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Why Not Ask Miss Price?
by
“You’re right, Mother dear, as you always are, and we are very selfish girls. We will ask Miss Price and try to give her a nice time. I’ll go down this very evening and see her.”
* * * * *
In the grey twilight of the chilly autumn evening Bertha Price walked home to her boarding-house, her pale little face paler, and her grey eyes sadder than ever, in the fading light. Only two days until Thanksgiving–but there would be no real Thanksgiving for her. Why, she asked herself rebelliously, when there seemed so much love in the world, was she denied her share?
Her landlady met her in the hall.
“Miss Allen is in the parlour, Miss Price. She wants to see you.”
Bertha went into the parlour somewhat reluctantly. She had met Frances Allen only once or twice and she was secretly almost afraid of the handsome, vivacious girl who was so different from herself.
“I am sorry you have had to wait, Miss Allen,” she said shyly. “I went to see a pupil of mine who is ill and I was kept later than I expected.”
“My errand won’t take very long,” said Frances brightly. “Mother wants you to spend Thanksgiving Day with us, Miss Price, if you have no other engagement. We will have a few other guests, but nobody outside our own family except Mr. Seeley, who is the law partner and intimate friend of my brother Ernest in town. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“Oh, thank you, yes,” said Bertha, in pleased surprise. “I shall be very glad to go. Why, it is so nice to think of it. I expected my Thanksgiving Day to be lonely and sad–not a bit Thanksgivingy.”
“We shall expect you then,” said Frances, with a cordial little hand-squeeze. “Come early in the morning, and we will have a real friendly, pleasant day.”
That night Frances said to her mother and sister, “You never saw such a transfigured face as Miss Price’s when I asked her up. She looked positively pretty–such a lovely pink came out on her cheeks and her eyes shone like stars. She reminded me so much of somebody I’ve seen, but I can’t think who it is. I’m so glad we’ve asked her here for Thanksgiving!”
* * * * *
Thanksgiving came, as bright and beautiful as a day could be, and the Allens’ guests came with it. Bertha Price was among them, paler and shyer than ever. Ernest Allen and his friend, Maxwell Seeley, came out from town on the morning train.
After all the necessary introductions had been made, Frances flew to the kitchen.
“I’ve found out who it is Miss Price reminds me of,” she said, as she bustled about the range. “It’s Max Seeley. You needn’t laugh, Al. It’s a fact. I noticed it the minute I introduced them. He’s plump and prosperous and she’s pinched and pale, but there’s a resemblance nevertheless. Look for yourself and see if it isn’t so.”
Back in the big, cheery parlour the Thanksgiving guests were amusing themselves in various ways. Max Seeley had given an odd little start when he was introduced to Miss Price, and as soon as possible he followed her to the corner where she had taken refuge. Ernest Allen was out in the kitchen talking to his sisters, the “uncles and cousins and aunts” were all chattering to each other, and Mr. Seeley and Miss Price were quite unnoticed.
“You will excuse me, won’t you, Miss Price, if I ask you something about yourself?” he said eagerly. “The truth is, you look so strikingly like someone I used to know that I feel sure you must be related to her. I do not think I have any relatives of your name. Have you any of mine?”