The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-10

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Eh With every hard gust
- OF wind the doors and
l| windows ratified and
the floor and walls trembled. Without
the ground was one vast sheet of wa
ter, rushing and curling inits haste to
seek it's level; leaves, twigs and great
punches OF moss flew through the air
as On wings, while trees swayed from
side to side, bent down to the ground,
cracked until they were twisted in
twain, and fell victim to the temp
est.
The wildness of the weather was
not very soothingto nervousness, and
Uncle Joe Bennett, who was easily ex-
cited at any time, and during storm
'doubly so, barred up his windows and
began walking up and down across
the floor, increasing and decreasing
his speed according to the velocity of
the storm. This evening was no ex-
'ception to the rule, and Uncle Joe
was taking his usual exercise, while
his companion, who had twice offered
to administer something that would
quiet him, and had been refused with
the avowal that it" wasn't no good to
swaller too many drugs" sat angrily
up in one corner reading, while most
OF his sympathy for the old man was
overcome with amusement at his ex-
pense.
Uncle Joe thrust asidethe big double
blanket which he had tucked up for
safety at the window and peered out,
and at the same moment there was a
loud clap OF thunder, followed quickly
by a vivid flash of lightning, which
darted through the broken pane OF
glass and advanced lightly over the
floor, sending g. chill of fright through
the old fellow, who put the curtain
back quickly in its place, and with d.
lated eyes, his fingers in his ears, he
gave a low whistle and sought security
in the next room.
He threw himself down across the
bed, clapped a pillow over his head
and was beginning to doze when the
front door was opened and closed
suddenly. Jumping up the old man
looked in great astonishment at g.
young woman who was standing near
the door. She was entirely developed
in q gay patchwork quilt, from which
there trickled down to the floor little
streams of water. Her face was we'll
besprinkled with rain, her cheeks
flushed and her eyes luminous.
eff it amt Bessie Edwards you may
hang me. Bless her soul!' exclaimed
Uncle Joe, going forward and taking
the wet quilt from around her and
leading her to a chair. But she made
no motion to seat herself.
81 haven't a moment to stay, Uncle
joe" said the young girl hurriedly.
~ only ran in to borrow your oil
cloth coat till M morning. This quilt is
so soaked with rain that its weight
interferes with my walking and have
yet q good distance to 60. l am on
my way for the doctor, and when I've
seen him 1 must 90 back again to Mrs.
Bell. She is very low, and 1 fear to
find her dead on my return. I hated
to leave her, but since there was no
one else anywhere to call on I had to
CO."
Uncle Joe trotted into the next room
and returned Immediately with the
coat. He helped her put it on, after
which he pressed down on her head an
old hat of his that came we'll down
over her ears and partly over her
face. The old fellow smiled, and
bessie, catchiDga glimpse OF herself in
the little mirror on the wall, burst
out laughing. Uncle Joe's companion,
who had been sitting so quietly up in
the corner, now came forward, and,
extending his hand to the young WON
an, said with smile:
ut isn't necessary for you to 20
any further looking for the doctor. I
am he. Miss Edwards, at your SER
vice."
"Well, WE'LL" said uncle Joe. .lwas
so tooken up with this dear child
forgot DR.. Harris was within fortv
mile. Beg your pardon, DOCTOR"
But the doctor heard not word of
the old mans speech. He was looking
down at the plucky girl beside him and
waiting Tor him to speak. She was
looking at him and admiring him. She
wished she was attired more becoming
ly, but there was no time for vain
wishing. So she said: r
CDR. Harris, Mrs. Bell needs your
services sorely. Please lose no time in
attempting at least to allay her suffer
ing. l will follow you"
"Can get there by riding, or is the
road blocked by fallen TIMBER"
"You can ride much better than
you. can walk" said Bessie, "though
your path will be zigzag, unless both
horses and rider are number one
jumpers. Trees are strewn every
where" .,,- ~..
Uncle Joe opened the door and
stood looking, first at the sky, then at
the ground, just as the doctor rode up
to the front steps Ola his way into the
road. .-. .-s. 81. T. s.4a -. Ii, 5.ss,
miss Edwards," he called. "How
do you expect to get back to Mrs.
Bells to-night9" EsT at
AUST as came, sir. walked, ran,
jumped, climbed, waded and crawled.
guess I tried every style and manner
of step and gait except swimming"
"Well, it has rained considerably
since you passed the gully, amile from
here and know n0sitivnIv r. ia 90