The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-08-15

| at the table was almost equally open
to criticism. Ellen saw nothing and
heard nothing she was going to visit
at a fashionable country house; she
was beginning to live
There were difficulties to be met, OF
course. The first was the surprising
resentment Of Aunt Elsie. Thanksglv-
ing was a home day. Aunt Elsie didn't
like the idea of Ellen going off with a
lot of goddess people; dancing, as like
ly as not. getting her head full OF
crack-brained ideas
"Well, ! don't like the idea of old
fashioned Thanksgiving |" Ellen an
swered. trying not to sound imperti-
lei 1--WE all eat too much, and the
house gets too hot, and you're working
for three days baking and fussing!"
She did not dream that she struck to
her aunt's heart. The national holiday
was a sacred institution to Mrs. Bald
win. And now Ellen-Ellen was dis
paraging Thanksgiving
The two were In Ellen's bedroom
when his conversation tool place. and
Mrs. Baldwin turned and went down
stairs without a word. Ellen stood
still, In the center of the ice-cold room,
her face flushed with shame. the gaudy
patchwork quilt she was about to
spread over her newly-made bed hang
ing from her hands.
Her heart smote her. They would
miss her On Thanksgiving day. But
what could she do? Nothing In life
seemed so important as Mrs. Roses
wonderful invitation.
When she went downstairs there was
a decided chill in her aunt's attitude.
1t was Sunday, and the older woman
was neatly dressed for church. She
enjoyed church. and would come home
at half-past twelve rosy from the cold
air and full Of kindly gossip. She
would walk down to the post Office for
the mail, too; there was rarely any
mail, but all the world of Port Wash
ington would be there.
Ellen would have liked to sew on her
her sew on Sunday. SO she began to
read. She felt guilty. She wished that
she were heroic enough to give up the
Rose weekend and stay here and help
Aunt Elsie through Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Baldwin brought back one let
ter, after all. II was from Mrs. Rose,
for Ellen. 1t said that Mrs. Rose was
delighted that Ellen could be with
them. and that she would expect her
on the two o'clock train from New
York-on Friday SO that Ellen would
have Thanksgiving at home, after all.
The question of clothes remained.
Even when Ellen had run fresh. ribbons
into her best underwear, and had
her one pair Of silk stockings,
and had pressed the cheap yet dainty
lace gown, and basted fresh frills into
the neck and cuffs of the made-over
gray velvet; even then she felt some
nisgivings. She had the dresses, but
what about all the accessories? She
woke, In the cold winter mornings.
illed with wretched doubts. But at
hight, when her lamp, and the stove
downstairs, had somewhat warmed her
Dom. she sat at her mirror, and looked
It the lovely vision of rosy cheeks and
eyes and loosened black hair; and
he red lips would curve in spite of
themselves into a confident smile.
Might she be the belle Of the whole
,arty?. Might they all admire her?
fight it be a glorious triumph for the
Iewcomer, the beginning of wonderful
Ellen would jump between the
old, heavy sheets with a smile in her
yes, and go off TO dreams of glory.