Charlevoix county herald., 1912-10-12


couldn't get 10 rods II was 10 di'
for IT,"
Miss Minnie had reached town and
mailed her letter and started bacl
again when the storm broke. Befors
1t came she thought she could make
out human figure on the road ahead
OF her, but wasn't sure, The very frs
gust picked her up and turned he,
around and deposited her under q
roadside tree. She remained there
until the gale began to whip the
branches off, and then let go hel
hold and ran for It, There were limbs
falling all about her. and the hail
stones peppered her until she ran al
most bllndiy. She hadn't gone 9
quarter OF a mile when, as she
crpuched and covered her face, she
was struck by flying limb and knew
no more.
II 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 q farmhouse. His
lusty calls for help soon brought out
man. and the senseless burden WINS
carried into the house and received
by woman.
ct 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"
well 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 nor 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 cloth and a
basin Of water and washed away the
blood and whispered to the stranger:
"I 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
to go 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.
"No. I don't reckon so. I 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 strange girl
to the neighborhood?
'I've heard say it was Uncle Bob's
niece, and that she come from the
city, What ails you. stranger? Does
this storm upset you?"
It wasn't the storm. Percy Kincald
had quarreled 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 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 re-
Tented; within three he was making
every effort to locate her, that he
might patch up n peace. He had sue
ceeded. He was going to throw him
self on her mercy and ask Uncle Rob-
ert for place at his Thanksgiving
table.
The storm grew fercer 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 lis
door. It was Thanksgiving day. AT
Uncle Roberts there was a feast to
be spread; at Bradleys there was
hardly better than poorhouse fare.
But the victim of the accident was no
longerIn bed, and the rescuer no
longer cared about the weather, and
the farmerfolks looked at each other
and smiled and whispered
Even if we had turkey and Gran.
berry sauce don't believe they'd cat
a single mouthful. They've just sor-
ter 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 a way that
was almost heartless:
"Why do you take on so? I never
had such a lovely Thanksgiving in
all my life!"