Mountain advocate., 1912-11-29

down the road and see II you can see
her"
Cant see hide nor hair OF any
girl" reported Uncle Robert after go
ing out to the highway and taking a
long look
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 a breeze that soon strengthen
ed into 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 a storm!
couldn't get ten rods II was to die
for it,
Miss Minnie had reached town and
mailed her letter and started back
again when the storm broke. Before
1t 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 I'M
til the gale began to whip the
branches off. and then let go her hold
and ran for it. There we're limbs fall
ing all about her, and the hailstones
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
flying limb and knew no more.
II vas 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 II until he
saw a 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 a woman.
81 don't know who she is, but
found her in the road" explained her
rescuer. There is blood on her hair.
and think she was struck down"
Well 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, ana 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:
IT don't think she's bad hurt She's
Just tainted away with the scare of 4
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 I'm wlis.
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 It a strange girl to the
neighborhood?
I've heard say II was Uncle Bob's
niece. and that she come from the
city What ails you. stranger? Does
this storm upset you?"
II wasn't the storm. Percy Kincaid
had quarreled with the girl he loved
and had asked to be his wife. II was
about nothing. almost. as most lovers
auarrels are. but pride on either side
held on a reconciliation until the
lover finally learned that Miss Minnie
had gone on a journey and left no
word for him. She was going 10 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
was going 10 throw himself on her
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 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 feast 10 Be
spread; at Bradley's there was hardly
heifer than noorhouaa fara.. RIk M