, 1892-02-23

the SOUND OF merry voices, as some OF
the village folks drove by on their way
out to the Watkinses, besides. Abby was
thinking.
At 8 o'clock that evening, after Pa
Toxins had read the prayers and Moth
err Toxins had said a loud Amen"
Abby babe them good night. YES"
she knew it was early, but she was tired.
SO of she went to her little room over
the best parlor, leaving her father and
mother comfortably ensconced in the
big kitchen armchairs- For awhile
they talked and nodded, nodded and
talked, till finally both fell into a doze.
half an hour later a light step on the
front stair, that stair SO seldom used in
the old farmhouse, and an ominous
cracking of The front door, opened hardly
from one years end to the other, told
that some one had gone out into the
night.
1t was Abby, dressed in all her finery,
going to the party. She would not let
all the other girls have Tom, when she
ahl she knew how pretty she looked as
she stood before the little glass in her
room. This she had not forgotten to do,
In spite of heR hurry-in spite Of the
dread of being discovered. So here she
was. walking alone on this dark, cloudy
night the mile between her own house
and Neighbor Watkins.
For awhile all went well as she hur-
ried along the well known road. Then,
as she left the open country and entered
the wood, a gentle signing of the trees
overhead and the occasional sound of a
dead limb falling told this country girl
that n storm was coming up.
She hurried on, breathless, excited,
thinking nov of but one object; Of that
one purpose which for a week had filed
her whole soul-of seeing Tom that
night and having him see her; of hay
ing him look at her, know how beauti-
full she was, and then-of having him
tell her that he loved her; that she was
the only one he loved. And nov the
wind was bowling through the trees and
beating her back with terrific force.
Fiercer and tiercer it blew, until it
seemed as II the great trees were doing
battle, swaying, bending their mighty
trunks and pelting each other with their
shattered branches. On the girl went
through the storm; on, on, wild now
hardly needing the fury about her. de-
termined.
Crashl a falling limb struck her full
upon the forehead. She sank with a
cry, and then lay upon the road, quiet,
insensible to the furious blasts Of wind
and fearful sounds hat filled the forest.
Soon after, during a luIl in the storm,
a rumble of wheels sounded up the
road, a wagon drove up; in it were two
men. AS they reached the dark form
lying so still, they stopped. One Of
them, leaping to the ground, bent over
the young girl and lifted her head.
Here, driver" he said, ''get out and
help me lift this girl into the wagon;
she's hurt. Thank heaven | didn't
wait in the village all night How
much farther is it to this Watkins
farm he added impatiently, as he
tried to make the girl comfortable.
Quarter of a mile, sir" the driver re-
piled, and once more they started on.
Five minutes later the wagon drew up
before the Watkins house. The merry
company within was disturbed by a loud
knocking on the door. Mrs. Watkins
opened it, and seeing who her visitor
was said Hospitality:
"Oh, you've come, sirl Why, we
thought you must ha' missed the night
train. Come right in out of the
There's trouble out here" he inter
rupted her.
"Whatr' a young man coming from
the inner room exclaimed, and, without
waiting for coat and hat, he went out
with the stranger to the wagon.
And then he saw who it was that lay
there. Taking her in his strong arms,
he carried her gently into the house. AS
the warmth and light touched her, Abby
opened her eyes. For a moment she
looked lovingly into the young mans
face, and then said half dreamily:
"Oh, Toni is it your | came to see
you through the storm, and now-Tm
happy" The little head fell upon his
shoulder, and again the girl became I'M
conscious.
The next day Mrs. Toxins, her face
lighted with a happy smile, said to Mrs.
Hopping, who came In to inquire after
that deal child, Abby, "And to think
that it should all hev ben brought bout
by that city chap."-H. De w. in Har-
ward Advocate.