Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-26

ed into q gale. In Ave minutes the
gray afternoon had become twilight.
In IL there was cold rain and lively
hail. and Uncle Robert was blown in
to the kitchen to exclaim:
Il told her It was going to be Q
buster. and that she mustn't blame
me. I started down the road to meet
her. but Lordy what a storm! I
couldn't get 10 rods II I was to die
for III"
Miss Minnie had reached town and
mailed her letter and started back
again when the storm broke. Before
It came she thought she could make
out a human figure on the road ahead
Of her, but wasn't sure. The very first
gust picked her up and turned her
around and deposited her under a
roadside tree. She remained there
until the gale began to whip the
branches of, and then let go her
hold and ran for It. There were limbs
falling all about her. and the hail
stones peppered her until she ran al
most blindly. She hadn't gone a
quarter Of a mile when, as she
crouched and covered her face, she
was struck by a flying limb and knew
no moro.
1t was the dim sight OF the girl and
the scream she uttered when hit, that
sent the man who was clinging to
the roadside fence back into the
highway. He bent over the uncon-
scious form and picked 1t up and
staggered back to the fence and fol.
lowed It until he saw a light and
found the gate of a farmhouse. His
lusty calls for help soon brought out
a man. and the senseless burden was
carried into the house and received
by a woman.
Il don't know who she is, but I
found her in the road" explained her
rescuer "There Is blood on her hair.
and I think she was struck down"
We'll do all we can" replied the
man and woman together, but you
mustn't look for much. We are
mighty poor folks. We hain't got no
camphor o whisky, and as for get
ting a doctor out from town-it
can't be done tonight"
The girl was carried into the only
bedroom and laid on the only bed.
and when her wet clothing had been
removed and she was between the
sheets. the woman got a cloth and a
basin Of water and washed away the
blood and whispered to the stranger:
Il don't think she's bad hurt. She's
Just tainted away with the scare of It.
When she opens her ayes I'll tell her
to 90 to sleep. and she'll be all right
In the morning"
from the village?" asked the stranger
OF the farmer as they talked in whis-
pers In the outer room.
mo, I don't reckon 20. ! reckon
it's that new girl that arrived at
Turner's a few days ago. I saw her
going towards the village two hours
ago"
arrived at Turner's! Say, man.
are you sure? Is. It a strange girl
to the neighborhood?"
1--WE heard say 1t was Uncle Bob's
niece, and that she come from the
city. What ails you. stranger? Does
this storm upset your"
1t wasn't the storm. Percy Kincaid
had quarrelled with the girl he loved
and had asked to be his wife. 1t was
about nothing, almost, as most low.
ers' quarrels are. but pride or either
side held of a reconciliation until
the lover finally learned that Miss
Minnie had gone on a journey and
left no word for him. She was going
to spend Thanksgiving week in the
country. Within two days she had re-
Tented; within three he was making
every effort to locate her. that he
might patch up a peace. He had sue
ceeded. He was going to throw him,
self on her mercy and ask Uncle Rob.
ert for a place at his Thanksgiving
table.
The storm grew fiercer az the
night advanced. The girl woke and
then slept a dreamless sleep. and the
lover had long hours in which to
ponder and think. When another day
came even the cattle could not face
the storm nor man move from his
door. II was Thanksgiving day. At
Uncle Roberts there was a feast to
be spread; at Bradley's there was
hardly better than p%oorhouse fare.
But the victim Of the accident was no
longer in bed, and the rescuer no
longer cared about the weather. and
the farmer-folks looked at each other
and smiled and whispered:
Even II we had turkey and cram
berry sauce I don't believe they'd eat