, 1892-02-23
THAT CITY CHAP.

1t seemed very ridiculous to Maria
Abigail Toxins that her mother-'Ma,'
as she called her-would not let her,
Abigail, go to the party at 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 to herself as she
sat in her own room late that afternoon,
looking ~mournfully at the new dress
spread out On the bed before her, and oc-
casionally dashing the back of her hand
across her eyes to wipe away those tears
which. do what she would, persisted in
rising rebelliously.
But Mother Toxins tale was very
different. AS she told her good friend,
Mrs. Hopping, who had just stopped in
for a moments chat, she had n very
good reason for keeping her daughter at
home that night.
Now, I'll tell you, Mrs. Hopping. be-
| know you won't aver 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. I'm tell you why I'm
keeping ABBY to home. You see, Tom
Watkins has ben keepin company with
my girl for most a six month, and he's
awful hard hit. If | let Abby go ter
night theirs no tellin whatn happen.
She's jest 3 like as not to get struck with
that city Teller 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,
where1l poor Tom be2 / tell you what
tbs, Mrs. Hoppin'" (and here Mrs. Took
ins heaved u deep sigh and leaned IA very
solemn face owe the pan of half peeled
potatoes), ii tell you 'twould be down
right wrong, wicked. for me to let that
young girl go and jest p'rhaps ruin that
poor Toms life for him, now wouldn't
ity'
Yes. indeed, Mrs. Toxins" the other
woman replied, ''if you let her do sech a
thing you wouldn't desarve salvation
nohow;" and the pious Mrs. Hopping
iOiAIa q "a bLiiChCh C1C5 bOMdio
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 t.
herself: Now, eff she'll only be real
quick an tell the Watkinses, | know it'll
bring Tom round. When he thinks he
may lose Abby ! guess he'll look alive"
Mrs. Hopping, on the other hand, as
she turned at tho bend of the road to
wave a last goodby to her neighbor
said to herself: II know she thinks that
doll faced little Abby of hers has got
ahead of my Sarah, but Wen see. | cal
kerlate Hannah Watkins won't be over
Particular pleased if | let her think
Susan Toxins lookin for higher gam
than her Tom for Abby; don't care to
have 'em together much while that city
f%eller's round; | guess it'll gall her a
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
Jest happened to be passin their way,
and thought she'd jest stop in to let
them know Abby Toxins couldn't come
that night. Too bad, wasn't it? But
then Mrs. Toxins was always kinder
stuck up ETC., until the rest of the story,
ns conceived by Mrs. Hopping, had been
told. u
Meanwhile the poor girl Oh whose ac-
count these good ladies troubled them
selves so much sat lonely in her ROOM,
thinking of the dance that she was to
miss, which all the others were to 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 but her."
A thought seemed to strike her; slowly
she went down stairs into the kitchen.
Ma, can | help you get the SUPERB
No. Abby, child, supper's all ready"
the mother replied. Now, you Just sit
down, and pail be in in a mint, and
we'll hev a real good evenin together-I
wouldn't mind the old party"
Abby said nothing, and soon, as Mrs.
Toxins had predicted, Pa came in.
Then they set down to table, and after a
long grace, during which Abby's eyes
would wander toward the clock, supper
began. They didn't talk much. Ma was
thinking. Now, I'm sure, eff Tom Wat
kins hears I'm keepin Abby away from
that city Teller on his account. he'll speak
right up soon, or he amt the honest chan
l took him fer. He amt goin to lose
her, | don't think, but oh, myi 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 Toxins be-
lieved these facts and asked no questions.
Abby. too, was silent. She was listening
- the occasional rumble of wheels and