Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-04-15
wn family, an | soon began to feel at

ward thing or other, whenever | went
nigh her.
81 don't think I'd have felt quite SO
shy If had known her opinion Of me;
for wasn't a bad lookin' chap in my
young days-broad shouldered an
straight as an arrer-with big hazel eyes
an brown hair, as full of crinkles as
curled maple.
81 hadn't been to Mr.. Beams long be-
fore | found out that Sue had beau.
His name was Silas Peterkin, son Of the
store-keeper down at the village
HE was o white-faced, slim-waisted
feller, with little hands an feet, that I'd
been ashamed to own, but which he
seemed to feel mighty proud Of
s'He used to come to see Sue about
twice week, dressed in his store clothes,
and lookin' as if he'd just stepped out Of
band-box.
"Sue never seemed to act as though
she had any partic'lar likin' FOR Silas; but
twas easy seen that the old folks set
great store by him an was mighty pleas
ant at the idea of his steppin' up to their
darter.
Gas for me, never see him sittin' by
Sue, an smirkin' up into her face, but
what felt as if I wanted to fling him,
head first out Of the winder.
$50 matters went on until September,
when Mr.. Bean gave a huskin' party.
"We young fellers set to work with a
will, an afore sunset the corn was all
husked and piled away, and the barn
floor swept clean for the dance an sup
per we was to have in the evenin'.
sPretty soon the women folks began
to flock in, all dressed in their best, an
looEin' as fresh an bloomin' as flower
garden after shower.
"But Sue was the prettiest Of the hull
lot, dressed in her white frock, with the
pink ribbon tied around her waist.
"Silas Petcrkin, he was there. of course,
an as soon as I see him I went to the
house.
= was standin' on the back steps,
out of sorts with myself an everybody
else, heard voice say:
"Davidp
can turning round, I saw Sue, lookin'
as smilin' as basket Of chips.
"'Ain't you comm down to the barna'
says she.
ct ruther guess I amt wanted, says
l.
"oh, yes, you are, says she; I want
you.'
"she looked and spoke SO sweet that
I was e'enamost a mind to go. But
Jest then heard Silas calm her; an
mutterin' somethin' about havin' some
tools to grind, walked off.
81 was most sorry fort, though, when
/ caughta sight of her face as she walked
away with Silas, an saw how sober it
was.
ssSittin' down on the back steps,
went to work; the raspin' of my file
soundin' a deal pleasanter to my ears
than the fiddlin' that tloated up from the
barn down in the medder.
ut had been uncommonly hot for a
number Of days past, but this had been
the hottest one Of all. Not leaf moved,
an there was somethin' unnatural in the
stiffness of everythin' around. There was
strange look to the sky, too; it was
streaked overhead with purple an vi'let,
with sort of yellow glare in the west.
"Old Bose, the dog, who had been
wanderin' restlessly about for the last
hour, now set up mournful howl.
s'When I went to fodder the cattle /
found the poor critters huddled together
in one corner of the yard, utterin' low bel
lows of terror and dismay, their instincts
warning them, as all these signs did me,
of the tornado that was approachin'.
"Goin' back to the house I shut every
door and winder.
"Then thinkin' Of the folks in the barn
that was the most in danger Of any
thin II ran down through the garden to-
ward the medder where it stood.
sBut had hardly gone two rods be-
fore it came -Eftin' me off my feet an
hurlin' me against an opposite fencel
II picked myself up an hurried on. As
I come in sight of the barn-or, ruther,
where 1t once stood--the air was filed
with dust an fyin' shingles an timberl
As soon as it cleared away a BIT, / saw
Sue standin' in most perilous position
right in the midst Of it
II shouted to her to come away; and
Jest then the wind took her up as if she
was but a afeather, bearin' her directly to-
ward me. opened my arms, an, she
came right into them.
ssAs she did SO, one Of the fyin' sticks
hit one Of my arms, maxim it useless;
but holdin' her tight with the other, l
took her to some low bushes in a little
hollow between two hills.
1.-THE tornado was as short as it was
violent, and though good deal Of dam
age was done, luckily, no one was hurt
much.
"Sue escaped without scratch. Ny
arm was broken; but considerin' who
nursed me, you needn't waste any pity
on me for that
II heard arterward, as soon as the
alarm was given, Silas Peterkin took to
bis heels, an never stopped until he
reached his fathers door.
tsWhether he heard that the old man