The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-29


4 the village folks drove BY on their way
/ out TO the Wntkinnes. besides Abby was
| thinking
! At o'clock that evening. after Pa
Toxins had read the prayers and Moth
or Toxins had said y loud Amen,
| Abby babe them good night Yes
\ she knew 1t was early, but she was tired,
20 on she went To her little room over
the best parlor. leaving her father and
mother comfortably ensconced in the
big kitchen arinchairs For awhile
4 they talked and nodded, nodded and
talked, till finally both fell into doze.
Half an hour later light step on the
front stair. that stair 80 seldom used in
the old farmhouse and an ominous
creaking OF the front door. opened hardly
from one years end to the other. told
that some one had gone cont into the
night
1t WAS Abby. dressed in all her finery
going TO the party She would not lei
all the other girls have Tom. when She
ahl she knew how pretty she looked az
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 80 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 bur
ried along the well known road. Then,
as she left the open country and entered
/ the wood. ii gentle signing OF the trees
overhead and the occasional sound Of Il
dead limb falling told this country girl
that storm was coming up.
She hurried on, breathIess, excited
thinking now Of but one object; Of that
one purpose which for u week had filled
her whole soul-of seeing Tom that
night and having him see her: Of hay
/ ing him look 1T her, know how beauti
/ ful she was, and then--of having him
tell her that he loved her: that she was
i the only one he loved And now the
wind was bowling through the trees and
beating her back with terrific force
4 Fiercer and fiercer 1t blew, until il
seemed rs If the great trees were doing
battle, swaying, bending their mighty
1 trunks and pelting eachsother with their
| shattered branches. On the girl went
through the storm; on, on, wild now
hardly needing the fury about her de
| terInined
/ crash falling limb struck her full
upon the forehead She sank with Il
cry, and then lay upon the road, quiet,
insensible to the furious blasts Of wind
and fearful sounds that filled the forest
Soon after. during lnll in the storm
4 a rumble Of wheels sounded MP the
road: wagon drove up. in il 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 ont 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 1t to this Watkins
farm he added impatioltly, as no
tried to make the girl comfortable.
Quarter Of mile. sir. the driver re-
piled. and once more they started on
Five minutes later the wagon drew up 8
before the Watkins house. The merry
company within was disturbed bya loud
knocking on the door. Mrs. Watkins
opened It, and seeing who her visitor
was said Hospitality:
.'Oh, you've come, .siri 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
"What!s "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 lays
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 moment she
looked lovingly into the young mans
face, and then said half dreauiily
"Oh, Toni Is it you? | came to see
yon through the storm, and now FIN
happy. The little head fell upon his
shoulder, and again the girl became IN
conscious.
The next day Mrs Toxins, her face
lighted with i happy smile, said to Mrs
Hopping, who came in to inquire after
that dear child, Abby. And to think
that it should all hev ben brought bout
by that city chap II. De w. in Har-
ward Advocate