The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-29
THAT CITY CHAP.

Abigail Toxins that her mother" Ma.
ns she called her would not let her
Abigail. 90 to the party nj neighbor
Watkins 1t seemed not only ridicu-
Ions, but unjust for during the two
weeks preceding the eventual party
night. ma had not only approved Of her
going, but had even helped her make Il
new dress for the occasion. and now the.
night having arrived, for no apparent
reason she had declared that Abby mls
stay Mt home
This was Abby side OF the story, and
this she kept repeating to herself ~ she
sat in her own room late that afternoon.
looking nournfully ut the new dress
spread ont on the Ted before her, and oc-
casionally dashing the back of her hand
across her eyes To wipe away those tears
which do what she would. persisted in
rising repelionsly
But Mother Toxins tale was very
different. As she told her good friend
Mrs. Hopping, who had inst stopped in
for moments chat. she had very
good reason for keeping her daughter lit
home that night.
"Now, I'll tell you. Mrs Hopping. be-
cause know you won't ever let it reach
any Of the Watkinses" (the good lady
knew this to be the quickest and most
reliable way to get the story to neighhor
Watkins family, "l'll tell yen why I'M
keeping ABBY TO home. You see, Tom
Watkins has ben keepin coafpany with
my girl for most six month and he's
awful hard hit III let Ahby 20 ter
night theirs no teilin what'll happen
She's jest q like as not to get struck with
that city Teller that's comm down to
spend the summer over to the Watkins
They do say, them that nee him before
that he's mighty pleasant, Now, then,
where'll poor Tom be2 | tell you what
tits, Mrs. Hoppin' land here Mrs. Took
ms heaved deep sigh and leaned very
solemn face over the pan Of half peeled
potatoes) Il tell you 'twouid bs down
right wrong. wicked, for me to let that
young girl go and jest prhapa ruin that
poor Toms life for him, now wouldn't
1tY'/
Yes. indeed. Mrs. Tookina, the other
woman replied. '.if yon let her do sech il
thing you wouldn't desarve salvation
nohow;'' and the pious Mrs. Hopping
rolled her horror stricken eyes toward
the rafters. Soon after she took her
leave.
Az Mrs. Toxins, standing on na-
doorstep. watched her friend waddle
slowly down the road. she Thought To
herself: Nov, eff she'll only he real
quick an tell the Watkinses. know it'll
bring Tom round When he thinks he
may lose Abby guess he'll look alive
Mrs. Hopping, on the other hand rs
she turned at the bend Of the road to
wave a last goodby to her neighhor
said to herself: n know she thinks that
doll faced little Abby of hers has g,r
ahead of my Sarah. but we'll SEQ cal
kerlate Hannah Watkins won't be over
particular pleased if let her think
Susan Tookins' lookin for higher game
than her Tom for Abby; don't care to
have EN- together much while that city.
feller's round; guess it'll gall her a
bit. And Mrs Hopping chuckiedto.
herself as she tried to hurry along the
road
SO the story was told half an.hour
1ater at the Watkinses Mrs. Hopping
lest happened to be passin their way.
and thought she'd jest stop in to let
them know Abby Toxins couldn't come
that night Too bad, wasn't it, But
then Mrs. Toxins was always kinder
stuck up, etc. until the rest OF the story.
as conceived by Mrs. Hopping, had been
told
Meanwhile tie poor giriNoaexhose ac-
count these good ladies troubled them.
selves SO much sat lonely in her room,
thinking of the dance that she was to
miss. which all the others were to enjoy
and--of Tom.
He would see them all but her, and
Sarah Hopping, she knew she would be
extra nice to Tom tonight, and would
look SO pretty, and-oh, il Tom would
only say whether he cared most for her,
Abby, sitting here alone. thinking Of
him. he had said everything else, and yet
The WAS SO nice to the other girls, and
tonight he would see them all but her
A thought seemed to strike her; slowly
she went down stairs into the kitchen
Ma, can help you get the supper"
No. Abby, child, supper's all ready"
the mother replied. Now, you just sit
down. and pail be in in mint, and
well hey a real good evenin together
wouldn't mind the old party"
Abby said nothing, and soon, as Mrs
Toxins had predicted, Pa came in
Then they set down to table. and after a
long grace, during which Abby's eyes
would wander toward the clock, supper
began. They didn't talk much. Ma was
thinking. NOW, I'm sure, ct Tom Wat
kins hears I'm keepin Abby away from
that city Teller on his account, he'll speak
right up soon. or he amt the honest chap
z took him fer. He amt goin to lose
her, don't think, but oh, myl he is slow,
to be sure, in comm to the pint" AS for
Pa Toxins. he was utterly bewildered,
and SO held his peace. Ma had said
Abby was goin toEthe party and Their
that she wasn't goin. Pa Toxins be
Ilieyed these facts and asked no questions
ABBY. too. was silent. She was listening