The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-03-25
The sound draws nearer till il stop

delicious youth and innocence stream
out in the face of the night and salute
the intruders.
The first to enter is man, tall, and
slightly bent, with thin, aged face,
and fair, long beard, plentifully leav-
ened with gray hairs. He bends down,
with an air not quite in keeping with
his homely garb, and impresses q fer
vent kiss on the sweet, upturned face
that greets him. He then steps aside
with a courteous movement and dis
closes the figure of robust youth, with
a beardless face wreathed in smiles,
halfdiffident. haH-assured, altogether
guileless.
"Come in, Abe," says the little
hostess, rs he beams at her from the
doorway.
Smiling, Abe insinuates himself past
her, without word, merely rubbing
the top of his frost-smitten nose by way
of salutation.
In or about this hour, Abe Gilman
generally insinuated himself into the
presence of May, and beguiled his even
lngs 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 taste for litera-
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
peep at him that might have upset a
more confident youth.
Pm just goin' back to it," said Abe,
apologetically. Il only KEN for book
yer father promised to loan me-"
| Better stay for supper now, Abe"
said George Seton, in his quiet but
kindly way.
Don't require to be coaxed too much
before you consent" said Nav, with
mock gravity, and a merry twinkle in
her blue eye, that sent Abe into con-
vulsive litter, and brought him to the
table without further parley.
"Who went to Fairbank to-day" in
quired May, when she had set the meal
in full motion.
ABE, my dar; he brought you your
paper" nswered her father. 81 was
chopping wood all day; much warmer
work-eh. AbeP"
Eyes, SIR" returned Abe, with an
emphasis on the second word that left
no mistake as to his thorough agreement
with his friends opinion. Il 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 lady that KEN by the cars,
an she wanted to start straight away
for Mansfield, an she offered ten dollars
to any one that'd take her, an, by golly,
sir. she couldn't to save her life git one
that'd face it,"
"She was trump" laughed May,
"aud she'd face it herselfp"
Eyes, by golly, she would that" said
Abe; but she had so many shawls,
think she could have slep' in the snow
for week without being frozen"
cts a nasty road from here to Mans
field, such night" said George Seton
" but that was stiff ffprice."
'She may get some one -that'll take
her yet," said May.
"She may, and she mayn't," said be,
grinninS comfortably at the fire. II
Jack Price was around, don't think he'd
let so much money go. think he'd
skin himself an that horse of his for the
whisky that ten dollars'd buy"
Il fear he'd run the risk of it, Ace,
said George. smiling ~ Poor Jack is 3
rare fellow for his whisky"
Hush!' cried May, this is a sleigh
coming now; I'm sure heard the bells
Perhaps it's she. Look and see, Abe"
"He couldn't see his finger outside, IN y
DEAR" said her father, taking down his
pipe off the mantle and filling it, whilst
Abe rose to peep out.
The tinkling sound advanced rapidly
but it was dark us pitch, and sleet and
snow were travelling furiously 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 ht
noticed, with anxiety, that it was in
clinir9 dangerously near the side OF the
rop on which was the little ravine.
Onward came the snorting horse al
the top of his speed but closer and closer
to the brink of the highway.
Abe raised his hands and voice in
alarm to the driver, but his warning
was not heard, or heard too late, for thu
next instant the horse and sleigh haC
tumbled into the bed of frozen water.
The hoarse cry of a man in pain and /;
, stifled moan reached the ears of the
Mortified Abe, as he shouted out
George! Georgen'
But George, who had heard the crash
was on hand moment after the acci
dent with lantern, and, taking tn,
situation in at glance, first released tn,
furiously struggling horse, anG theI
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 hi
liberty, he scarce felt the pair, of hi
broken arm and bruised and blood.
face.
George Seton had already raised tn
other traveller in his arms, and
troubled loc k had gathered on his brow
! take that druken fellowback to tn
village, Abe he said, when Jack Pric
and his vehicle were once more in run
g ming order; land make all the hast
, you can back with the doctor. l fea
this is aserious case"
e "Is it the lady, fatherP" said May
5 who had come forward and was hold
J ing the lantern, rs George clambered u
J, to the road with the unconscious bu.
: die in his arms.
J, 81 suppose so, May" he replied. fo
lowing her into the cottage. "Wh,
D ever il is, is, l dread, badly hurt"
n May drew the lounge close to the fir
u and on it the insensible woman W;
D. laid.
r. Abe did not exaggerate when l
+ stated that the lady was well protecte
from the weather. She was wrappe
e and muffied up till her face was Il
of longer visible, and Mays first effor
7. were directed to relieve her from son