Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-22

opens, and fragrant, warm smell, and
bright gleam of light, and smile of
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 n 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 courteous movement and dis
closes the figure of robust youth, with
beardless face wreathed in smiles,
halfdiffident. half-assured, altogether
guileless.
Come in, Abe" says the little
hostess, as he beams at her from the
doorway.
Smiling. Abe insinuates himself past
her. without n 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
ings in the company OF her and her
father. George Seton had some books
which greatly interested him, espe cially
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
n sort of education in itself.
"You haven't had supper. Abe" said
May, invitingly, to the visitor, with a
peep ut him that might have upset a
more confident youth.
I'm just goin' back TO it," said Abe,
apologetically. 81 only kem for a 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 May, with
mock gravity, and merry twinkle in
her blue eye, that cent Abe into a con-
vulsive litter, and brought him to the
table without further parley.
"Who went to Fairbank to-dayP" in
qhired May, when she had set the meal
in full motion.
ABE, my d ar; he brought you your
paper" answered her father. Il was
chopping wood all day; much warmer
work-eh. AbeP"
"Yes, 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 a lady that KEN by the cars,
an she wanted to start straight away
for Mansfield, an she offered ten dollars
/ m fatr Ia hxrs
sir, she couldn't to save her life git one
that'd face it."
"She was trump" laughed May.
land she'd face it herseltP"
"Yes, by golly. she would that" said
Abe; "but she had so many shawls,
| an furs, an wraps with her, that
think she could have slep' in the snow
for n week without being frozen"
It's nasty road from here to Mans
field. such night. said George Seton !;
but that was q stiffprice."
"She NAV get some one-that'll take
her yet" said May.
"She may, and she mayn't, said Abe
grinning comfortably Mt the fire. :" If
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"
II fear he'd run the risk of IL, ADe, q"
said George. smiling. Poor Jack is a
rare fellow for his whisky"
Hushi" cried May, "this is sleigh.
coming now; I'm sure heard the bells
Perhaps it's she. Look and sec. Abe"
''He couldn't see his finger outside my
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 IL was dark as 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 he
noticed, with anxiety, that 1t was in
clinirg dangerously near the side oil the
roe on which was the little ravine.
Onward came the snorting horse Mt
the top of his speed. but closer and closer
tn the brink Of the highway.
Abe raised lis hands and voice In
alarm to the driver, but his warning
was not heard, or heard too late, for the
next instant the horse and sleigh had
tumbled into the bed of frozen water.
AhC hohfs VI VI - MAN III pam anu II
stifled moan reached the ears of the
horrified Abe. as he shouted out,
"Georgel GeorReW
But George, who had heard the crash,
was on hand a moment after the acci-
dent with a lantern, snd, taking the
situation in at glance, first released the
furiously struggling horse, ano then
lifted up the heavy sleigh that had COM
plptnly turned over On tho oerfiuanta
Jack Price-for he 1t was-was so full
of whisky that. when he regained his
liberty, he scarce felt the pain of his
broken arm and bruised and bloody
face.
George Seton had already raised the
other traveller in bis arms, and a
troubled lof k had gathered on his brow.
Take that drnken fellow back to the
village, Abe he said, when Jack Price
and his vehicle were once more In run
ming order; land make all the haste