Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-01-19
THAT CITY CHAP.

as she called her-would not let her,
Abigail. go 10 the party ut neighbor
Watkins. II seemed not only ridicu-
lous, but unjust, for during the two
weeks preceding the eventful party
night, ma had not only approved of her
going. but had even helped her make a
new dress for the occasion, and now the
night having arrived, for no apparent
reason she had declared that Abby must
stay at home.
This was Abby S side of the story, and
this she kept repeating 10 herself as she
sat in her own room late that afternoon,
looking mournfully at tho new dress
spread out on the bed before her, and oc-
casionally dashing the back of her hand
across her eyes 10 wipe away those tears
which. do what she would. persisted in
rising reDeliously
But Mother Toxins tale was very
different. As she told her good friend,
Mrs. Hopping, who had lnst stopped in
for moments chat. she had very
good reason for keeping her daughter nj
home that night.
"Now, III 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 family. III tell you why I'm
keeping ABBY TO home. Iou see, Tom
Watkins has ben kcepin company with
my girl for most Il six month, and he's
awful hard hit II | let Abby go ter
night theirs no tellin whatll happen.
She's Jest 5 like as not to get struck with
that city feler that's comm down TO
spend the summer over to the Watkins.
They do say, them that see him before,
that he's mighty pleasant. Now, then,
wherell poor Tom be2 | tell you what
tbs, Mrs. Hoppin' (and here Mrs. Took
ins heaved a deep sigh and leaned a very
solemn face over the pan Of half peeled
potatoes), IL tell you 'twould be down
right wrong. wicked for me to let that
young girl go and jest prhaps ruin that
poor Toms life for him. now wouldn't
it?'
"Yes. indeed, Mrs. Tookins,' the other
woman replied, 'if you let her do sech a
thing you wouldn't desarvc salvation
nohow;" and the pious Mrs Hopping
rolled her horror stricken eyes toward
the rafters. Soon after she took her
leave.
As Mrs. Toxins. standing on her
doorstep, watched her friend waddle
slowly down the road, she thought to
herself: Nov, ef she'll only be real
quick an tell tho Watkinses, know it'll
bring Tom round When no thinks he
may lose Abby guess hell look alive"
Mrs. Hopping. on the other hand, as
she turned at the bend Of the road to
wave a last goodby TO her ncighbor
said to herself: Il know sho thinks that
doll faced little Abby of hers has got
ahead of my Sarah. but Won see. cal
kerlate Hannah Watkins won't be over
particular pleased if | let her think
Susan Toxins lookin for higher game
than her Tom for Abby; don't care to
have em together much while that city
feller's round; guess it'll gall her q
bit" And Mrs. Hopping 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
lest happened TO be passin their way,
and thought she'd jest stop i'll to let
them know Abby Toxins couldn't come
then Mrs. Toxins was always kinder
stuck up. etc, until the rest Of the story,
as conceived 10y Mrs Hopping. had been
told.
Meanwhile the poor girl on whose ac-
count these good ladies troubled them
selves SO much sat lonely ~ her room
thinking of the dance that she was to
miss. which all the other, were 10 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, If 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
tonight he would see them all bat her..
A thought seemed To strike her; slowly
she went down stairs into the kitchen
Ma, can help you get the supper"
"No, Abby, child, supper's all ready"
the mother replied. Now, you just sit
down. and pail DO in in Il mint, and
we'll hev real good cvenn togcther-l
wouldn't mind the old party"
Abby said nothing, and soon, as Mrs.
Toxins had predicted, Pm came in.
Then they set down to table, and after
long grace, during which Abby's eyes
would wander toward the clock, supper
began. They didn't talk much. Ma was
thinking. Nov, I'm sure, cf Tom Wat
kins hears I'm keepin Abby away from
that city feller on his account, he II speak
right up soon, or he amt the honest chap
| took him fer. He amt goin to lose
aer, | don't think, but oh, my! he is slow,
to be sure, in comm to the pint" As for
Pa Toxins. he was utterly bewildered,
and SO held his peace. Ma had said
Abby was goin to the party and then
that she wasn't goin. PA TooSins be-
lieved these facts and asked noQucations.
Abby. too. was silent. She was listening
to the occasional rumble OF wheels and
the sound of merry voices as some e..
the village folks drove by on their way
out to the Watkinses besides Abby was
thinking.
At o'clock that evening, after Pa
Toxins had read the prayers and Moth
or Toxins had said Il loud Amen"
Abby bade them good night. Yes
she knew it was early. but she was tired,
90 of she went TO her little room over
the best parlor, leaving her father and