The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-10-14
ONE RAINY NIGHT.
The Moon Made a Prophecy That
Came True.

blew furiou>ly and cold; the rain came
down in torrents: thunder rOarrd aud
lightning dashed. Without the ground
wa~ one vast sheet of water. rushing
and gurgling in it, haste 20 s-olS its
level.
Uncle Joe thrust aside the big double
blanket which he had tackled mp for
safety al ,hr window and p--red out.
and A. the same moment there was a
iond clap QSthunder. followed quickly
hy Il vivid Hash Of lightning: the old
fellow pat the curtain back quickly in
it, piau- aud with dilatcd eyes. his
fingers IN nis ,.ar>. hr gave "a long
whistle ami sought security ia the
next room.
lie threw himself down across the
bed, clapped Il pillow over his head.
and wIs beginning II doze, when the
front door Wa opened and closed sud
denly.
jumping mp. the old man laul.ea IN
great astDnishInent al a young woman
who was standing near the door She
was entirely envclop-d IN a CAV patch
work quilt, from which there tr,cAled
down 10 the foor little streams of water.
If ii ain't Bessie Edwards you may
hang me. Hess her soul," exclaimed
Uncle Joe.
L haven't a moment 10 STAY. Uncle
Joe. said the young girl, hurriedly.
Il only ran iu 10 borrow your oilcloth
coat tiil morning. This quilt is 50
soaked " ith rain that its weight inter
f,.res with my walking, and / have d
good distance II %.
Il am on my way for the doctor. and
when I've seen him / mast 20 back
again Ia Mrs. Bells. She il very low.
and / fear TO find her dead when 1 re-
turn"
I-ncle Joe trotted into the next room
ami returucd Immediately with the
coat lie helped her 10 put il 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.
Uncle does companion, who had been
sitting So quietly up in the corner, now
came forward, and. extending his hand
to the Young woman, said with smile:
lit isn't necessary for you TO go any
further looking for doctor | am he.
Miss Edwards, at your service
well. well" said Uncle Joe. Il was
so broken mp with this dear child l
forgot DR.. Harris was within forty mile.
Beg your pardon, doctor"
But the doctor was looking down at
the pluclly girl beside him and waiting
for her ia speak.
DIR Harris. Mrs. Bell needs your
services sorely. Please lose no time.
Twill follow you."
Miss Edwards" he asked. ''how do
Won expect to get back To Mrs. Bells
tonight"
Just as / came, sir. ! walked. ran,
Jumped. climbed, waded and crawled.
/ guess tried every style and manner
of step and gait except tIat Of swim
ming"
Well. II has rained considerably
since YOU passed the gully, mile from
here. and I know positively it is SO
swollen now that IL viii take stronger
arms than yours to swim over. II you
undertake. 1t you will be drowned
Don't think Of SO dangerous an under
taking, but jump up behind me and
we'll both get there safely"
Bessie. feeling there was nothing else
To do, from the top step jumped up be-
hind, as requested.
The storm was nearly over when the
doctor and Bessie rode of, and the
horse stumbled and splashed along the
clouds became higher and lighter.
broke and revealed the moon, which
turned her full face 20 one side, looked
at the pair. the maid with her hands
laid lightly on her escorts shoulder To
prevent her falling. The moon nudged
a star-winked her wise eye and
made prophecy, while the stars
blinked and made - note OF IL.
The next morning Uncle Joe made
an early visit to the doctors. lie asked
about their little journey together. the
health of the patient and young lady.
and finally asked him how he liked the
little girl, and the doctor frankly de-
clared his admiration and deep friend
ship for her, which 80 delighted IN" old
man that he arose, gave him hrm
pressure of the hand, and promised to
treat Ia cigars the next time they met
in town.
shes no kin of mine. do tor, though
| wish she WAS. I've beer here so long
that every body calls me II Icle. and She
does like the rest
I've known her sine. she was a
young baby. Poor child. Her life ain I
been all SunfiOwers an h. OssouIs. Her
pa and ma both died b fore she was
fourteen. and all they left her was
their house and the scrap of ground it,
settin' on.
The first thing she did was to rent
out her house. except the two back
rooms, which she used herself. To {
family she knew we'll; then She put uE
a seamstress' sign, and in no time she
was overrun with work.
And when any body was sick she al
ways did her share of nursing, an she