The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-12
THANKFULLY YOURS
BY Margaret AAc Sweeney.
Copyright, 1922. by Wheeler Syn

\OVPyEl6AS, 1Sz1, Dy wheeler 6yu-
dictate. 1nc.)
Matilda Bennett slim, short and
sixty, sat alone in her basement
kitchen. Outside, against the shin
ing window With It's cross curtain
Of dainty dimity, the November
rain slashed and streamed in tor
rents. Miss Bennett, having just
finished her midday meal, gazed
idly at the storm-lashed window
and her thoughts, from 30 years d
habit, began to centre about her
"rooming guests"
Between, the. window and her
brooding eyes there slipped the
picture Of slim young man in q
tawny overcoat, dripping wet. HI
carried a violin case, and his
rather handsome face was white
and sullen.
The picture faded, and Matilda
arose briskly, and took a black tin
tray from the shelf behind the
stove, and upon it she placed q
large yellow howl which she filled
with hot soup and covered with q
plate, heaped with butter sand.
viches.
Then she climbed the four flights
to the top floor where, bpeathless
she paused to rest. The black tin
tray in her trembling hands had
become smeared, and the little wo.
man wiped it clean and rearranged
the sandwiches before she knocked
at the door Of the front square
room"
II didn't see you 60 out this
morning. and / just remembered
that you had bad cold when you
came last night" she explained te
her new guest. ::'Now-now dom
thank me at all, but sit right ur
and take this while it's hot"
The young man upon the white
iron bed squirmed to a sitting po'
sition, and the woman placed the
black tin tray upon his lap.
Il have the rooms on this flool
to tidy up" she told him, "and III
BE- ,,s IN fQf the tray on my way
When the door had closed be.
hind her the young man ate raven.
ously and drank the soup in great
gulps; and long before she re-
turned, the last crumb had disap.
peared.
"That soup was just fine" hi
greeted his landlady when, she en-
tered, land. believe me. III appre
ciAt0-"
"How is your cold forgot t
ask you, .Mr.-Mr. Dunlap
thank you; tit isn't cold
I'm subject, to "a slight throa,
trouble, and in wet weather MI
voice becomes husky"
"l'm glad It isn't q cold. Mist
Bennett lifted the tray, and from
the doorway she spoke again
The day after TOMORROW il
Thanksgiving. and Ii always in
vits my roomang guests to hav'
dinner with me at Thanksgivinl
and Christmas. / hope you c.,
come. We have dinner at 2. m,
YOU'RE very welcome. Mr.. Jarvis
the young man who has the room
under you. plays the violin. toe
and there is a Miss Wiley-she In
been with me five years and Mi
Jarvis seten-she plays the piano
and-well-we have q real pleas
ant time with games and munic
I'll expect you il you're not goin,
home"
That's mighty good Of you, an,
~ thank you. I really have nj
home.
EXCUSE me; hear my tsle
phone bell" The little .wopal
FASTENED away, leaving Dunla]
ltAring at the closed door.
Rooming guests!" There VA
dsrision In his husky voice. Room
ing guests! Well, she is all right.
he. whispered to the pillow % hi
head touched Il again, his sulle,
young face hidden II tie crook q
his elbow.
Toward aishtfail, while draw:a,
tho parlor, sheGes, Miss Bennet
fs4w Dunlap 30 out. She w1xeaxo'
f1tm cross the street, his tawny Cos
tcollAr turned high, and tho raj
beating down upon the soft rim q
his black felt hat. And the though
came % her: r am clad that
tbEuAgAt him that ooup. He /