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


ii was ABBY. drehsed in all her tinef
going to the party She would not let
all the other girls have Tom. when She
ahI 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 discovered SO 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 hur-
ried along the we'll known road. Then,
rs she left the open country and entered
the wood gentle signing of the trees
overhead and the occasional sound OF a
dead limb falling told this country girl
that a storm WAS coming up
She hurried on. breathless. excited.
thinking now of but one object: Of that
one purpose which for week had filed
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 he loved 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 1t blew. until it
seemed ~ if the great trees were doing
battle. swaying, bending their mighty
trunks and pelting each other with their
shattered branches. On the girl went
through the storm; on. on. wild now,
hardly needing the fury about her. de-
termined.
Crashi falling limb struck her full
upon the forehead. She sank with a
cry. and then lay upon the road, quiet,
insensibIe to the furious blasts of wind
and fearful sounds that filled the forest.
Soon after. during a lull in the storm,
rumble of wheels sounded up the
road; Il wagon drove up; in it 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 out 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 it to this Watkins
farm he added impatiestly, as he
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
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, sir! Why, we
Thought you must ma missed the night
train. Come right in out of the
There's trouble out here" he inter
rupted her.
What! 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 lay
| there. Taking her in his strong arms
he carried her gently into the house. Al
the warmth and light touched her. Abby
opened her eyes. For moment she
looked lovingly into the young man!
face and then said half dreamily:
| ''Oh. Toni Is 1t you? | came to SET
you through the storm, and now-Tn
happy" The little head fell upon hi
shoulder. and again the girl became I'M
conscious.
The next day Mrs. Toxins. her fac'
lighted with happy smile. said to Mrs
Hopping who came in to inquire afte
that dear child. Abby. "And to thinl
that it should all hev ben brought 'bou
by that city chap H De W. in Har
| ward Advocate.