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Show nfK Tet.ow ru.ce stood W I I M ifel H I lIwH hml o"01-' beou surrounded by U AMI , i XT, tff 5, JWf fJ wide acres, but gradually MB S the growing town had en- - iMW ' f M , i Wfj ' (jm&&m& j?vJ crouched on its borders; J vta -jj Mf -i ttV-T W C&Sg and, bit by bit, the property had been MK!V VVW2 swallowed up, until at last the low- 5Kf WiwS browed, rambling farmhouse was el- -k f22 bowed by smarter town residences, Ssa-A -''r,-j.yV,i g" " and could boast only a narrow door- ( U "vS , 17Z yard in front, and a cramped orchard ' rfS "The mills had spoiled Layton," old "-'SjjllpJ Mrs. Tetlow used to say, with a dreary , 5aa5JS? " jsSfY110 oU1 Tetlow place stood 011 t0 lhe east of Lnyton- u i, S'V$Jf! ' ',m' once been surrounded by wide acres, but gradually the growing town had en-jfvJ en-jfvJ croached on its borders ; and, bit by bit, the property had been swallowed up, until at last the lowbrowed, low-browed, rambling farmhouse was el-' el-' bowed by smarter town residences, and could boyst only a narrow door-yard door-yard iu front, and a cramped orchard in the rear. "The mills had spoiled Layton," old Mrs. Tetlow used to say, with a dreary shake of the head, as she watched these changes. The Tetlow farm had been a prosperous pros-perous one in its day, and its owners had lived on it in quiet respectability for many generations. But they were all scattered and gone now these Tet-lows Tet-lows save for the one lonely old woman, wom-an, who razed out of the sinall-paned windows. I'eople said Mrs. Tetlow was growing grow-ing forgetful. Perhaps she was forgetful for-getful of the present. It was a dreary November day. The clouds hung low and a few scattering snowflakes were beginning to fall. "Real Thanksgiving weather," murmured mur-mured Mrs. Tetlow, as she looked out of her front window. "1'es, it's real Thanksgiving weather.'' weath-er.'' repeated the old lady, drawing her small shoulder shawl closer about htr. "It's time to be making the mincemeat." mince-meat." "Mother always did that the first thing," she went on, by and by, "and today is Friday. Next week will bring the last Thursday in the month. The proclamation'll be read next Sabbath." The knitting needles lay idle in Mrs. Tetlow's lap, as she rocked slowly back and forth. "'Grandma - Spencer's folks always came by Wednesday night," she said, after a reflective pause, "and brother Peter and his wife and boys would get here as early as 9 Thanksgiving morning. The rest didn't come till nearly noon. I wonder where Peter's boy is now. I wish the West weren't so far off. I wonder if the boy's done well." Mrs. Tetlow stopped rocking and sat up straight in her chair. "Wouldn't I like to get ready for another an-other such Thanksgiving party," she exclaimed, a red spot burning in either ei-ther cheek. "I believe I will." She arose, her slight figure trembling trem-bling as she rolled up her knitting work and thrust the needles into it. "Let me see," she went on musingly, how many must I provide for? There's Peler and Mary and the three boys, and Jane and Henrietta and Uncle Solon. Nannie and her husband and the little folks, bless 'em ! and Grandma Grand-ma Spencer's folks and Joe and Letty. It'll be a long tableful, but I'll be ready for them." Monday saw active preparations going go-ing on in the old kitchen. The last thing each night before going go-ing to her bed the old lady took her wavering candle and inspected her pantry shelves, and with every evening even-ing there were more toothsome goodies to bciokl. risen the traveling butcher stopped Wednesday for his usual small order, Mrs. Tetlow followed him out to his cart and selected the largest turkey in his collection. The man's eyes opened wide. "Kxpecting company, ma'am?" he asked as he weighed it, and the old woman nodded gravely. That morning the windows in the upper chamber were thrown open to the wind and sunshine, and sweeping and dusting and airing of bed linen were in order. "Grandma Spencer's folks always come by Wednesday night," she said, "and the rooms haven't been used for some time. They feci a little damp, so I'll have them open all day." Toward night Mrs. Tetlow put on her second best gown and sat down near the window to watch. When her guests arrived, the nearest near-est neighbor might not have known, but a lamp was lighted in the dim best room that evening, and at nine o'clock the old woman took a bedroom bed-room candle in either hand and toiled up the creaking stair. On the little stand beside each bed she placed a brass candlestick, and, having turned hack the sheets, went out again, murmuring mur-muring a soft "good-night." Mrs. Tetlow arose at dawn, and before be-fore it was time to prepare breakfast she had dressed her turkey and set it aside, ready for the oven. About nine o'clock she began to lay her table. Having smoothed out every wrinkle in the cloth, she gathered ail her geranium ge-ranium blossoms rind put them in the center of the table in a glass bowl. Then the silver, which had all been polished the day before, was brought forth from its canton flannel wrappings, wrap-pings, and Great-grandma Tetlow's blue china was. lifted down from the shelves of the china closet. "How good it is to see all these things out again !" exclaimed the old lady, surveying the result of her labor with pardonable pride; "and it's right good to have company once more," she added with a little sigh; "I've eaten alone so long." "I've nothing to do now," she said, "but to sit at the front window and watch for the folks to come. I'll be able to see them far up the meadow road." ' A few minutes later she was startled star-tled by hearing a knock at the front door, and, quite trembling with the shock, she arose to open it. "Good moru.ng, Mrs. Tetlow." It was Mrs. Clifford, the young doctor's I wife, who spoke. "Good morning, Mrs. Tetlow. Isn't this a beautiful Thanksgiving Thanks-giving day? Madam Clifford is out in the carriage and she wants to take you home to have dinner with us. j Please say you'll come ; and let me get your bonnet and shawl for you." Mrs. Tetlow looked down into the bright young face, with a dreamy happiness hap-piness in her own, as she slowly shook her head. , "You're real good." she said, "and I please tell Madam Clifford I'm just as much obliged to her. hut I can't come today. I'm I'm looking for company." There was a ring of tremulous pride in the old voice that went to the heart of the young woman. She looked look-ed up into the wrinkled old face and noted the strange glow of content and far-off happiness In the old eyes. Mrs. Clifford remembered it afterward i wilh a sense of awe. As she turned to go now she saw, i through the open door, a corner of the I long table, all ready for dinner. "I'm so glad for you, Mrs. Tetlow!" she exclaimed impulsively. "I hope you will have a pleasant Thanksgiving duv." Then she hurried back to her carriage, and Mrs. Tetlow returned to her rocking-chair by the window. "They're real late," she murmured to herself now and then, and a new, strange weariness and numbness crept over her as she sat and waited, her dim vision still wandering far up the meadow road. Suddenly she started forward with outstretched arms. "Peter:" she cried. "Mary!" and then sank back feebly In her chair. "I'm right glad to see you .,11 " she faltered, "but I seem to he a 'little tired. Just lay olT your things and draw up near the lire. It is grow-.r grow-.r chill v." She drew her shawl closer clos-er about her, with a little shiver as she spoke. 1 "Johnny, just put another stick in the stove ; that's a good boy." She closed her eyes a moment, murmuring, softly to herself, "I niusn't give out now; its nearly dinner time. I'll just rest till the others come." But soon she leaned forward again, a joyous smile on her lips. "Nannie!" she exclaimed, "and the blessed baby! I didn't see you come in. Sit here, child ; I'll hold the little one while you rest," and she began to croon softly as she rocked. "It is cold," she murmured again, "real cold ; but then it's Thanksgiving weather." Several moments slipped by, while the old clock alone broke the stillness ; then Mrs. Tetlow raised her head. "I smell lavender," she said. "Aunt Henrietta Hen-rietta ! I knew you had come. I smelled the lavender." "Grandma Spencer's in the best room," she added. "She came at sundown sun-down last evening and she seems real smart. What, Joe, you here, too ! Did you come in the back way? Uncle Solon and pa are in the barn, aren't they?" An anxious look suddenly clouded the sunshine in her eyes. "Nannie," she whispered, "will you just take a look at things in the kitchen. I seem to be a little tired, but there's nothing to do, I'll come soon." Her gaze wandered up the "meadow rond" again, the joyous look returning, "They're coming!" she cried at length. "They're coming; I can see the sleigh." Then she turned, as though some one had touched her elbow, and started back wonderingly. "My little Mary!" she faltered, with dimming eyes, "my little Mary, with her old rag baby ! I thought oh, father, fath-er, John, here is our little Mary!" With a beautiful gesture she clasped the child of her youth to her heart, and when she raised her eyes again it was to murmur, "Mother, father, Letty, Let-ty, Ehen what a grand Thanksgiving Thanksgiv-ing ! I didn't count on seeing you nil-why, nil-why, the room is full full but I have enough " The sun had gone down when Dr. Clifford drove by the old Tetlow place, on his way to see some patient. "So (he old lady is entertaining," he said to himself, remembering his wife's story, and then, glancing at the house, he drew his horse up suddenly. "No lights!" he exclaimed, and an in-tuilive in-tuilive implse made him stop. "I can't seem to go. by," he said, "I must just run in and see if all is well with the old lady." He hurried up Hie path and lifted the heavy knocker, but no one answered. an-swered. Then lhe doctor opened the door and walked in. "Mrs. Tetlow," he called, but the loud tick of the clock alone responded. Finally a sleepy cat emerged from the kitchen and rubbed against his leg. Dr. Clifford struck a match and lighted a lamp that stood on the hall table. Then he passed Into the slr-tingroom. slr-tingroom. The fire in the air-tight stove had gone out and the room had grown cold. Through a half-open door he could see dimly a long table, laid for many guests, but no plate had been disturbed. The doctor raised the lamp above his head and turned toward the front window. In the high-hacked rocker a slender, motionless figure loaned back among the cushions, but the old house was wrapped in peaceful stillness; for. wilh a wonderful smile upon her while lips. Mrs. Tetlow had gone forth Willi her Thanksgiving guests. |