Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-07

IooKInS nad read the prayers and Ma
TookinS had said loud amen" Alb
by babe them good night. Yes. she
knew it was early. but she was tired.
50 off she went to her little room over
the best parlor, leaving her father and
mother comfortably ensconsed in the
big kitchen armchairs. For awhile
they talked and nodded, nodded and
talked, till finally both fell into doze.
Half an hour later a light step on
the front stair-that stair So seldom
used in the old farmhouse an
ominous creaking of the front door.
opened hardly from one years end to
the other, told that some one had gone
out into the night.
1t was Abby. dressed in all her fine
ry. going to the party. She would not
let all the other girls have Tom. when
she-ah. she knew how pretty she
looked as 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 discov-
ed. So here she was, walking alone
on this dark, cloudy night the mile be-
tween her own house and Nei@hbor
w eLbhIiio
For while all went well as she hur-
ried along the well-known road Then,
she left the open country and entered
the wood, a gentle signing of the trees
overhead and the occasional sound OF
a limb falling told this country girl
that storm was coming up.
She hurried on. breathless. excited.
thinking now of but one object; of that
one purpose which for a week had
her whole soul-of seeing Tom that
night and having him see her; of hav-
.ing him look at her. know how beauti-
full she was, and then-of having him
tell 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 it blew. until it
seemed as if the great trees were do
ing battle, swaying, bending their
mighty trunks and pelting each other
with their shattered branches On
the girl went through the storm; on,
wild now, hardly needing the fury
about her, determined.
Crash! A falling limb struck her
full upon the forehead. She sank with
a cry, and then lay upon the road,
quite insensible to the furious blasts of
wind and fearful sounds that filled the
forest.
Soon after. during a IulI in the
storm, rumble of wheels sounded up
the road and a wagon drove up; in it
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 out and
help me lift this girl into the wagon;
she's hurt Thank heaven I didn't
wait in the village all night, How
much further is it to this Watkins
farm?" he added impatently, as he
tried to make the girl comfortable
"Quarter of a mile, sir" the driver
replied, and once more they started
ON.
Five. minutes later the wagon drove
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. sirl 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" a young man coming from
the inner room exclaimed, and, with
out waiting for coat and hat, he went
out with the stranger to the wagon.
And then he saw who it was that lay
there Taking her in his strong arms,
he carried her gently into the house.
As the warnrn and light touched her,
Abby opened her eyes. For a moment
she looked lovingly into the yoang
mans face, and then said half dream
lily:
ooh, Tom! is it you? I came to see
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 a happy smile, said to
Mrs. Hopping, who came in to inquire
after that dear child. Abby. "And to
think that it should oil hev ben
brought bout by that city chap. -
H0rr0rd 4AdUocGte.