The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-12

front stair-that stair so seldom used ir
the old farmhouse-and an ominous creak'
ing OF the front door, opened hardly
from one years end TO the other, told that
some one had gone out into the night.
IL was Abby, dressed in all her finery
going TO the party. She would not let al
the other girls have Tom, when she-ah! [!
she knew how pretty she looked as shs
stood before the little glass in her room
This she had not forgotten TO do, in spit
OF her hurry--in spite of the dread OF be
ing discovered. So here she was, walkin
alone in the dark, cloudy night the mile
between her own house and neighbor
Watkins's.
For while all went well, as she hurried
along the well-known road. Then, as she
left the open country and entered the
wood, gentle signing Of tho trees over
head and the occasional sound OF dead
limb falling told this country girl that q
storm was coming up.
She hurried on, breathlcss, excited,
thinking now OF but one object; OF that
one purpose which for n week had filled
her whole soul-of seeing Tom that night
and having him see her; of having him
look at her, know how beautiful she was,
and then--of having him tell her that he
loved her; that she was the only one he
loved. And now the wind was bowling
through the trees and beating her back
with terrific force.
Fiercer and fiercer IL blew, until il
seemed as IL 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 fiery about her, deter
mined.
Crashl falling limb struck her full
upon the forehead. She sank with cry,
and then lay upon the road, quiet, insensi-
BILE to the furious blasts of wind ard fear
ful sounds that filed the forest.
Soon after, during lull in the storm, a
rumble OF wheels sounded up the road; a
wagon drove up; in il were two men. AS
they reached the dark form, lying so
still, they stopped. One Of them, leaping
to TIE 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 l didn't wait
in the village all night! How much fur
ther is it 10 this Watkins farm?" he added
impaticntly, as he tried TO make the girl
more comfortable.
Quarter OF 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, sir! Why, we thought
you must had missed the night train.
Come right in out of the"
"There's trouble out here" he inter
rupted her.
"What" young man coming from
the inner room exclaimed, and without
waiting for coat land hat, he went out
with the stranger to the wagon.
And then he saw who il 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, Tom! is it you? came to sec you
through the storm, and now-I'm happy"
The little head fell upon his shoulder, and
again the girl became unconscious.
The next day Mrs. Toxins, her face
lighted with happy smile, said to Mrs.
Hopping, who came in to inquire after
that dear child, Abby "And TO think
that it should hev ben brough bout by
that city chap. Harvard Advocate.