The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-01-09

small village of Gibbsborough. 1t was
Late in the autumn and the weather
was cold and gloomy, while the near
est neighbor was nearly mile away;
yet they were never lonesome, for the
honeymoon was scarcely over and they
were still very fond of each others So
.ciety.
Mr.. Gibbs, Sr., lived at Gibbsborough,
and the two families were on the very
best of terms. The young people were
very comfortably situated as Freeman
owned his farm, free of incumbrance,
and had just sold his interest in man
ufacturing enterprise at the village for
three thousand dollars in cash. So the
future outlook was exceedingly bright
E.Dr the young couple.
The money for the quarter interest
In the factory was paid over to Mr.
Gibbs at his house one forenoon late in
November. Before he had time to
take it to the bank driving snow
storm set in, andnhe concluded to wait
until the morrow rather than face such
n tempest, although he realized that
everybody at the village probably
knew there was a large sum in his
possession. A robbery had not been
committed in the vicinity for years,
and besides that Freeman was
courageous fellow who always kept a
revolver within reach; so he had no
fears for the safety of his money.
The storm increased in violence as
The night came on, and by dark there
were eight inches of snow that the
furious wind was rapidly whirling into
great heaps Mr.. Gibbs and his wife
retired quite early, and, lulled by the
roar of the storm without, they were
soon sleeping as only light-hearted
young people can sleep.
1t was almost midnight when
laundering knock at the door aroused
them both. Thrusting his head out of
the window, Mr.. Gibbs called out:
+Who is there?"
Lewis lakewood" was the answer.
Your father has just had shock and
cannot live till morning If you wish
10 see him alive, come Immediately.
Lewis Lakewood was his father
nearest neighbor, so Freeman never
had a doubt of the mans identity or
the truth of his tidings. OF course
anxiety for his stricken parent at
once overcame all fear of the terrible
storm
Dare you stay alone and let me go,
Nettie?" said he to his wife. mo team
can get through, so it is out of the Dues
Gion for you to attempt to get there
IN this bitter tempest. AS for me, | feel
sas II j must see my father once more.
POOr father"
Certainly I dare" was the ready
answer, for Nettie Gibbs was no
coward mo one will get out in this
storm TO trouble me, and you will be
back early in the morning. / wall sit
by the fire and read, so you need have
no fears for me-"
Thus encouraged Mr. Gibbs was soon
dressed and at the door, but when he
opened it he was greatly surprised to
aind that there was no one there. The
midnight messenger was gone.
His tracks were plain upon the
steps, however, and without an in
stant's hesitation Freeman plunged
antO the blackness of the bowling
Storm. His fathers health was of far
-ansOre Importance to him than Lewis
Jaekwood's abrupt and unexpected de-
Parture.
His progress was necessarily slow for
Nhe snow was already deeply drifted.
Step by step he fought his way through
IL, but more than an hour went by before
he reached his destination Another
surprise awaited him there, for thD
whole house was dark and silent. There
was not even a CLEAN of light in it from
garnet 10 basement.
He speedily aroused the whole house,
hold, only to learn that his father was
in his customary health and that Lewis
Lakewood had been gone away from
home for two days. Then Freeman
zeInembe bered the money and tremblod
for his unprotected wife, alone in tae
. darkness of midnight and that terrible
storm. With just word of explana-
zion he started out on his return, if pos
sable more anxious and alarmed than
Ehen he came.
But he got along slower than ever,