Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-09-04
TOMS DAUGHTER
BY LoTTIE W. SIMMONS

\ fo>tai air prrvadrd the Brent
home ro its last nook and corner.
Tho. urr" ru~o> IN tuo dining room,
ca'aa.I.u> ia the parlor and on tn"
SNAIL iarun,-u table in th" guest
room shallow ho,N of vioirl~ whose
delicate fra -auro ha',d each zrI''yr
from 'hr ~u.nl -d'apcd. open window.
hiul. M"r-arc' and Pauline, me
tire" charm ia, daI-h'yr> ot The house
hold. H.ttcd about in a state Ut de-
hctuu~ excitement, for the noon train
was bringing Harley Hayden, cou-
sin, from the East.
Il wonder what he looks like now?"
drawled Kitty from her perch on the
wide arm of vv.uudu seat.
Il hope he's handsome" Gi@EIed
Pauline rs She airiiy executed few
steps of the latest dance.
Il hope he's still as nice Is he used
to be when ne WAS little boy" said
Margaret, rcmiut>c'ntIy.
Ju~' thea train whistle brought lit
tie Shrieks Of delight from the girls
and catching up caps and sweaters
they piled into The Brent motor car
at the gate, waved Il goodbye TO
mother, who appeared in the door
way and sped away with Kitty at the
wheel
Only a short distance to the station,
but when halfway there the engine
went dead.
"Oh. whatever can be the matter"
cried Margaret and Pauline in
breath. Kitty made hurried examiaa,
tlnI.
NO gasoline ;" she reported IN tragic
tones. well, there's no help for il; we
will have to 80 back for some"
Ind before we can get to the sta
ton now Hartley will have given US
up" pointed Pauline.
1T isn't far e. the station from here"
said practical Margaret, You 20 on
Kitty, and Polly and will 20 for the
gasoline"
As the train drew up at the small
WeStcrl town which was his destina.
ton. Hartley Hayden stepped out and
looked about him.
~ see no one resembling my fair cou-
sins" thought he. remembering their
written promise TO meet him.
The station was nearly deserted
when a slim young girl in leather
jacket and leggings entered. Her hands
were filed with n mass of Wild flow
ers ard rs her gaze for a moment
swept Hartley's face, he thought,
Surely this Is dark-eyed Margaret"
~ beg your pardon" lifting his cap,
"yOu are Margaret Brcnt7"
''Uh. no." IN the shyest, sweetest
voice he had ever heard. You are
seeking the Brents? | will show you
the way, but first | must leave these
flowers for the station masters sick
they turned to 60 when young lady
WIS seeg approaching. kitty Brent"
Informed the girl at his side. you will
not require my services"
"But you are coming--you will
waltz" incoherently. "No." and she
turned away On the veranda that
evening Hartley asked the question
that had beea In his heart for hours.
who is the girl was speaking with
as you came up, Kitty?" Kitty and
Pauline exchanged gianCes.
"Oh that was Tom Lanes daughter.
You haven't told me-shaIl we play
auction or bridge at our party tomor'
! row uightf'
ut Is lmmaterial to me, Kitty. really,
! isis Miss Lane coming?"
"Oh, my, no! No one invites her"
| "Why?" shot back Hartley,
"Why-why because she Is Tom
Lanes daughter. suppose" was the
confused reply. Hes been queer, they
say. ever since his wife died when
J Elsie was q tiny baby"
The next day was hot and sultry, Mr..
Brent, who had been absent for some
DAYS. returned at noon. He seemed 10
he anxious over something, Later,
when uuestionod, he replied;
~ do not like the looks of the wealth
err Scarcely had he spoken when n
! low, kissing sound seemed TO oil Tie
! mir,
"A tornado he shouted. ITO the
cellar all Of yon,"
But the whirlWind was npon them
With a terrific crash the house, which
stood In the path of the storm, vas
in ruins with human lives beneath the
Wrecka &c.
Sotne moments after a wild-eyed
girl rushed to the scene nf disaster
Alone and uaaided she eXtfiCated Kit
~ md Pauline. who were badly
bruised and hystericnl. Margaret was
unconscious. Could she get her clear
Desperately she tug@ed at the debris
sElsie. I will help you as soon as
get my arm clear" His voice, Shs
turned in time to see him wrench ms
arm free-and SwUOn. Margaret free
at Inst. she turned to Mr.. and Mrs
Rrnnf. summed but otherwise unhurt
oruarentlv. She fairly few 10 the Red
Cross Headquarters whore help wa'
snocaily being dispatched In manr III
rertions, Securing aid for the Brent'
and him she turned her weary
atoms homeward thanking her heavenly
father that she had been able 70 assist
IN the saving of precious lives.
Some days later the Brent family in
,act and Hartley Hayden We're visitini