The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-12
THE WATKINS'S PARTY.


gail Toxins that her mother" Ma" as
che called her-would not let her, Abigail
go TO the party at Neighbor Watkins 1t
seemed not only ridiculouo, but unjust, for
during the two weeks preceding the event
full party night, ma had not only approved
OF her going, but had even helped her make
new dress for the occasion, and now tho
night having arrived, for no apparent rea-
son she had declared that Abby must stay
at home.
This was Abby's side OF the story, and
this she kept repeating to herself as she
eat in her own room late that afternoon,
looking mournfully at the new dress
spread out on the bed 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 rebelliously.
But Mother Toxins tale was very dif-
ferent. AS she told her good friend, Mrs.
Hopping, who had Just stopped in for q
moments chat, she had very good rea-
son for keeping her daughter at home
that night.
Snow, Pil 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 neighbor
Watkins's family, I'll tell you why I'm
keeping Abby to home. You see, Tom
Watkins has been keepin' company with
my girl for most six month, and he's
awful hard hit. II let Abby 20 Knight
theirs do tellin' what IL happen. She's jest
Is like as not TO get struck with that city
feller that's comm down to spend
the summer over TO the Watkins's. They
do say, them that see him before, that
he's mighty pleasant. Now, then, wherell
poor Tom be? / tell you what tits, Mrs.
Hoppin'" (and here Mrs. Toxins heaved
deep sigh and leaned very solemn face
over the pan of half peeled potatoes), 81
tell you twould be downright wrong,
wicked, for me to let that young girl go
and jest p'rhaps ruin that poor Toms life
for him, now wouldn't it?'
Yes, indeed Mrs. Toolxins," the other
woman replied, I" IL you let her do sech
thing you wouldn't desarve salvation no
how" and the pious Mrs. Hopping rolled
her horror stricken eyes toward the
rafters Soon after she took her leave.
AS Mrs. Toxins, standing OH her door
step, watched her friend waddle slowly
down the road, she thought to herself:
"Now, ef she'lr only be real quick an tell
the Watkinses, l know it'll bring Tom
round When he thinks he may lose
Abby guess he'll look alive"
Mrg. Hopping, on the other hand, as
she turned at the bend ofthe road TO wave
a last good-by to her neighbor, said to
herself: "I know she thinks that doll
faced little Abby of hers has got ahead of
my Sarah, but we'll see. ! calkerlate
Hannah Watkins won't be over particular
pleased il let her think Susan Tookins'
r,,,1 for hf..la hat hos To
Abby; don't care to have 'em together
much while that city feller's round;
guess it'll gall her bit." And Mrs. Hop
ping chuckled to herself as she tried to
hurry along the road.
So the story was told half an hour later
at the Watkinses. Mrs. Hopping "iest
happened to be paesin' their way, and
thought shed 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" &c, until the rest of the story, as
conceived by Mrs. Hopping, had been
told.
Meanwhile the poor girl on whose ac-
count these good ladies troubled them
selves 80 much, sat lonely in her room,
thinking of the dance 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-he
was so nice TO the other girls, and to-
night he would see them all but her" A
thought SCENE to strike her; slowly sho
went downstairs in TO the kitchen. Ma,
can help you get the supper?'
"No, abby, child, supper's oil ready"
the mother replied. Now, you just sit
down, Uf5 pa1l be in in a mint and wen
hev a al good evenin' together - /
woulGn' 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 towards the clock, supper began.
| They didn't talk much. Ma was thinking.
"Now, Pm sure, ef Tom Watkins hears
I'm keepin' Abby away from that city
feller on his accourSc he'll speak right up
soon. or he amt the honest chap j took
him fer. He amt goin' to lose her,
don't think, but, oh. myl he's slow, TO be
sure. in comm to the pint" AS for Pa
Toxins, he was utterly bewildered, and
and 80 held his peace. Ma had said Abby
wss goin' 70 the party and then that che
wasn't going. Pa Toxins believed these
facts and csked no questions. Abby, too,
was silent. She was listening 90 the occa-
sional rumble OF wht. Is and the sound OF
merry voices, as some OF the village
folk drove by on their way out TO the
/ Natkinses; besides, Abby was thinking.
1 At 8 O'Clock that evening, after Pa
! Toxins had read the prayers and Mother
/ Tookinn had said loud Amen" Abby
bade them good night. "Nes," she knew
/ Il was carly, hat she was tired, so OF she
went 10 her little room over the best par
lor. leaving her father and mother com
fortably ensconced In the big kitcaer
srmchairs. For awhile they talked anS
nodded, nodded and talked, TIL hna'l.
both fell into doze.
Half an hour latey q light step on th