Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-22

"Come in, Abe, says the little host
ess, as he beams at her from the door
way.
Smiling, Abe insinuates himself past
her, without word, merely rubbing the
top of his frost-smltten nose by way Of
salutation.
In or about this hour, Abe Gilman
generally insinuated himself into the
presence of May, and beguiled his even
ings in the company of her and her
father George Seton had some books
which greatly interested him, especially
when read to him by the owner or his
daughter, and he occasionally borrowed
one, though frequently puzzled by some
of the words; for Abe was not much of
a scholar, but he had a taste for itera-
ture, and for Mays society, which was
a sort of education in itself
"You haven't had supper, Abe, !" said
May, invitingly, to the visitor, with n
peep at him that might have upset
more confident youth.
"Im just goin' back to it," said Abe,
apologeticany. 81 only KEN for a book
yer father promised to loan me"
"Better stay for supper now, Abe"
said George Seton, in bis quiet but
kindly way.
"Don't require to be coaxed too much
before you CONSENT" said May, with
mock gravity, and a merry twinkle in her
blue eye, that sent Abe into q convul-
sive litter, and brought him to the table
without further parley.
Who went to Fairbank to-day?" IN
CURED May, when she had set the meal
in full motion.
"Abe, my dear; he brought you your
paper" answered her father. 81 was
chopping wood all day; much warmer
work-eh, Abe?"
eyes, SIR" returned Abe, with an
emphasis on the second word that left
no mistake as to his thorough agreement
with his friends opinion. 81 never
thought I'd get home. There wasn't a
soul to be seen in the village, 'cept what
was keepin' the stove warm in the store.
There was a lady that KEN by the cars,
and she wanted to start straight away
for Mansfield, an she offered ten dollars
to any one that'd take her, by gosh, sir,
she couldn't, to save her life, get one
that'd face it.
"She was trump" laughed May,
=" and she'd face 1t herself?'
"Yes, by golly, she would that" said
Abe; "but she bad 80 many shawls, an
furs, an wraps with her, that | think
she could have slep' in the snow for
week without being frozen"
Its a nasty road from here to Mans
field, such night, said George Seton;
"but that was a stiff price"
"She may get some one that'u take
her yet" said May.
"She may, and she maynt," said Abe,
grinning comfortably at the fire. eff
Jack Price was around / don't think he |
would let SO much money so. / think
he'd skin himself ap' that boss of his for
the whisky ten dollars'd buy
Sc fear he'd run the risk of it, Abe"
said George, smiling. "Poor Jack is n
rare fellow for his whisky"
"Hush !" cried May, "this is sleigh,
coming now; I'm sure | heard the bells.
Perhaps it's she. Look and see. Abe"
"He couldn't see his finger outside,
my dear" said her father, taking down
his pipe off the mantle and filing it,
whilst Abe rose to peep out.
The tinkling sound advanced rapidly, |
but it was dark as pitch, and sleet and
snow were travelling frriously with the
wind.
Abe could see nothing from the door
step, so he ran down to the wooden |
bridge that spanned the frozen stream.
He could now discern the dark object |
coming furiously toward him, but he
with anxiety, that it was inclin-
ing dangerously near the side of the road |
on which was the little ravine
Onward came the snoring horse at
the top of his speed, but closer and closer
to the brink of the highway
Abe raised his hands aid voice in
alarm to the driver, but his warning was |
not heard, or heard too late, for the next I
instant the horse and sleigh had tumblcd |
into the bed of frozen water.
The hoarse cry of man IN pain and
stihed moan reached the ears of the hor
rified Abe, as he shouted out, George
Georgei"
But George, who had heard the crash,
was on hand a moment after the acct
dent with a lantern, and, taking the
situation in at u glance, first released the
furiously struggling horse, and then
lifted up the heavy sleigh that had COM
pletely turned over on the occupants.
Jack Price-for he it was was SO full
of whisky that, when he regained his
liberty, he scarcely felt the pain of his
broken arm and bruised and bloody face.
George Seton had already raised the
other traveleri in his arms, and n troubled
look had gathered on his brow.
"Take that drunken fellow to the vii
lage, Abe, he said, when Jack Price and
his vehicle we're once more III running