Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-11-28

An hour later, with both uncle and
aunt fidgeting about their girl visitor,
the black clouds that had been
banking up for hours began to advance
before breeze that soon strengthen
ed into a gale. In five minutes the
gray afternoon had become twilight.
In fifteen there was cold rain and live
ly hail, and Uncle Robert was blown
into the kitchen to exclaim:
81 told her It was going to be a
buster, and that she mustn't blame
me. l started down the road to meet
her, but Lordy what storm! /
couldn't get ten rods If I was to die
tor it,"
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 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
roadside tree. She remained there un-
I'll the gale began to whip the
branches off, and then let go her hold
and ran for It, There were limbs fall
ing all about her, and the hail-stones
peppered her until she ran almost
blindly She hadn't gone a quarter Of
mile when as she crouched and COW
cred her face, she was struck by
flying limb and knew no more.
It 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 unconscious form
and picked it up and staggered back
TO the fence and followed It until he
saw a light and found the gate Of a
farmhouse. His lusty calls for hefp
soon brought out man, and the
senseless burden was carried into the
house and received by a woman.
"I don't know who she is, but I
found her in the road" explained her
rescuer "There is blood on her hair,
and think she was struck down"
We'll do all we can replied the
man and the woman together, but
you mustn't look for much. We are
mighty poor folks. We hain't got no
camphor nor whisky, and as for get
ling 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
zI1 hotx hn
sheets, the woman got cloth and
basin of water and washed away the
blood and whispered to the stranger:
II don't think she's bad hurt She's
Just tainted away with the scare Of It.
When she opens her eyes I'll tell her
20 20 to sleep, and she'll be all right
In the morning"
DO you think It's some young lady
from the village?" asked the stranger
Of the farmer as they talked in whis-
pers in the outer room.
mo- don't reckon SO. reckon It's
that new girl that arrived at Turner's
few days ago. saw her going to-
wards the village two hours ago."
you sure? Is 1t a strange girl to the
neighborhood?'
"I've heard say 1t was Uncle Bob's
niece, and that she come from the
city. What ails you. stranger? Does
this storm upset you?"
1t wasn't the storm. Percy Kincaid
had quarreled with the girl he loved
and had asked to be his wife. 1t was
about nothing, almost, as most lovers
uuarrels are but pride on either side
held off 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 relented;
within three he was making every ef-
fort to locate her, that he might patch
up a peace. He had succeeded. He
mercy and ask Uncle Robert for
place at his Thanksgiving table.
The storm grew fiercer as the night
advanced. The girl woke and then
slept 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.
1t was Thanksgiving day. At Uncle
Roberts there was feast to be
spread; at Bradley's there was hardly
better than poorhouse 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 il we had turkey and cram
berry sauce | don't believe they'd eat
q single mouthful. They've just sorter
found each other, and are tickled to
death"
And when at last they could make
their way to Turner's, and Uncle Bob
suffered and Aunt Harriet cried for
Joy, Miss Minnie asked in way that
was almost heartless:
why do you take on SO? I never
had such a lovely Thanksgiving in all
my life!"
Copyright. 1912, by the Mcclure News.
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