The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-02-28

tain, and were riding along lis WOODED
crest in search of the spot for the view
and the picnic. Williams rode beside me.
'Crayon,' said he. Il am heartily sorry for
your misfortune.'
Il replied, tartly. that l was not aware
Of having met with any serious mistor-
tune. or OF standing particularly in need
Of any ones sympathy, and especially OF
his. Frank Redeemed. and without more
words rtjoined my cousin. They ex-
changed few sentences in an undertone.
and presently she whipped up her horse
and joined me. Porte. my dear cousin,
you seem to be hurt Frank. that is, Mr.
Williams, did not intend to wound your
feelings; and. indeed, am extremely sor
ry-' Cousin Julia, stop this stuff. It's
bad enough to be thrown by mule. duck
ed. and laughed at for an hour and half
without intermission: but to be insulted in
this manner. won't put up with it. As
tor your Mr.. Williams, he shall hear
more from me- And. to cut short the
conversation and relieve my excited feel
ings, gave my beast two or three sharp
whacks across the rump. One would
have been enough. He bofled like a
shot, and when 1 found myself, | was
hanging to the limb OF scrub oak. an
horsed. and the bre ath nearly knocked out
Of my body. was so bewildered by
this hey presto movement. that although
hung only few feet from the ground. J
had not sense enough to get down myself,
but was lifted down and set against tree
by one Of the party.
Like the man of Islineton's second
leap into the quickest hedge, this second
mishap, aided oy an aPologetic glass OF
toddy brewed by Cousin Julia. entirely
restored me to my good humor. and by
the time the cloth was spread, felt as
well--soul and body--as | did before i
ever mounted the accursed mule.
Williams, word with you Frank
approached me rather stiffly and we walk
ed toward laurel ,hicket short distance
off. | observed Cousin Julia's eyes fol.
lowing US uneasily. Frank Williams. ]
have had an unlucky day Of it, have
been ducked, laughed at. and. finally.
hung on the limb of scrub oak like
scsrecrow. have borne the laugh with
reasonable torti,ude; but polteness and
sympathy under such circumstances are
eyond human endurance Let me apol-
ogize-' No. said Frank, q must apoI-
ogize-' i was ill.tempered,' insisted.
- was fool said he; and We both laugh
I'D until the tears rolled down our cheeks.
..By this time Cousin Julia had joined
US. What are you two laughing at!' in
quired she, with evident surprise and
pleasure. Only some funny explain ations
we've been making | replied. Then.
Sir, you owe me an explanation for your
upcivl haste in riding off when was
talking TO you;' and as she made this allu-
sion she bit her lips. convulsively striving
TO avert an approaching paroxysm. 'ln-
deed. Miss Julia, | shall make no expla-
nation whatever to you-you have divert
ed yourself sufficiently at me and my mis-
fortunes to-day to clear all scores, and
leave me still your creditor for consd
cradle amount; but Frank--oh, no, ]
mean MFR. Williams-is dying to make
some explanations TO you.' what do
you mean, Porte?' said she. suddenly for
getting her merriment, and blushing scar
let. OH nothing at all, replied, hasten.
ing TO rejoin the company. and chuckling
at my wicked device Tor stopping Cousin
Julia mirth.
"Well, wha, became Of them?" asked
Minnie, with interest.
"Pshaw! They walked off somewhere,
and didn't return until we had eaten up
all the dinner Some of the girls were
considerate enough to save them few
sandwiches and a piece Of pickle; but
they didn't want anything to eat. Frank.
on being rallied about his loss of appetite,
did take sandwich; but, after nibbling a
lnouihful or two, he quietly slipped the re-
mainder to pointer dog. However, he
did not refuse a humping swig Of toddy;
and then, seizing my arm, he dragged me
off to take walk with him, and made me
the custodier Of such string Of mawkish
condolences that | returned with the delib-
crate intention of making him drunk.
"As soon as my cousin laid eyes on US
she OWNED my intentions, and gave me
such look! What an expressive eye
Cousin Julia had! Language was really
of no use to her-her eyes spoke so hand
somely and eloquently; every glance was
paragraph. That look entirely unnerv.
Sd me; it read thus: Dear Cousin Porte,
can you be so ungenerous as to take ad-
vantage Of poor Franks soft condition
You know, when young gentleman has
just been accepted, he is open to any folly
or ex,ravagance that may be suggested
Don't do it, for my sake. Don't make
him drunk Having Grst secured glass
of toddy for myself, to nerve me to the
sacrifice, slyly upset the pitcher on the
grass. You may imagine how ! was be.
rated and reviled. Dick Spindle, who
was already in state of Juvenile exhila-
ration. expressed his regret that the mule
had not broken my neck before l go1
there. The girls, however. thought the
accident was not amiss. and Cousin Julis
gave me look and grateful pressure o
the hand that was entirely satisfacto
i rN"
"And what became of the mule?" ask
ed Fanny. M
j "How absent am. | 1.-THE mule
entirely"
/ I'VE all forgot the mule toward tn.
conclusion" said Dora; 'and think
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