The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-11-28

for IT,"
Miss Minnie had reached town and
mailed her letter and started back
again when the storm broke. Before,
II came. she thought she could make
out human figure on the road ahead
OF ner, but wasn't sure. The very first
gust picked her up and turned her
around a ] deposited her under
roadside tree. She remained there UNI
I'll the gale began to whip tho
branches of. and then let go her hold
and ran for 1t. There we're limbs fall
ing all about her, and the hail'stones
peppered her until she ran almost
blindly. She hadn't gone a quarter OF
a mile when. as she crouched and COW
cred her face, she was struck by o
flying limb and knew no more.
1t was the dim sight of the girl and
the scream she uttered when hit that
sent the man who was clinging to tho
roadside fence back into the highway.
He bent over the unconscious form
and picked II up and staggered back
to the fence and followed 1t until he
saw light and found the gate OF
farmhouse. His lusty calls for help
soon brought out man, and the
senseless burden was carried into the
house and received by woman.
Il don't know who she is. but I
found her In the road" explained her
re5cuer There is blood on her hair,
and think she was struck down"
Wen do all we can" replied the
man and the woman together. but
you mustn't look for much. We are
mighty poor folks. We haint got no
camphor nor whisky, ana as for get
ting a doctor out from town-it cant
be done tonight"
Tho 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 n cloth and p
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 u
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 ms they talked in whis-
pers in the outer room.
"No. don't reckon so. reckon It's
that new girl that arrived at Turner's
a few days ago. saw her going to
wards the village two hours ago"
Arrived at Turner's! Say. man, are
you sure? Is II strange girl to the
lghborhood?"
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 your"
II 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 OF n reconciliation until tho
lover finally learned that Miss Minnie
had gone on a Journey and left no
word for him She was going to spend
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 n peace. lie had succeeded He
was going to throw himself on her
mercy and ask Uncle Robert for a
place at his Thanksgiving table.
1ho gtor,, n,roa. ~, tI,o
advanced The girl woke and then
slept n 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.
Il was Thanksgiving day. At Uncle
Roberts there was feast to bo
spread: at Bradley's there was hardly
better than poorhouse fare. But the
'ictlm OF the accident was no longer
n bed, and the rescuer no longer
AIRED about the weather, and the
armer folks looked at each other and
imiled and whispered
Even II we had a turkey and cram.
,erry sauce I don't believe they'd eat
single mouthful. They've Just sorter
ound each other, and are tickled to
Ieath."
And when ut last they could make
heir way to Turner's and Uncle Bob
uttered and Aunt Harriet cried for
oy. Miss Minnie asked in a way that
vas almost heartless:
Why do you take on so? never
ad such lovely Thanksgiving in all
ny lfe!"
Copyright 1912. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)