Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-11-17
THAT CITY CHAP.

II seemed very ridiculous to Maria
Abigail Toxins that her mother Ma
~ she called her--would not let her.
Abigail. go to the party at neighbor
Watkins. It seemed not only ridicu-
Ious, 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
I, Is she kept repeating to herself al she
sat in her own room late that afternoon
looking mournfuliy Mt the new dress
spread ont ON the bed before her, and DC.
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 moments chat. she had very
good reason for keeping her daughter at
home that night.
Now. I'll tell you. Mrs. Hopping. be-
cause know you won't ever let it reach
any of the Watkinses" 1.-THE good lady
knew this to be the quickest and most
reliable way to get the story to neighbor
Watkins family "l'll tell You why I'm
keeping ABBY to home. You zee. Tom
Watkins has ben keepin company with
my girl for most six MONTH and he's
awful hard hit. If | let Abby go ter
night theirs no tellin what'll happen
She's Jest s 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,
wherell poor Tom bef tell y0u what
tbs. Mrs. Hoppin land here Mrs. Took
ms heaved deep sigh and leaned very
solemn face over the pan Of half peeled
potatoes), Il tell you twould I've down
right wrong wicked. for me to let that
young girl go and Jest p'rhaps ruin that
poor Toms life for him. now wuuldn't
ity'
Yes. indeed. Mrs. Toxins. the otha:
woman replied, IF you let her do serh Il
| thing you wouldn't desarve salvation
nohow:' and the pious Mrs. Hopping
rolled her horror stricken eyes toward
the rafters- Soon after She took hel
leave
| Az Mrs Toxins. standing on hel
doorstep. watched her friend watdlt
slowly down the road, she Thought Il
herself: Nov. eff she'll only be rea
quick an tell the Watkinses. | know it'll
bring Tom round When he thinks hs
may lose Abby guess he'll look alive
Mrs. Hopping. on the other hand. a.
she turned at the bend OF the road Il
| wave last goodby to her neighbor
said to herself: II know she thinks tha
doll faced little Abby of hers has go
ahead of my Sarah. but we'll see cal
kerlate Hannah Watkins won't be ove1
perticular pleased if | let her thinl
Susan Toxins loOkin for higher gam,
than her Tom for Abby; don't care t.
have EN- together much while that city
feller's round; guess it'll gall her ,
Bit And Mrs. Hopping chnckled t,
herself rs she tried to hurry along th,
/ road.
so the story was told half an hou
later at the Watkinses. Mrs Hopping
"jest happened to be passin their way
and thought she'd Jest stop in to le
them know Abby Toxins couldn't COM
that night. Too bad. wasn't til Blu
then Mrs. Toxins was always kinde
stuck up, etc.. until the rest of the story
as conceived by Mrs Hopping, had heel
told.
Meanwhile the poor girl on whose &C
count these good ladies' troubled them
selves so much sat lonely in her room
thinking OF the dance that she was b
miss, which all the others were to enjoy
and--of Tom
He would see them all but her, an,
Sarah Hopping, she knew she would b
extra nice to Tom tonight. and woul,
look SO pretty. and-oh. If Tom woul
only say whether he cared most for her
Abby. sitting here alone. thinking O
MIN. he had said everything else. and ye
he was 50 nice to the other girls, an
tonight he would see them all but her.
A thought seemed to strike her: slowl
she went down stairs into the kitchen
MA, can help you get the supper
mo. Abby. child. supper's all ready,
the mother replied. Now. you Just 81
down. and pail be in in a mint. an
we'll hev real good evenin together
wouldn't mind the old party"
Abby said nothing. and soon. a. Mr..
Toxins had predicted. Pa came il
Then they set down to table. and after
long grace. during which Abby's eye
would wander toward the clock. suppe
began. They didn't talk much. Ma wa
, thinking Now. I'm sure. eff Tom Wa
kins hears I'm keepin Abby away frol
, that city fe er on his account, he'll spea
right mp soon. or he amt the honest cha
took him fer, He amt goin to ios
ri her. don't think. but oh. my! he IN SLOW
, to be sure, in comm to the pint. As fe
Pa Toxins. he was utterly bewildere.
and SO held his peace. Ma had sal
Abby was goin to the party and the
, that she wasn't goin. Pa Toxins b
lieved these facts and asked no question
Abby. too, WAS silent. She was listenin
10 the occasional rumble Of wheels an
/ the sound Of merry voires III some
: the village folks drove by on their wa
ont to the Watkinses. besides. Abby W,
I thinking.
: At y o'clock that evening. after !
: Toxins had read the prayers and Mot
|. | ar Toulxing had aaid loud sAfneu