The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-21

she looked bllnd1y about for her
tam, and found 1t at last on the
hook behind the door, drew on a
lpair Of heavy wooden STOCKINGS,
Ind took her crooked stick from
Hts place over the fireplace.
'fBy, Auntie," she tried to call
cheeri1y.
Sac gave a last look around the
bright room. The logs were laid
on the brick fireplace ready 10
kindIe at a spark. some brilliant
4 red berries stood in the cleaning
brass juc above the hearth.
There was the big wing-chalr
covered in gay.fiowcred cretonnc
4 that she had always hankered for,
and the shelf Of books beside the
window. that looked firm enough
m you did not touch it.
Every single thing Janet had
done herself. She had painted the
dtngy woodwork Of the sitting
room white. she had unearthed tie
old Jug aud polished It till her arm
ached Eathcrcd the leaves and
: covered the chair with its work
man-Iike gayely. she had ever put
u D the shelf and hammered her
thumb black and blue in the at"
tempt.
\ ut was pretty enough" Janet
7 thought as she tramped down her
front walk switching with the
knobhy stick at the dry brown Of
the grass "But AT last It wn'
proved to her that it was about all
over"
AS s:ic walked down the high
way she stopped every few steps
|. to peer over a crumbllng stone
wall, 10 move at . flicker Of leaves
and to call. Here, DrImstlck,
nhere!" but without result.
a Every one laughed at her N the
beginning and told her she could
mt do it. Utterly impracticable
for a girl TO try to run a place IKE
that herself. Now. If she could
raise violets or even make jam for
a living. II she were tired Of bust,
ness III the city. But to raise tuT-
keys!
All those COUSINS and near-reln.
tious and aunts who comprised
Janet'S family could shake their
heads and cry complacently. ~
told you SOL" and not a word
lwould she be able TO answer.
She knew she could raise tur--
keys and she thought with a sud
/ den rage OF tho result!
Here. Drumstick!" she called
asloud thrashing at the roadside
weeds, but no sign Of the wander
&er rewarded her. "WThy, no mil
lionafre's baby with two nurses
and a whole retinue OF servants
could,b SO delicate as M wretch.
ed weT1-fed turkey" her thoughts
ran.
How carefully she had studied
Booklets from Cornell. and how
she had fed them and seen t!l9rl
into their coops az night. But tAey
had never got d disease that Il
Said they hal, bat had died. quick.
III, suddenly. mysterlously Of un-
known ailments.
Sixteen baby turkeys Ter rhe
Thanksgiving market-and Only
one left gone or by himse.F.
He doesn't need to think he
can get away. I'll eat h!m!' Janet
told herself fierCely.
Again she sent UP her call. but
there was no answering rustic In
the stubby cornheld and over the
rDuEh-grown hedge.
Then suddenly before her horri-
ned eyes she saw that her next
door neighbor was plucking a bird.
He hadn't a turkey OF his own and
he had made way with hers:
"Mr Leonard" she said rum
ming up the walk, what have you
got there?"
He looked VI guIltily. WHY
.It's my Drumsticks!" she vail:
ed, "and you went and stole him"
She stood up with flushed face,
YsWhy, I was raising that turkey
1 for market and you knew It per
tfectly we'll and now"
Tom Leonard's eyes were full
of mischief but he made his face
serious as he answered, II though
YOU were going to eat HMM re,
venge--so here he is" he held
out q fat little fowl to her.
But he's so little, why
houEht-"
"His feathers, you know they
make a difference!" he explained
gravely.
Gas long as you-you took hin
and plucked him, nov you car
/ cook him and eat him!'
mot unless YOU and your auni
will have Thanksgiving dinner
with me-" Tom Leonard explained
looking at her with suddenly earn
fest eyes.
Although he was dressed In
NrouEht corduroy and his hands
were rougIened by farm work, he
was very handsome. There was g
CLINT in hts brown eyes a crisp
! wave to his dark hair that drew
6Sanet's eyes back,
. "Thanksgivtng!" Janet said. she
turned away quickly to hide her
tears. az can't DO thankful. I shall
have to go back to the city and
give all this up-and the type
Awriter again. she stumbled.
"Janct, you know-T-" He
took a step toward her. but Janet
/ bright checked. with hurried
hresth was hacking away.
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