stopped and
blushed painfully.
Were you dining With the cous-
ms, too7" John Barlow smiled
Il ran away. l didn't t how l
could stand all tina: fnrr1ality on
Thanksgiving day. I thought I'd
lust 70 out to the country and walk
a bit and stop in NJ n OF those
old hotels and take pOt'luck. But
what about you?'
"l'm going home ttg said. and
blushed harder than ever. u came
from the country. My mother"
How jolly" he whistled.
I'D be glad il you'd csre to have
thinner with un,' shs said.
would /? Well, rather! What
/" I'll won't be putting you out?"
When she assured him that that
|as the last thing he would be do
Ing, she turned m%iserably TO the
window. She was orSScome with
shame. She had had 10 ask him,
and yet she could see tho amuse.
ment that would grow In his eyes
at the simple home with Its lack
Of Injuries, with its poverty and
simplicity. A lump grew in her
6nroat and she could only answe
him In MUNICIPALITIES.
ant when Ahe had flung open the
door and felt her mothers rms
about her and heard her cry why
yFdIe, YOU camel she turned a
SI,,sho5 exn1tant face to John Bnr-